Damage to a cliff while fishing or cruising is a classic nuisance that can turn an outdoor outdoor activity into a long journey of rowing on your hands. A situation where a plastic glass cracks or bursts out of the fabric is often taken by surprise, but don't panic. Inflatable vessel design Initially, it provides the possibility of rapid restoration of driving qualities even in the field.
Timely PVC boat-breaker A faulty node can cause a paddle to break, a vessel to lose control during the course, or even damage to the cylinder by the sharp edges of cracked plastic. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of diagnosis, selection of materials and recovery technology.
Rebuilding this site requires careful and temperature-responsive handling of adhesives, and we will look at both temporary solutions to get ashore and overhauls that will return the boat to factory performance. Properly executed pasting provides strength of the connection, exceeding the strength of the PVC fabric itself.
Diagnostics of damage and choosing a repair strategy
Before we act, we need to take a hard look at the scale of the disaster, and the damage to the keys is divided into two main types: mechanical destruction of the plastic glass itself and disruption of the adhesive seam or cylinder fabric at the mounting site. In the first case, the problem is solved by simply replacing the part, in the second case, it requires more complex restoration.
If you find that the switch is hanging, but the plastic is intact, it's likely that the adhesive layer has been ripped off, often due to the use of poor-quality glue in manufacturing or overheating the boat in the sun, and carefully examine the joint, if you see the threads of the fabric or the PVC itself, then the adhesion is broken. Clutch repairs In this case, it will require a complete cleaning of the surface from the old glue.
When a plastic glass has burst in half or broken off its mustache, simply gluing it with superglue is not going to help. The load on this knot when rowing is enormous, especially on the wave or against the current. It will require a complete replacement of the element. For a temporary solution, you can use a metal sleeve or even a solid wooden stick inserted into the rest of the piece, but this is only a way to get home.
⚠️ Attention: Never attempt to row using a damaged squirrel if there is a risk that the sharp edge of the plastic will rub the balloon. The air pressure combined with mechanical friction can cause the camera or balloon to cut instantly.
The type of damage that you want to do is you want to do what you do, and if you're just breaking the plastic, you're looking for a new piece of it, and if you're in a tissue, you're getting ready to patch it, and often you combine these things, you restore the integrity of the cylinder, and then you stick a new piece of it in.
Required materials and tools for recovery
The quality of the repair depends on the materials used. Trying to save on glue or use the wrong solvent will lead to the fact that after a couple of trips the key will be back in the water.
The basis of any repair is glue. For PVC boats, two-component polyurethane adhesives or special single-component polychloroprene compounds are used. Desmocoll mixed with a hardener) create a seam that is not afraid of water and temperature changes, while the usual "Moments" can be layered.
Besides glue, you'll need solvents to degrease, acetone or a special degreaser to remove fat spots and dirt, and you'll need sandpaper with grain. P80-P120 to create roughness (wounding) of surfaces, which significantly improves adhesion.
List of necessary tools and materials:
- 🛠️ Hair dryer - Mandatory for heating the glued surfaces to 50-60 ° C, which activates the adhesive layer.
- 🧪 Solvent (acetone, toluene or special means) - for thorough cleaning and degreasing.
- 📏 Marker and ruler - for accurate marking of the place of installation of the new switch.
- 🖌️ Brush - hard, synthetic, for applying glue with a thin layer.
- 🏋️ Blow (load) - sandbag or dumbbell to press the part during drying.
Use only clean rags without pile to wipe surfaces, and the remaining villi can become centers of adhesive detachment under load.
Special attention should be paid to the keyboard itself, it is best to purchase original components from the manufacturer of the boat (for example, the manufacturer of the boat). Flagship, Aqua, hunterIf you can't find the original, choose generic models with a wide area of sticking. Narrow exceptions hold worse and create more point stress on the fabric.
Technology of Plastic Replacement
The replacement process begins with the removal of the damaged element, and if the old key is still held but damaged, it must be carefully cut with a sharp knife, trying not to damage the fabric of the cylinder, the residue of the old glue and PVC are removed mechanically and cleaned with sandpaper to a smooth state.
The next step is to prepare the surface, and the place is thoroughly degreased with solvent, and don't waste time on this stage, because the fat, the sunscreen, or the dirt will nullify all the effort, and after degreasing, the surface is coated with sandpaper, creating micro-scratches that the glue will penetrate.
The technology may vary depending on the brand of the composition, but the classic method for polyurethane adhesives is as follows:
- Apply the first thin layer of glue to the balloon and the back of the key.
- We wait for drying "on the stick" (usually 10-15 minutes, depending on the temperature).
- Warm the surface with a hair dryer to 50-60 ° C (the hand is hot, but tolerant).
- We apply the second layer of glue, wait for drying again and warm again.
- We press the parts against each other, driving the air from under the switch from the center to the edges.
☑️ Checklist of sticker
It's important to keep the pressure uniform throughout the gluing area. For round switches, it's convenient to use a roller, rolling it from center to periphery. Once installed, the part must be fixed with a load. The full polymerization time is 12 to 24 hours at room temperature. Don't rush to load the boat ahead of time.
⚠️ Attention: When working with a dryer, do not overheat the PVC fabric. Temperatures above 80°C can lead to deformation or melting of the tank material, which will make the boat unusable.
Once dry, check the quality of the seam by trying to gently tuck the edge of the lump (no fanaticism). If the part is dead, you can move on to installing metal mustache holders if they were not included in the kit originally.
Installation and repair of metal mustache (holders)
Often, it's not the plastic base itself that breaks, but the metal mustache, the pivot mechanism that the paddle is inserted into, and in modern boats, they are either attached to special slots of plastic plugs or screwed directly into them through holes, and if the metal is bent, it can be straightened out, but if it bursts, it needs to be replaced.
Metal mustache replacements usually don't require glue, as they are removable elements. However, if the holes in the plastic are broken, the plug will still have to be changed. When installing new metal parts, make sure they rotate freely and don't have burrs that can rub the paddle.
There are also models of switches with integrated metal sleeves, where you can't repair the metal part, you can change the whole knot. When you buy, pay attention to the thickness of the metal. The thin aluminum quickly deforms when you row, especially if you're a rower with a lot of weight.
Table of comparison of types of moustache attachment:
| Type of attachment | Reliability | Difficulty replacing | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insert in the grooves | High. | Low (removable) | Universal. |
| Screw joint. | Medium | Medium | Depends on the pitch of the carving |
| The casting squirrel. | High. | High (glue) | Only the original. |
To prevent creaking and jamming of the mechanism, it is recommended to periodically lubricate the rubbing metal parts with silicone lubrication, which will prolong the life of the unit and make rowing more pleasant.
What to do if one mustache is lost?
You can temporarily use a strong cord or belt that runs through the holes of the switch, but this is an extreme measure. It is better to attach the paddle to the knot, although maneuverability will fall sharply.
Recovery of tissue at the place of attachment of the switch
The most difficult scenario is when the switch is pulled out with meat, that is, the cylinder itself is damaged, in which case simply gluing a new part is not enough. It requires a full repair of PVC fabric using a patch (repair tape).
The process begins with the edges of the rupture being aligned, and if the edges are ragged and shaggy, they must be carefully trimmed with scissors to give the damage the correct geometric shape (circle or oval), then a patch is cut from the rupture, which should cover the damage by at least 3-5 cm on all sides.
The gluing technology is similar to the sticker, but requires a larger processing area. The patch is glued on the outside of the balloon. Once the outer layer is dry, if the gap is through and deep, the operation can be repeated on the inside to reinforce, although in most cases a quality external patch is sufficient.
Once the patch is installed and dried, a new switch is pasted on top of it. It's important to precisely align the centers so that the paddle fits into its regular place. Shifting the paddle even by a centimeter can disrupt the boat's balance when rowing.
The quality of fabric repair directly affects safety. Seat tightness of the boat The area is critical because it's a dynamic area, and a poor patch can start to go away in a few months.
Prevention of breakdowns and care of fastening nodes
To avoid repairing in the middle of a body of water, you should follow simple rules of operation. The main reason for breakages of the keys is a careless installation of oars. Inserting the oar, do not make sudden jerks up or to the side, especially if the boat is standing on a hard bank or ice.
Check the plastic cells regularly. PVC ages under ultraviolet light, becoming more fragile. If you notice microcracks on plastic, you better replace the plug preventively before it collapses completely. The cost of the part is not comparable to the risk of staying on the water without moving.
When storing the boat assembled (which is not recommended, but is sometimes practiced), try not to leave the oars in the plugs under tension. This creates a constant tension at the point of the adhesive connection, which can lead to its weakening over time.
Regular inspection and lubrication of moving parts, as well as careful handling of oars prolong the life of the keys 3-4 times.
And you also have to consider the temperature, because in the cold, plastic becomes brittle, and the risk of breaking when hit by a paddle increases many times, and winter operation requires special care.
Can I put a squirrel in the cold?
PVC glue is not polymerized at low temperatures, and the fabric and plastic can have microcondensate that is invisible to the eye, repairs should only be carried out in a warm room at temperatures above +15°C.
Which glue is better: two-component or one-component?
For high-loading switches, a two-component polyurethane adhesive is preferred, which creates a stiffer, stronger, shear-resistant bond. Single-component adhesives (polychloroprene) are more elastic, but can float under prolonged static loads.
How much glue does the switch dry?
Primary grip occurs in 2-3 hours, but the full strength of the seams gains after 24 hours at a temperature of 20 ° C. Operate the boat (load with oars) should not earlier than a day after repair.
How to replace the exception in an emergency?
As a temporary measure, you can use a V-neckline (if the design permits) in which the paddle fits, and you can also fasten the paddle with tape or rope to the hand holder or any rigid protruding part of the boat.
Do I need to clean the place of separation of the old key to holes?
No, you don't have to clean the holes, you just have to remove the exfoliated glue and dirt, and you have to make it flat, and you have to do too much with a knife or sandpaper, and you can damage the power cord of the tissue, and you can weaken the balloon.