The upgrade of a swimming facility is not just a whim, but a necessity for comfortable fishing or outdoor activities on the water. Often, the standard equipment is not enough, and the owner is thinking about how to attach a linear fence, install spinning holders or fix the transom wheels. Quality installation It has a direct impact on the safety and durability of the boat itself.
The main challenge lies in the properties of the material: polyvinyl chloride, which is made of cylinders, has a complex chemical structure that requires a special approach to create a reliable connection. Just smear with glue and press here will not work, after a week of active use on the water, such an accessory will likely fall off, taking away part of the upper layer of tissue. cold-weldingSo that the connection becomes monolithic.
In this article, we will take a look at the entire process of preparation, selection of supplies and direct attachment of attachments. You will learn why it is important to degrease surface method and how to avoid common mistakes that lead to deflation of fittings.
Selection of adhesive composition: two-component vs. one-component
The first and most critical step is to find the right glue, and there are many options on the market, but not all are suitable for critical components, such as mounting a leer or transom wheels. Single-component adhesives, such as common 88-H or 88-CA, work by evaporating the solvent, and they create an elastic seam that withstands the strain of the balloon well in the sun, but their heat resistance and resistance to constant contact with water are lower.
For the installation of hard fittings, which will experience constant loads, professionals recommend using polyurethaneThey include the glue and the hardener, the catalyst, and the chemical reaction between the components triggers the polymerization process, creating a compound that is often stronger than the boat material itself, and that seam is not afraid of boiling water, or freezing, or being in the water for long periods.
⚠️ Warning: Never use Superglue (cyanacrylate) or acetone-based adhesives for PVC. They make the fabric brittle (oak) at the application site, which when pumping the boat will lead to cracks and depressurization of the cylinder.
It is also important to consider the lifespan of the mixture after adding a hardener, which varies from 30 minutes to 2 hours for different brands. After mixing the components of the two-component glue, an irreversible chemical reaction begins immediately, so the mixture must be prepared immediately before application. You need to work quickly and accurately, since it will be almost impossible to correct errors after grasping without damaging the tissue.
Comparison of the main specifications of adhesive compositions will help determine the choice:
| Type of glue | Basis | Heat resistance | Time of complete polymerization |
|---|---|---|---|
| single-component | Neoprene/Rubber | Up to +70°C | 24-48 hours |
| Two-pronged | Polyurethane | Up to +120°C | 24 hours. |
| Specialized (Tear Aid) | Polyurethane film | High. | 12 hours. |
| Clay sealant | Silicone/MS polymer | Medium | 48-72 hours |
Surface preparation: the guarantee of reliable adhesion
Many beginners underestimate the importance of the preparation phase, believing that it is enough to simply wipe the place with alcohol. This is a fatal mistake. PVC surface of boats is often covered with a protective layer, factory lubrication or simply has a smooth structure, which is difficult for the glue to "grab" to create a quality connection requires mechanical and chemical treatment.
The installation site is first thoroughly cleaned and fine-grained sandpaper (P240-P400 grain) is used. Clean up And you don't just need the boat, you also need the back of the accessory, if it's plastic or metal, and the goal is to create micro scratches that will increase the contact area, but you can't do it too much, you can't damage the cord, so you only remove the top glossy layer.
After machining, there's a degreasing step, and it's important to use the right solvents. Acetone or aggressive paint solvents can damage the structure of PVC, making it sticky or loose. PVC cleaner (PVC Cleaner) or ethanol, you have to wipe with clean rags that leave no pile, moving from center to edges so as not to smear the dirt.
☑️ Preparation for bonding
There's a common myth that you have to clean the surface to the point of full mattage, and actually, you just take the gloss off, and if you overdo it and damage the fabric base, the strength of the boat will drop there, and after processing, let the surface dry for a few minutes, so that the solvent vapors will evaporate before applying the glue.
Technology of installation of railing fences and handles
The installation of a leer (a stretched cable around the perimeter of the boat) is one of the most important operations for safety. Leer allows passengers to stay in the heel or excitement. For installation, special pentacles (platforms) with loops that are glued to the cylinders are used. The distance between the pentacles is usually 50-70 cm, depending on the length of the boat.
The process starts with the markings, and the boat needs to be slightly pumped up so that the cylinders take on a working shape, but not overstretched. Markings It's important to keep the symmetry: the distance from the bottom to the center of the penetrator should be the same around the perimeter, usually 15-20 cm. If you put the penetrats too high, the leer will interfere with rowing; too low, it will draw water.
The glue is applied in a thin uniform layer on the surface of the boat, and on the pen. single-component glue It requires exposure: after application, you need to let it dry for 10-15 minutes until the stick (when the finger does not stick, but the trace does not remain); Two-component glue is often applied immediately and pressed, but it is better to check the instructions on the tube. After connecting the parts, the glue place must be strongly pressed. Ideally, use a hard roller, driving air from under the pen to the edges.
For a uniform and strong press, use an old rubber roller for rolling out the wallpaper or a screwdriver handle wrapped in cloth. The pressure should be significant to ensure tight contact between the layers.
Once you've glued all the pentacles, you have to give the glue strength, and although you can use the boat in a few hours, it takes a day to fully polymerize, and then you can pull the cable, and the tension has to be moderate, the cable has to be elastic, but not a string, otherwise, if you hit a wave or a person on a leer, the pentaquill can tear off along with a piece of fabric.
Installation of rod and sonar holders
It's critical for anglers to have gear and appliances on hand, and spinning holders (glasses) and sonar platforms are attached in a similar way, but they have their own nuances. The main load here is not to tear off, but to twist and vibrate, so the adhesion area should be maximum.
Often, universal platforms with threaded bushings are used, on which cups or instrument mounts are already wound. Before sticking, try on the platform: it should not interfere with boarding a boat, working with oars or accessing valves. Firming It is better to place on flat areas of the balloon, avoiding strong curves in the area of the nasal cone, where the tension of the fabric is maximum.
If you install a sonar holder, you can quickly dismantle the device. It is better to use a system with a thread or a lock, so that if necessary (for example, when passing through shallow water), the sensor can be quickly removed, leaving only the base.
⚠️ Warning: Do not place heavy accessories (such as gearboxes or large holders) on the bow cones of the boat. This shifts the center of gravity, impairs driving performance and can lead to waves sweeping through the side.
For fixing large elements, such as anchor ducks or large platforms, it is recommended to use a combined method: gluing plus mechanical fixation (if the design of the boat allows firmware or the use of ready-made slings), but in 99% of cases high-quality two-component The proper preparation is sufficient to hold even heavy loads.
Features of fastening of transom wheels
Trans wheels are perhaps the most loaded accessory, and they take over the weight of the entire boat with the engine and gear when transported along the shore, and if you make a mistake in mounting them, you can crash the boat and break the transom, so you can't cut glue here.
Wheel mounts (brackets) usually have a large contact area. Before gluing, be sure to check whether they block access to the drain valve or motor fastener. Installation It is made strictly according to the instructions of the wheel manufacturer, because the geometry of the brackets from different brands (Flagman, Cayman, Hunter) can differ. Often you need to glue the response pads to the transom, and already attach the wheels themselves to them.
When the tranny wheel brackets are glued, the adhesive layer must be slightly thicker than the pens of leer to compensate for any irregularities, and once the bracket is pressed, it must be fixed with a load or scabs (through a soft pad so as not to crush the plastic) for the duration of the initial grip, and the wheels can only be exploited after the glue is fully polymerized, at least 24 hours later.
There's a life hack to reinforce the space under the transom wheels, and if you're in doubt about the strength of the native transmolant or glue it to an old boat, you can pre-patch an extra PVC patch at the bracket's location, and that will spread the load over a larger area and reduce the risk of tearing off.
Drying, polymerization and quality control
The final step is waiting. Many people think it's finished when they pin the part down. It's not. The chemical reaction goes on for a long time. Primary grasp It takes a few hours, but the seams gain full strength after 24, sometimes 48 hours, and the boat cannot be loaded, wet, or subjected to extreme temperatures.
The temperature of drying is also important. The ideal temperature for polymerizing most adhesives is from +15°C to +25°C. In the cold, the process can get up and in the heat, the glue can boil or grab too quickly before it gets into the material structure. If you glued in the garage in the winter, let the boat stay warm for at least a day before getting on the water.
What to do if the glue is on the edges?
If the glue (especially the two-piece) has protruded beyond the edges of the part, it cannot be wiped immediately - you will smear the sticky mass. Wait until it completely dries (becomes hard), and carefully cut with a sharp blade or roll with a finger.
Before you first go out, do a visual and tactical inspection. Try to shake the installed elements with your hands (without fanaticism). If you feel a backlash or detachment of the edges, then the technology has been broken, and the rework should be done immediately. A quality glued accessory should make a whole with the boat.
Can I put accessories on a wet or dirty boat?
Absolutely not. Moisture and dirt create a barrier between glue and PVC. Even a microscopic film of water or fat will not form a chemical bond. The boat must be completely dry and clean. You can dry with a hair dryer, but you can be careful not to overheat the material.
Which is the best glue for winter fishing?
Only two-component polyurethane adhesives are uniquely suited for winter conditions. Single-component rubber-based compounds in the cold can become brittle and lose elasticity, which will lead to detachment of accessories when the cylinder deforms.
Do I need to clean the place of gluing if the boat is new?
The factory surface of PVC often has a protective layer or is simply too smooth. Mechanical cleaning is mandatory for any age of the boat, otherwise the adhesion will be weak.
How long can I get the boat down after it's glued?
You can depressurize the boat in 12 to 24 hours, but you can fully operate it, especially with new elements, better after 48 hours, and this ensures that the glue seam is completely polymerized.
The success of the accessories is 80 percent dependent on the quality of the surface preparation and the choice of the two-part glue, and only 20 percent on the gluing process itself. Don't save time on the cleaning!