I really like to fish from a boat and use a convenient and compact PVC model for fishing on lakes and rivers with gentle currents.
Tendency to mechanical damage and low resistance to negative temperatures- the only (at least for me) disadvantages of such boats, so I always take with me everything necessary for urgent repairs.
We find damage and determine its extent
If the boat's chambers begin to leak air or the bottom begins to leak after launching, carefully inspect the boat. You will notice large punctures with the naked eye.
Assess the severity of the damage. Holes in a PVC boat, the size of which does not exceed 5 cm, can be easily sealed both in the field and at home. For more complex repairs use the services of a professional workshop or contact a tire fitter.
As practice shows, it is impossible to seal gaps larger than 15 centimeters on your own. The patches cannot withstand high pressure. The ideal solution in such cases is professional repair in a workshop.
There are 2 good ways to detect small holes.
- If you are near a lake or river, submerge the inflated chambers of the PVC boat under water (in parts). If there are holes, you will notice air bubbles coming out of one or more places in the tank.
- To identify damage at home, lubricate the surface of the inflated chambers of the boat with a soap solution. If it starts to bubble, then there is a puncture in that place.
Tape, marker or chalk are ideal for making marks. Don't overlook even the smallest punctures. High blood pressure they will quickly expand.
What glue to use on a PVC boat
Before cutting and gluing patches to a PVC boat, make sure you have the appropriate adhesive. As I already said, cyanoacrylate-based compounds (i.e. superglues) will not work. The patch will peel off quickly. In addition, cyanoacrylic compounds burn through the material.
The best way to repair a PVC boat is would be better suited polyurethane glue, sold in specialized stores. Personally, I recommend buying repair kits produced by manufacturers. It's convenient. The kits include patches from the most suitable materials and tubes of tested glue.
If you only need glue or there is no suitable store nearby, purchase the composition at your nearest hardware store. Please note the following:
- Don't buy tubes that are too cheap. The quality of adhesives in the low price segment leaves much to be desired.
- After purchasing, test the composition. Squeeze a drop of glue onto your finger. If the dried film does not stick to the skin, then everything is in order. Otherwise, use a different glue.
- Pay attention to heat resistance. The higher it is, the better. Heat-resistant adhesive will withstand the summer heat.
I usually take MAXBOND, Desmocoll or Bostick.
After you have purchased the appropriate glue, proceed directly to the repair.
How to properly seal a PVC boat
First, I’ll tell you about the tools that you will need to properly and reliably seal a PVC boat both at home and in the field.
You need:
- scissors or knife;
- rag (for wiping and degreasing surfaces);
- roller (in nature it can be replaced with a bottle);
- construction hair dryer or a lighter (even a container with hot water);
- harsh threads (needed in case of a breakthrough in the bottom);
- degreaser.
To prepare the patch and hole for sealing, gasoline, toluene, alcohol, ethyl acetate or vodka are suitable. Personally, I don’t take chemicals with me. By the way, do not wipe the PVC boat with acetone. It will damage the material.
Clean the area around the hole from dirt with a rag and degrease. Do not use sandpaper, as many people advise. This will make the holes even larger and reduce the strength of the material.
Preparing the patch
While the hole is drying, cut out the patch. The fabric from the repair kit is best suited for sealing the boat. To make the patch last longer, make it (if possible) round or oval. Sharp corners will cling.
The dimensions of the piece of fabric should exceed the dimensions of the hole by 3–5 cm. Apply a patch to the damaged area and outline it. This will help with the sealing process.
The patch also needs to be prepared. Clean, degrease and dry the cut piece of fabric.
How to properly glue a PVC boat
Now I will talk about how to quickly seal a PVC boat in the field and how to make high-quality repairs if there is nowhere to rush.
Emergency repair (method 1)
Suitable if you have gone quite far from home and don’t want to interrupt your long-awaited fishing.
Proceed according to the following scheme.
- Lower the damaged boat inner tube.
- Cut out the patch.
- Clean, degrease and dry the area around the hole and a piece of cloth.
- Apply glue in an even layer on both surfaces.
- After 2–3 minutes, press the patch evenly and firmly onto the hole.
This method of sealing does not give the best results. Make better repairs once you return home or land.
Reliable repair (method 2)
If there is nowhere to rush, do this.
- Release the punctured chamber.
- Cut out the patch.
- Apply polyurethane glue to it and the damaged area of the boat. Let it dry (10-15 minutes).
- Apply a second layer of glue using the same technology.
- After drying, coat the surfaces with glue again. Give the third coat less time to dry (7-10 minutes).
- Apply a patch to the hole and heat it with a hairdryer or lighter.
- Roll out the sealed area with a roller or bottle. This will remove any air bubbles.
Let the patch cool and dry. You can inflate the chamber after 2–3 hours; the glue will completely harden only after two days. After emergency repairs, do not inflate the boat to maximum.
What to do with a broken bottom
Perform emergency and high-quality bottom repairs using the same technologies. The only difference is that two patches are required (for installation on the inside and outside). Before degreasing and applying glue, the hole must be sewn together with nylon threads or large-diameter braid.
- If air humidity exceeds 60%, use the first repair method. Such humidity will not allow the glue to harden properly. There is no point in wasting time.
- Wash and dry the boat after every fishing trip. This will significantly extend its service life.
- Ideal for cleaning boats - soap solution. Do not use abrasive chemicals.
- Be careful with sharp objects and (if possible) do not smoke in the boat.
- Before long-term storage boats, do not sprinkle it with talcum powder. At further use It will be much more difficult to clean and glue the material if repairs are necessary.
Before pumping up and launching into the water, remove stones, sticks and other materials from the shore. sharp objects. While fishing, check suspicious areas of the reservoir for the absence of snags. Happy biting!
It is necessary to strengthen the bottom of a PVC boat, what option can you suggest?
Classic booking option - PVC boat bottom reinforcement fender strips 235 mm wide. At the same time, there are several schemes for reinforcing the bottom of a PVC boat in this case and it depends on your wishes.
Partially strengthen the cylinders and keel of the PVC boat - three stripes.
Reinforce the entire bottom - from six overlapping fender strips 235 mm wide. It is also possible to add halter strips 60 mm wide, but as a rule this is unnecessary.
In this case, you will receive a boat fully prepared for storming a shallow and rocky river.
Why do you need to strengthen the bottom of the boat?
On the plus side, the boat will be more stable and more controllable.
Moreover, unlike PVC boat bottom armor various transparent films or sprayed polymers that do not provide adequate protection from stones and snags, you get a double bottom, the first is the PVC material of the boat itself, the second is PVC tape tightly glued to the bottom of the boat. This design is both more reliable and durable.
Disadvantages of booking PVC boats
Of the minuses - after we strengthen the bottom of a PVC boat, your watercraft will increase in 
weight, for example, a PVC boat with a length of 3200 will weigh 6-8 kg more.
Warranty for work on armoring/reinforcing the bottom
As with all other work, we provide a guarantee.
When carrying out work on armoring the bottom, they are used imported two-component compounds intended for production of inflatable products from PVC materials, the same ones that used in the factories of leading St. Petersburg manufacturers of PVC boats.
Preparation of glue and subsequent gluing of boats is carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of PVC compound manufacturers(adhesive bases) such as - lifetime of the diluted compound (glue), temperature regime, shelf life which allows us guarantee the quality of work performed.
The cost of materials consists of the price of consumed glue and PVC rest in linear meters.
The cost of the work is calculated based on the length of the boat and your choice of whether you want full or partial booking of the bottom.
You can see even more photographs of our work on our group’s page at VK
Do you need urgent repairs to your rubber boat? In this case, glue, which is designed specifically for gluing rubberized things, will be an excellent assistant.
Today there are a huge number of adhesives on the market, but choosing a truly high-quality one among them can be difficult.
Each glue has a number of features and, of course, disadvantages. Many are accustomed to arguing on this topic, because they are extremely convinced that it is almost impossible to seal all the tears and punctures in a rubber boat with glue.
What glue should I use to seal a rubber boat?
Before answering main question, it is worth noting some important features glue for a rubber boat, which will help you decide on the right choice suitable means.
So, some tips, if followed, you can choose really high-quality glue:
- Don't pay attention to the ones that are too cheap glue options, After all, there is a huge chance that instead of such a necessary assistant, you will get an incomprehensible mixture. Such a substance not only fails to seal cracks, but can even harm the rubber.
- If you want to seal a rubber boat for a long time or even forever, then you should never buy superglue (cyanoacrylate glue). Of course, it will mend all the tears on the boat within a few minutes, however, believe me, you won’t be enjoying the integrity of the boat for long.
- You should choose an adhesive with high heat resistance.
- If there is a choice between special and universal glue, feel free to give your preference to the first option.
- When gluing a boat, remember that water and humidity are bad.
- The main criterion when choosing a suitable glue will be its non-stickiness. There is an opinion that the higher the stickiness of the glue, the less durable it is.
This glue is accessible, durable and has good water resistance. When choosing glue for a rubber boat, many also prefer polychloroprene adhesives.
And most importantly: when purchasing a special glue, always pay attention to its composition, which is indicated directly on the packaging.
Special attention Focus on the heat resistance of the glue. The higher the heat resistance, the better the quality of the product sold.
Repair of rubber boats
Repairing a rubber boat is a rather complicated process, but as practice shows, it is only for beginners. 
If you have previously found yourself alone with a holey boat, then re-repairing the watercraft will not be a big problem for you.
First of all, it is necessary to understand exactly where exactly you need to start repairing rubber boats. So, first you need to prepare additional materials and devices that will definitely help you when gluing cracks or tears.
You will need:
- Small (the size of the crack) pieces of rubber that are suitable for patches;
- Specialized rubber adhesive.
Before repairing, you first need to find out where exactly the leak occurred. And to do this, you need to inflate the boat with air and lower it into the water.
Why do this? These simple steps will help you quickly detect leaks and all puncture sites. They will definitely show themselves as small bubbles.
When punctures and cracks are found, it is necessary to deflate the boat and you can safely begin direct repairs. To begin with, select quality material, which is suitable for patches in all respects.
It is from this material that small pieces will be cut. Interesting advice from experienced craftsmen: the pieces of rubber should be slightly larger in size than the main hole in order to completely cover it.
Moreover, the edges need to be rounded. This will help further protect the boat from any release of the adhesive fabric.
For strong bonding, the surface of the boat is rubbed with fine-grained sandpaper. This simple technique is needed to make the surface of the rubber boat a little rough.
In this case, you can ensure a sufficiently strong bond of the rubber piece directly to the boat. To repair a rubber boat, it is best to use the glue that came with it.
If this does not happen, then you can safely buy glue called “Radical” or any other polychloroprene glue.
For a more durable bonding of rubber surfaces, you should remember a few simple tips.
- In order for the rubber patch to stick more firmly to the boat, it is necessary to degrease them using any method.. Gasoline, acitone, and solvent are best suited.
- Have you noticed that the cracks on the boat are too large? In this case, tighten the tears with strong nylon threads. This technique will provide fairly good protection.
- When gluing rubber surfaces, different adhesives can be used. Many of them require additional drying when working, which a regular hairdryer can easily help you with.
- When working with glue, it is strongly recommended to ventilate the room well, or work directly outside. However, there are several other important factors to consider. For example, one of these is air humidity, which should not exceed 60%.
Ignoring these rules can lead to very sad results.
Moreover, if you are gluing in the sun, at temperatures above 16 degrees, or with greasy hands, then you can’t even count on a well-glued boat.
How to glue the bottom?
The main part of the boat is the bottom. It is this that is most often subject to mechanical damage.
In order to glue the bottom back to the boat, you also need to follow some rules.
First of all, the damaged bottom must be completely torn off from the body of the boat, then heated with a hairdryer and cleaned with sandpaper.
Your next step will be to apply the caulking tape.
And only then the bottom is attached back. Experienced craftsmen recommend performing all these actions strictly on a very tightly inflated rubber boat.
Now you need to lower the boat and roll all the places that were previously glued together, and leave everything in this condition for 48 hours.
When working with the bottom, it is worth considering all the basic rules that have already been mentioned.
Popular brands of glue for rubber boats
One of the most popular adhesives today is rubber adhesive brand 4508. It is made on the basis of natural rubber.The main features of this glue:
- good stickiness;
- elasticity of connections;
There is also polyurethane glue, which has quite strong adhesive properties. Gummi glue is made from rubber and provides excellent water resistance.
Radical
Radical glue is popular among many owners of inflatable rubber boats. It can withstand fairly low temperatures, heavy loads and even salty sea water.
It is based on a solution of rubber mixed with other solvents.
Frequently Asked Questions
When repairing rubber boats, owners often encounter difficult moments during the work process.
To resolve controversial situations and to find answers to unusual questions, most beginners, and even professional fishermen, turn to specialists for help or look for answers on the Internet.
Is it possible to use Moment glue in the repair of rubber boats?
One of the most exciting issues is the possibility of using Momenta glue when repairing a rubber boat.
In fact, the answer to this question is quite simple.
You can use Moment glue when repairing rubber boats.
The main advantages of such a tool are as follows:
- quick gluing of two surfaces;
- ease of use.
However, when choosing Moment glue, be prepared for the fact that it is sensitive to high temperatures. Also, it dries instantly when exposed to direct sunlight.
When working with it, you will need to perform all gluing steps very quickly. Moreover, the final effect will also leave much to be desired.
A boat glued with Moment glue will not serve you for long, and, most likely, after a while it will fall apart and come unglued again. It is for these reasons that more experienced fishermen do not recommend using it.
How to remove old glue from a rubber boat?
It is quite difficult to wash off old glue from a rubber boat. It is worth considering the fact that when gluing two surfaces, rubber glue is quickly absorbed into the rubberized surface of the boat itself.
You should also not remove old dried glue using aggressive solvents or other substances if you do not want to permanently damage the fabric of your boat.
Shoe glue for rubber boat repair
Some specialists use shoe (nairite) glue to repair rubber boats. It is mainly used for gluing not only rubber, but also leather, wood, fabric and other materials. It is used for repairs, like the others.
Does the thought of an upcoming fishing trip haunt you? In this case, quickly check your boat for mechanical damage.
If you accidentally find a small crack or break, do not be upset. Believe me, together with glue for rubber boats, you can get your boat in order in a short period of time, and without much effort.
One of the main components of a modern fisherman’s equipment is considered to be a reliable watercraft, in particular a boat made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is quite convenient, practical, resistant to ultraviolet rays, aggressive substances and does not create additional difficulties during transportation, when proper care and timely repairs, the product can last for more than a dozen years.
No matter how carefully the owner treats his watercraft, breakdowns and various damage to the vessel often occur. And here the problem arises: which adhesive to choose and how to apply the patch correctly. To understand this issue, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the types of glue and the features of their use.
Choosing the best glue
From competently conducted repair work On an inflatable boat, not only the comfort of passengers depends, but also, most importantly, their safety on the water. If done incorrectly, the patch may become depressurized and the boat will begin to deflate or fill with water, which will lead to negative consequences.
A high-quality adhesive composition must meet the following requirements:
Types of glue used, features, advantages and disadvantages
Based on numerous observations of experienced fishermen, the following types of adhesive compositions have proven themselves well:
Ideal for gluing most types of rubber, in particular for repairing PVC products. Advantages: high degree of resistance to water, atmospheric changes, forms a reliable elastic seam.
From a German manufacturer, made on the basis of Desmocoll rubbers, positioned as a professional universal and waterproof product. “Master” is intended for gluing products made of leather, plexiglass, rubber, PVC, paper, cardboard, and fibrous fabrics.
"UR - mono" from the category of one-component compositions, used without additional hardeners, has a high degree of water resistance, has good resistance to ultraviolet rays, and is low-toxic. Most often, it is used for PVC repair– coatings.
"Vinicol - 1520" from a series of polyurethane compounds, the main purpose is gluing surfaces made of synthetic materials, including PVC boats. The product has a fairly high resistance to hydrolysis.
"Made from polyvinyl chloride 900I"– polyurethane glue, its scope is wide: balls, plastic awnings, air mattresses, swimming pools, rubber soles, polyvinyl chloride fabrics. The composition has good resistance to various oils, gasoline, water and acids.
"Penosil Fix Go" positioned as cold welding, based on two epoxy substances. Advantages: hardens instantly, does not cause difficulties during processing, ideal as an emergency aid when gluing PVC surfaces. "Penosil Fix Go" has a very strong binding ability.
It is very popular among consumers; the positive qualities of the glue include: super strength, reusable use, can withstand loads of up to 250 kg/cm2, firmly glues dissimilar surfaces.
Choosing glue, what is better to use
In order to qualitatively eliminate various damages on the surface of a watercraft made of PVC material, it is recommended to use glue 4508. Availability natural ingredients(rubber and resin) allow you to achieve the necessary elasticity of the seam and protect the gluing site from negative impact moisture.
The use of rubber glue and polyurethane-based glue also gives good results, the main thing is to comply with all the requirements for the use of this composition.
Application of glue
Before you begin repair work on your boat, you must carefully prepare the surface:
- a damaged inflatable boat must be deflated;
- Wash and dry the problem area well;
- to avoid the formation of subsequent folds on the work area, it is recommended to place flat board and smooth out the tissue membrane;
- degrease the problem area using any solvent, acetone.
On this preparatory work are ending.
What materials will be needed for repairs?
After a thorough inspection inflatable boat made of PVC, and having identified the problem area, we proceed to preparing the accessories appropriate for repair:
- repair kit, it is provided by the manufacturer and is included with the boat;
- construction knife, scissors;
- roller or metal plate;
- pencil, marker;
- small brush;
- water, soap, rags;
- any solvent, the use of alcohol is allowed;
- special glue for rubber products.
The above list of tools will be required when carrying out repair work at home or on the shore of a reservoir. If the damage needs to be repaired directly fishing, then it is more effective to use a repair kit and a lighter.
The standard repair kit includes materials that allow hiking conditions eliminate the cause of vessel depressurization in a short time. The set consists of a tube of special glue, a set of PVC fabrics, the diameter of which is 40 mm and 80 mm (6 pieces).
A special adhesive is used to lubricate the inside of the patch and the gluing area on the boat.
Instructions for use
- The problem area must be cleaned of various contaminants. The use of sandpaper is inappropriate here; there is a high probability of damaging the fabric. This option is more suitable for heavily ingrained dirt.
- Degrease the working surface with either solvent or acetone. The main thing is to observe moderation in everything, otherwise the rubber fabric may corrode.
- Based on the size of the defect, a patch of the desired configuration is cut out. In size it should be several centimeters larger than the actual size of the hole. The cut patch is applied to the damaged area and the contours are outlined using a pencil.
- A special adhesive is used to lubricate the inside of the patch and the gluing area on the boat. Give the glue a little time to dry (10 minutes) and apply another layer of glue to the working surfaces. Wait a couple of minutes.
- Bonding surfaces. Using a hair dryer, you need to slightly heat the problem area and apply the prepared patch to it. The main condition is to check the area for the presence of an air gap. In order for the glued area to “grab” better, it needs to be rolled well with a roller. It is better to operate a repaired watercraft after 2–3 days.
For minor damage (scratches), filling them with glue will be enough, but it is better to apply a patch.
To repair holes with a diameter greater than 5 cm, it is recommended to use two patches: and with inside, and from the outside. The inner patch should be glued first, followed by the second one.
Storage
It is recommended to store adhesives in tightly closed packaging or tubes at a temperature of +15 – +25 degrees. The storage place must be dry, protected from fire and freezing. Use, store and transport the adhesive when low temperatures it should not, its working qualities are lost.
- Glue for repairing PVC boats must be high quality and special purpose.
- The use of cheaper options does not guarantee the reliability of the seam.
- When carrying out repair work to eliminate various damages on the boat, it is recommended to adhere to the clear instructions described above.
In the last water-motor season, closer to autumn, with the help of my friend Alexey, I managed to make a small upgrade to my PVC boat. I took a larger boat with a keel and an inflatable bottom. But the manufacturer (GRUPER company) is so keen on saving money and making boats lighter that they pay practically no attention to strengthening the bottom. It had only one thin strip (5 cm) of a fender running along the keel, which, as it turned out during operation of the boat, did not really protect the bottom from any unwanted incidents.
During the next drying of the boat, some abrasions were discovered near the installed “reinforcement,” which was very disappointing and required immediate intervention.
Having assessed the area of PVC that was subject to abrasions, it was decided to glue another strip of 6 cm wide rest on each side of the existing one. I found reinforcement for the bottom of the boat in one of the fishing stores, bought polyurethane glue for PVC for it, pumped up the boat at home and began the process of strengthening the bottom.
In the photo below, one strip of the fender has already been glued, and then I will give a step-by-step report on gluing the second strip.
The first thing you need to do is to evenly, almost end-to-end, apply the purchased bottom protection strip to the already glued factory one. In this case, it is necessary to make marks on the PVC with a pen on the other edge along the entire length of the strip. I made a dotted line with a distance of about 30 cm.
After marking and cutting the tape to the required length, we proceed to degreasing the surfaces. We thoroughly wipe the glued materials with solvent.
You need to stick masking tape along the marks that were drawn on the boat. This is necessary so as not to smear excess glue and not stain the PVC.
I couldn’t find glue in a normal container, so I used this one.
One bottle contains 70 grams. It took me 6 of these bubbles for seven meters of fender.
We take a suitable container, pour a couple of bubbles of glue into it and use a paint brush to coat first the tape, then the bottom of the boat. We smoke for 10-15 minutes, then add glue to the container again, coat the bottom of the boat, but do not touch the rest. Let the glue dry a little (about 5 minutes), remove the masking tape and begin gluing the tape.
Carefully apply the bottom reinforcement to the already glued one, leaving a gap of about a millimeter between them. We press everything well and smooth it with our palm. The stop fits tightly, following the contours of the bottom of the boat and sticks clearly.
As soon as the entire tape is laid, we roll it along its entire length with a small wallpaper roller, and then a hairdryer and a wooden spatula will be used.
We gradually warm up the reinforcement of the bottom and the bottom of the boat itself, while pressing the hollows on the tape with good effort. Particular attention should be paid to the edges and joints of the stop, the beginning and end, as well as places of refraction. Thus, meter by meter, we activate the polyurethane glue and increase the adhesion of the materials being glued.
The gap between the tapes is necessary so that excess glue, if any appears, comes out from under the fender tape.
Well, that's all. The price of the issue is about one and a half thousand rubles and a couple of hours of wasted time. This, compared to the ability to break through the bottom on the keel itself, is a complete trifle. By the way, if you order the tape through the website, it costs exactly half as much as in the store.
Save money and not a stone or a log on the ponds!