What to do in case of a flat tire on the tube of your Zodiac?
Of course, inflatable floats are designed robustly (well maintained, a tube Hypalon can last up to 25 years!), but no one is immune to a puncture. An unfortunate snag with a sharp object during a fishing trip, or even a collision with rocks or coral are things that can happen.
You then notice that the fabric of your inflatable tubes is loosening, and you feel the effects of deflation: you must act quickly!
The good news is that the tubes of semi-rigid boats lend themselves very well to repair in case of a puncture. So, how should you proceed if your inflatable boat's tube gets punctured? What steps should you follow to repair it? Orca Retail has the answers for you.
1. Locate the leak
First of all, make sure to locate all the areas that may have been affected. Even if you have visually spotted a tear in your tube, it's now or never to check everything and get rid of all possible punctures.
The first method of verification can be done dry: inflate your tube to the maximum, then press on it (for example, by sitting on it). This will force the air to escape through the "wound". Listen carefully to hear this leak. For large models of tubes, a little help won't hurt. This method is simple, but unfortunately, it is not always easy to spot the leak in a noisy environment, when there are various sources of leaks, or when it is very small.
That's why we rather recommend the second method, more tedious but more precise, using a body of water. Maneuver your tube to immerse it piece by piece in the water, pressing on it. If you see air bubbles escaping, you've found the culprit!
If you still encounter difficulties, you can also purchase a leak detection spray in stores. You will then need to apply a layer of product on the suspicious areas. A thin film will form on the surface of your inflatable float, and if there is a leak, bubbles will form there.
As a last resort, call on a specialized repairer for semi-rigid boats near you! To do this, check our section dedicated to our repair partners or our blog.
2. Repair the puncture
If the damage is limited, you can, as with any inflatable, simply use Zodiac patches. However, in case of a larger tear, we recommend directly calling on a professional and using our suitable repair fabrics.
We will go over a repair with patches, here are the steps:
- Spread your fully deflated tube on a flat surface.
- Cut a patch. It should be rounded in shape and larger than the hole.
- Degrease the surface to be glued using a cloth and acetone, as well as the patch.
- Brush the patch with special glue using a brush. Repeat this step 2 to 3 times, allowing 10 minutes for the glue to dry.
- Also brush glue around the hole using a brush.
- Once the area around the hole and your patch is ready, install the patch with precision.
- Remove air bubbles by pressing on the newly placed patch with a tool, and press firmly to ensure the patch adheres and the glue dries.
- Finally, clean the perimeter again using acetone, in a superficial manner.
And there you go! You have repaired your punctured tube all by yourself! For optimal results, wait 2 days before putting your semi-rigid back in the water.
Tips to avoid punctures
You have finished your repair session on your inflatable float, what precautions should you take to prevent it from happening again?
1. Inflate your tube properly
This may seem counterintuitive, but an over-inflated inflatable boat tube will wear out less quickly than an under-inflated tube. You can therefore inflate your float without hesitation, especially since overpressure valves have been equipping most models for over 10 years.
2. Invest in fenders
This is particularly useful for mooring phases, as using fenders while driving is not ideal. But using them for entering or leaving the port is a good idea. Even if the impacts with boats or docks are minimal, over time, this can wear out your semi-rigid floats.
3. Reinforce your float
Use our inflatable repair fabrics to provide unparalleled resistance to your floats. Orca Retail offers a wide choice in this area, in terms of boat length, colors, and finishes to customize your inflatable tubes as you see fit. Our Hypalon (Neoprene / CSM) fabrics are guaranteed for 5 years and are recommended by hundreds of repairers!
Another way to improve the strength and robustness of your floats is to buy rubrails to stick along them.
Discover our maintenance products for semi-rigid boats
- Neoprene repair fabrics for tubes floats
- Inflatable boat cleaner
- Anti-mold product for inflatable boat
- Wax for inflatable boat
- Glue for inflatable boats
- Flexible tanks for fuel and water
- rubrails
