01-13-2013, 10:09 PM
[cool][#0000FF]Good to have multiple options. I usually prefer the permanent and all-emcompassing fix of Aquaseal if I have the luxury of time for it to properly cure. But I have saved a few trips when my craft sustained a pinhole puncture from a hook, fish spine or even a cactus spine (when I lived in Arizona) by using the quick-fix tape. All ya gotta do is remove the bladder, clean the area around the hole with alcohol and apply the patch. Air it back up and hit the water.
Most of those tape patches hold up well. I still have some that are several years old. But I have also had them "let go". Probably improper cleaning or application. That's why I prefer the Aquaseal when I have the time for it to cure. I have never had one of those fixes fail. And I have used it on seams, triangle tears...you name it.
I doubt if I would trust the patch tape on a seam leak. Too much stress and uneven flexing. It is designed to cover small holes for fast repairs. Part of the effectiveness is that when the bladder is reinflated against the cover the pressure helps hold the patch in place as long as needed. But several successive inflations, uses and deflations can weaken the hold. It is not a heat weld or chemical bond. It is good, but not that good.
I have tried several different vinyl repair kits, with different vinyl cements. They work on pool toys and other low-pressure inflatables but only so-so on vinyl/PVC air bladders for float tubes. Some hold for a while. Others fail as soon as you air up your tube to the max after the repair. But, with technology marching on, we can only hope that someone will come up with something that will work for all the tubers and tooners with vinyl badders.
Have not had to address leaks in a bladderless craft. I know there are high-powered adhesives that will chemically weld attachments and patches onto them, but don't know anything about quick fixes.
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Most of those tape patches hold up well. I still have some that are several years old. But I have also had them "let go". Probably improper cleaning or application. That's why I prefer the Aquaseal when I have the time for it to cure. I have never had one of those fixes fail. And I have used it on seams, triangle tears...you name it.
I doubt if I would trust the patch tape on a seam leak. Too much stress and uneven flexing. It is designed to cover small holes for fast repairs. Part of the effectiveness is that when the bladder is reinflated against the cover the pressure helps hold the patch in place as long as needed. But several successive inflations, uses and deflations can weaken the hold. It is not a heat weld or chemical bond. It is good, but not that good.
I have tried several different vinyl repair kits, with different vinyl cements. They work on pool toys and other low-pressure inflatables but only so-so on vinyl/PVC air bladders for float tubes. Some hold for a while. Others fail as soon as you air up your tube to the max after the repair. But, with technology marching on, we can only hope that someone will come up with something that will work for all the tubers and tooners with vinyl badders.
Have not had to address leaks in a bladderless craft. I know there are high-powered adhesives that will chemically weld attachments and patches onto them, but don't know anything about quick fixes.
[/#0000FF]
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