Valiant DR400 leak into hull

Brian Johnson · 13 October 2016, 20:08

Our Valiant DR400 always seems to have some water on board. To check for leaks, we took it ashore and part filled the hull with water. There were a number of leaks where the black rubber bands join the hull, each perhaps an inch or so long and all seem to be in the area where the tape goes over the sponson joins ... one can use a finger to lift the bands where the leaks occur. We propose to dry thoroughly and re-glue the rubber bands ... what adhesive should we use and how should we prepare the surfaces to accept the adhesive? It's fresh water use only.

Best regards, Brian

office888 · 13 October 2016, 23:09

Is the boat PU / PVC material?

cgoing · 13 October 2016, 23:14

Brian - do you mean the black rubber strip that lays between the tube and the deck?

Brian Johnson · 13 October 2016, 23:16

When purchased we paid extra for the Akron TPE material - with high abrasion resistance ...?

Brian Johnson · 13 October 2016, 23:28

The leaks are under the hull - the flat black band .. as we have tried to show in the attachment ...

Brian Johnson · 13 October 2016, 23:46

Here's that photo ...

cgoing · 14 October 2016, 11:11

Unfortunately it sounds like the glue is drying out and the tube attachment is separating from the hull.