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I've got a zodiac style raft that has a slow leak somewhere. Plan on finding it, and fixing it. Anybody have a recommendation for a good product for repairing rafts?

Give these guys a call. Always had good luck with them. Knowledgable and helpful every time I've called or walked in.

http://www.alaskaraftandkayak.com/repair-items.html

1-800-606-5950

This what I used; Aire Repair

Ed

This is the stuff your raft really needs after you get it fixed..

http://www.alaskaraftandkayak.com/303-aerospace-protectant-2-oz.html

ime

all good advice received here Calvin


run with it and good luck


I hate a leaky raft

+100

Thanks guys. Now I need to track down that leak. The raft is an interesting one. It has a hard aluminum V bottom. Made in canada. Really want to get it going.

I really like those Aluminum hull ones. I have a friend that owns a Naiad/Solas. What a sweet setup that is.

They are sweet until the fabric parts with the aluminum... Then repairs get real expensive if they are even doable.

I have the feeling the raft is 15 or so years old. Might not even be fixable.

Speaking of boats...

I need to get a hydraulic directional control valve to run a 10" kolstrand hauler. Anybody have any recommendations on one of those?

The best way to find the leak is use kids soap bubbles and go over every square inch. Dish soap will work but kids bubbly stuff is the perfect mix. Another way is put your ear on the raft and listen for leaks. I've found leaks by hearing the high pitched whistle.

The one issue that renders a raft unrepairable is if the rubber is rotten and is cracked ... in many places. If it's not rotten patch it up. Get the good stuff from AK raft and kayak.

303 is really good stuff but it's very expensive. It is one of the best UV protectants you can buy. FWIW (and not that it matters), I used work for the founder of 303 products back in the 70's and my BF is married to his daughter.

West marine sells a liquid rubber for re-doing the whole bottom. I think Murray's sells a version locally as well.

Kinda at that point where I have to decide to dump money into something that might be a hole in the water, or go new. See some of the older salts going to a walker bay type dingy for getting from boat to the beach. I'm sure they've had enough with rafts. Can't warm up to the thought of a sit on top kayak.

You have to baby rafts, that is for sure. The coatings are good to extend the life a bit but they add a lot of weight and are not going to make it like new.

Like My new Saturns very impressed with the performance and price.

http://www.boatstogo.com/

Have the 15 ft AK Kaboat and the 13 ft fishing Kayak

If the rubber/fabric is good, I wouldn't have a problem putting some money into fixing leaks. Like FH said above though, once that starts to go, either junk it or plan a rebuild. The last thing you want to start doing is patching rotten tubes, cause there is always another leak waiting all around the patch.

national fisherman newspaper for the hauler

Well, an update. It's held air for a week, so I'm calling it fixed...(grin) It had it's fair share of scrapes I had to patch. The last one that I had trouble finding was a small burn mark that had a pinhole in it.

My 10' Avon has developed a leak what did you use to fix the leak?

I had a patch kit for a west marine raft that I used.