Every inflatable boat owner sooner or later faces the need to reinforce structural vulnerabilities, especially if the routes run through rocky sloping or reedy shores. PVC-bottom booking It's a key step towards extending the life of the craft and protecting against sharp objects, and the market offers a variety of materials, from budget-friendly products to professional Kevlar overlays, and it's important not to get confused about the specifications.
Properly selected protection can save the camera from puncture at the most inopportune moment, when the shore is far away, and the repair kit is in the sealant. In this article, we will discuss in detail what types of armored tapes exist, what to look for when buying and how to independently perform high-quality installation of amplification.
The effectiveness of protection depends on the thickness of the material, the quality of the adhesive layer and compliance with the adhesive technology. Do not save on safety, because the cost of repairing a cylinder often exceeds the price of a quality tape several times.
Why you need to book the bottom and bottom flooring
The main function of armored tape is to create a buffer layer between the thin shell of the balloon and the outside world, full of sharp stones, snags and broken glass. Standard PVC fabric, even at a density of 1100 g / sq.m., does not always withstand direct friction on rough surfaces, especially when pulling a boat ashore with a full load.
Body reservation It allows you to spread the point load from the sharp object over a larger area, preventing the tissue from being cut, and additional linings reduce noise when driving in shallow water and protect against abrasion when mooring at concrete berths.
⚠️ Note: The use of conventional construction tape or tape for temporary repair of the bottom is unacceptable, since these materials do not have the necessary elasticity and adhesion to PVC under water.
It's important to understand that armor doesn't make the boat unsinkable, but it does make it passable. Owners who often walk on rocky rivers note that the reinforcement allows them to ignore the small obstacles that would have to be driven around in an unequipped boat.
Types of materials: from PVC to Kevlar
When you choose a reinforcement material, you will be asked: which is better to buy - a classic PVC tape or a modern composite? The market is divided into several main categories, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages in operation.
The most common option is PVC reinforced tapeIt is a multi-layered material, often with a mesh structure inside, which gives it high tensile strength, which is perfectly combined with the main fabric of the boat, has a similar temperature expansion coefficient and is easily glued with polyurethane compounds.
A more advanced solution is considered kevlarKevlar is a synthetic fiber with exceptional tensile strength and abrasion resistance, and a Kevlar-bottomed boat can withstand contact with sharp edges of rocks that would instantly puncture conventional PVC.
- 🛡️ PVC tape: affordable, easy to repair, fully sealed, but less resistant to abrasion.
- 🕸️ Kevlar grid: maximum strength, minimum weight, but requires careful installation and is more expensive.
- 🧱 Combined solutions: a layer of Kevlar with protective PVC film on top, combining strength and smoothness.
There are also options with the addition of a Teflon coating, which reduces friction and facilitates the boat's sliding on the water, but the main criterion remains the ability of the material to withstand mechanical stress without loss of leakage.
Criteria for the selection of quality tape
And buy a tape for booking the bottom of the PVC boatThe SD, which will last for many years, you have to pay attention to a number of technical parameters. Not all the offers on the market are of the same quality, and cheap counterparts can peel off in one season.
The first thing to look at is the thickness of the material. The optimal indicator for bottom tape is the range from 3 to 5 mm. Too thin tape will not give the desired protection effect, and excessively thick can create excessive resistance to water and weight the boat.
The second important parameter is elasticity. The material should bend at low temperatures without cracking. If you plan to use the boat in the cold season, check the certificate of frost resistance or do a simple bending test at sub-zero temperature.
| Parameter | Budget PVC | PVC reinforced | kevlar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness (mm) | 1.5 - 2.0 | 3.0 - 5.0 | 2.0 - 4.0 |
| Weight (g/sqm) | 600 - 800 | 900 - 1200 | 400 - 600 |
| Resistance to abrasion | Low. | Medium | High. |
| Price per foot. | Low. | Medium | High. |
Also worth paying attention to the surface texture, for the bottom, it is better to choose rough options that provide better grip on the ground and reduce the slip of people inside the boat when moving.
Where to buy and what to pay attention to when ordering
Buying materials for tuning a boat is a responsible process. booking-stick In specialized boating stores or at official dealers of PVC boat manufacturers, this ensures that you get certified goods, not artisanal fakes.
When ordering online, be sure to specify the dimensions of the cut. The tape is often sold in rolls 25, 50 or 100 cm wide. For a full booking of the bottom and protection of cylinders ("skis"), a significant amount of footage may be required, so it is better to take with a margin.
⚠️ Note: When buying, make sure that the tape is designed for external use and has protection from ultraviolet radiation, otherwise it will quickly collapse in the sun.
Many manufacturers offer ready-made reservation kits that include cut-out elements for the bow, bottom and cylinder protection, which makes it easier to do, since you do not need to calculate the geometry of the stickers yourself.
Technology of installation of armored tape DIY
The quality of protection is 50 percent dependent on the material and 50 percent on the correct installation, and even the most expensive Kevlar tape will unstick if the bonding technology is broken, and the process requires cleanliness, precision and the right chemicals.
First, you have to prepare the surface carefully, wash the bottom of the boat with detergent, degrease (like acetone or a special cleaner) and dry it completely, and any dust or oily film will reduce adhesion of the glue.
Next comes the process of applying glue. The best option is to use two-component polyurethane adhesives designed for PVC. The adhesive is applied to both glued surfaces (both tape and boat) in two layers at intervals for drying.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for the sticker
Once the parts are connected, they must be carefully rolled with a hard roller from center to edge to squeeze out all the air bubbles, the quality of the roller directly affects the strength of the connection, drying must occur at room temperature for a day, after which the boat can be used.
Armored bottom care and repair
The presence of armor does not mean that you can forget about the boat. Regular inspection of the sticker condition is mandatory. Over time, the edges may start to pick up, especially if the installation was not perfect.
Repair of armored tapes If the top layer of PVC is damaged, it can be sealed with a conventional remix, and if Kevlar is broken, it may require a replacement of the entire segment, which is more difficult to do at home, but possible with skill.
Store the boat with glued armor is better in straightened form or in a free roller, so that there are no cracks on the places of the folds, which over time can lead to cracks in the material.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I put armor on an already assembled boat without disassembling it?
Technically, it's possible, but it's not recommended. For high-quality degreasing and drying of the glue, access to the inside of the balloon (if glued inside) or a flat surface for rolling (if outside) is critical. A sticker on an inflated boat will lead to poor grip and quick separation.
Will the booking reduce the speed of the boat?
Yes, increased bottom roughness and changes in hydrodynamics can reduce speed slightly (by about 1-2 km/h) and increase fuel consumption, but for tourist and fishing boats, this parameter is less important than passability and safety.
How long does the PVC tape glue dry?
The primary polymerization time is about 20-30 minutes between the layers, but the full strength is gained after 24-48 hours. It is recommended to operate the boat no earlier than a day after the work is completed at an air temperature of +20 ° C.
Do I need to grind the surface before the sticker?
Grinding (clean with abrasive) is only necessary if the surface of the boat is glossy protective coating or heavily contaminated with oxides. Modern PVC adhesives often require just thorough degreasing, but stripping with fine sandpaper (P240) improves adhesion.