Inflatable boat owners know that the bottom is the most vulnerable part of the structure, and contact with a shell, rocky bottom or sharp branches when pulled ashore inevitably leads to wear and tear of the fabric.
That is why the installation of additional protection, or so-called "armor", is one of the most popular tuning procedures. Reinforced tape PVC significantly extends the life of the boat and retains its presentation for many seasons.
Many newcomers mistakenly believe that the process of sticking protection is complex and only available to professionals in the factory. properly glue It is possible in the garage, if strictly observe the technology and temperature. The main condition for success is not the strength of the press, but the ideal preparation of the glued surfaces and the correct choice of the chemical composition of the glue.
In this article, we'll take you through the nuances of self-reinforced reinforcement, and you'll learn how to choose material than to degrease the surface, and why the rate of drying of the glue is critical. Let's start upgrading your vessel.
Selection of materials: tape and glue for reliable protection
The first thing to start with is buying supplies, and it doesn't make sense to save on the quality of the tape, because cheap ones can peel off after a couple of months or change color under the influence of ultraviolet light.
The best solution is to use PVC tapes The same density as the fabric of your boat, or slightly thicker, and the standard thickness of the protective layer is usually 900-1,100 g/m2.
The second critical component is glue. Only special two-component polyurethane-based formulations are suitable for working with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Single-component adhesives often do not provide proper elasticity of the seam, which when the cylinder is deformed on water will lead to the separation of armored tape.
When buying, pay attention to the package. Often the glue is sold separately from the hardener, which must be mixed immediately before applying, and you will need a solvent to clean the tools and degreasing, usually this is the first time you have a hardener. acetone or PVC cleaner.
- 🛡️ PVC armor: Choose a material with a corrugated surface for better grip and masking scratches.
- 💧 Two-part glue: provides chemical welding of fabrics, creating a monolithic connection.
- 🧪 Solvent: It is required for degreasing and washing off excess glue before it solidifies.
Necessary tools and workplace preparation
Before you start working, you need to organize a comfortable workspace. PVC glue is very sensitive to humidity and temperature, so work is better done in a dry, well-ventilated room.
The optimum air temperature should be +18°C to +25°CAt lower temperatures, polymerization may not be correct, and at higher adhesives it will catch too quickly, leaving no time for correction.
You're going to need a flat surface on which to put the boat, which could be a wide table, a workbench, or even a clean floor in the garage, covered with cardboard. Toolkit It is minimal, but each item is important for the quality of the result.
☑️ Preparation for the armor sticker
For marking and rolling, use the following tools:
- ✂️ Scissors: Sharp, preferably with curved ends for easy cutting of the tape.
- 🖌️ Brush: hard, synthetic, for applying glue (natural bristles can climb).
- 🌡️ Fen: building or household for heating glue and surface activation.
- 📏 Roulette and marker: for accurate marking of the areas of sticking.
Technology for preparing the surface of the boat
The most important step, which is 90 percent of success, is preparation, and if you just put glue on a dirty boat, the armor will fall off with the top layer of dirt.
First of all, the boat needs to be thoroughly washed with detergent and completely dried. fattenTo do this, moisten the rags in a solvent and thoroughly wipe the places of future pasting.
After degreasing, mechanical cleaning is often required. Factory impregnation or oxide film can prevent the adhesive from entering the tissue structure. Use fine sandpaper (grain). P100-P180) or a special abrasive sponge. You need to clean it carefully.without damaging the cord threads themselves, but only creating matte roughness.
⚠️ Warning: After mechanical cleaning, be sure to repeat the degreasing procedure to remove the dust, any dust under the glue layer will become the center of deflation.
And remember the inside of the armored tape, and it also needs to be cleaned and degreased, and many people forget to do that because they rely on the factory cleanliness of the material, which is a mistake. Bilateral training It guarantees maximum adhesion.
The process of applying glue and activation
The PVC fabric bonding technology involves applying the glue in two steps, and the first layer is applied thinly and serves as a primer, penetrating the pores of the tissue.
Dilute the hardener glue strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions (usually the ratio is 100:4 or 100:5 by weight). Mix the composition carefully for 2-3 minutes. Apply the first layer on the boat and on the tape, then let it dry until the stick (usually 15-30 minutes).
The second layer is applied after the first one has been completely dryed out, and it has to be more abundant. activationHeat the glued surfaces with a hair dryer to temperature. 50-60°CThe glue should become glossy and sticky, but not leak.
What is "open exposure time"?
This is the period after the second layer of glue is applied, during which you can connect parts, for different adhesives, it is from 5 to 20 minutes. If you overdo it, it will lose stickiness and glue will not occur.
You need to connect the parts quickly and accurately, because once activated, the time for correction is limited. Put the tape on the boat and start smoothing immediately.
Rowing and air removal techniques
Once the layers are joined, the rolling phase begins, and your task is to get all the air out of the tape and ensure that the glue is in close contact with the fabric.
Use a hard roller or a cloth-wound wooden plaque, and the movement should go from center to edge, pushing the air bubbles outward, and pay special attention to the edges of the tape, which is where the detachment most often begins.
If the bubble still remains, you can try to remove it, puncture with a needle and rolling again, but it is better to avoid this. High-quality roll-in It makes the seam almost invisible and monolithic.
- 🔄 Movements: Then, make a return move with effort.
- 🔥 Heated: if the glue has cooled and stopped sticking, carefully warm the joint with a hair dryer through the fabric.
- ⏳ Fixing: After rolling, it is desirable to press the gluing place with a load for several hours.
To check the quality of the gluing after 24 hours, try to gently tuck the edge of the tape with your nail. If the tape goes away easily, the technology is broken. If a piece of boat cloth is ripped off along with the tape, gluing is perfect.
Drying time and final polymerization
Don't rush the boat into the water immediately after the sticker, although the glue can hold the load in a few hours, full of water. polymerization It takes 24 to 72 hours depending on temperature and humidity.On the first day, it's best not to wet the seams or put them under mechanical stress, but to keep the boat straight at room temperature, and that will allow the chemical bonds to become firmly established.
| Parameter | Meaning/Time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Time to dry 1 layer | 15.30 minutes. | Until the stickiness disappears completely. |
| Time to dry 2 layers | 5-10 minutes | Depends on the air temperature |
| Primary strength | 24 hours. | You can use it carefully. |
| Complete polymerization | 72 hours | Preparedness for maximum loads |
Typical errors and ways to fix them
Even the most experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes. fatteningIf the armor started to move all over the area, there's probably some grease or silicone left on the surface, and then you're going to have to take the tape off completely, clean it up again, and re-glue it.
Another common problem is the appearance of bubbles after a few days, which may indicate moisture between the layers or a violation of the temperature regime during gluing. Small bubbles. You can try to warm up the hair dryer and roll, but if there are many, it is better to redo the work.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a boat with unfinished protection in rocky places. Falling under the detached tape water and sand will work as an abrasive, quickly destroying the fabric of the cylinder.
Also, be careful of the thickness of the adhesive layer, because if it's too thick, it can stay sticky, and if it's too thin, it can't be durable, and if you follow the instructions for a particular brand of adhesive, it's a recipe for success.
High-quality protection is as much as the boat itself, so do not waste time on preparing and complying with the drying technology.
Can I put armor on a wet or wet boat?
Absolutely not. Moisture prevents the glue from entering the tissue structure and reacts with the glue components, destroying the seam. The boat must be completely dry.
Which glue is better: single or two-component?
For armor that is subjected to constant stress and deformation, it is better to use two-component polyurethane adhesive. It is more elastic and stronger.
Should I clean the boat if it is new?
Yes, new boats often have factory lubrication or oxide film, and easy stripping and degreasing is a must for any boat, regardless of its age.
What to do if the glue thickens in the jar?
If a single-component glue thickens, you can try diluting it with a special solvent (usually ethyl acetate or methylethyl ketone), the two-component glue after mixing with a hardener is not storageable and must be disposed of.