Fishcat 4 is leaking air....HELP!

[djazzbass]

Out on the water in my Fishcat 4 Deluxe and noticed my rear was getting a little wetter than normal, looked at the right bladder and it was way soft.

Took the bladder out at home, aired it up and readily found the hole right next to a "seam" on the bladder. The hole is small here, less than 1/16 "....but I suspect it will be hard to repair something right next to a seam like that.

Aquaseal? The Tear-.Aid patch that came with it? Replace the bladder?

As to cause, I air it up pretty firm, but always check for a little "give" in the fabric. This looks like something that would be due to overinflation.

While I'm at it, I don't have all that much confidence in the inflatable seat, if I were to replace it with foam (can I?), what would be the specs as far a thickness and type?


Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

DJ
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Aquaseal is probably your best bet...for a hole next to a seam. Tough to get a patch or tape to smooth down enough for a good seal. FC4s have the vinyl bladders and they are not as tough as urethane. More prone to splitting from pressure. No need to replace it unless an Aquaseal patch will not fix it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Not sure of the specs on the foam. Check with the FloatTubeStore or Outcast for replacement info. Then if you can find suitable material you can cut and fit your own. Styrofoam won't get it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]No problem with replacing an inflated seat with a foam one. Just have to have the right material of the right size.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[flygoddess]

First off, glad you are okay and didn't loose anything.

Now, Outcast has a great warranty...can't you send it back?

Myself, If I were going to patch it, I would use Aquaseal.

I know I have read somewhere about replacement foam seats, maybe someone will chime in on it.

I have had three tubes with inflatable seats and never had any trouble, but then, I have never had any kind of leak.
I am pretty hard on my tube however...the inflatable seats are not that easy to pop. The material is pretty thick.
[signature]

[djazzbass]

goddess,

thanks...didn't come close to losing anything or sinking. I aired this bladder up at least 2 hours ago, and it has not completely deflated yet, in fact it has most of its air. Only when you pump up the pressure does it start leaking. So I think it would be easy to patch. I believe I have had the Fishcat about a year now, so maybe they would send me a new bladder, certainly worth checking.....

td, or anyone....

where does one find aquaseal?

DJ
[signature]

[flygoddess]

Sportsman's Warehouse, Recreation Outfitters (NOT REI or KIRKHAMS).

I got a sweet deal on E-Bay
[signature]

[TubeDude]

"where does one find aquaseal?"

[cool][#0000ff]There are a surprising number of places that carry it. Almost any place that sells inflatable toys or watercraft. Ditto for tents or other outdoor gear.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You might also want to consider getting a small bottle of the curing accelerant called "Cotol". It is a thin clear liquid that you mix in with the Aquaseal to speed up the curing cycle. Good stuff to have if you need a repair while out on a trip. Otherwise it takes several hours to cure enough for use.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Another note is that you should wipe off the excess on the threaded area after use, put the cap on tightly and then store it in the freezer. The aromatic chemicals in this product escape easily and it will go hard inside the container over time. Freezing makes it last longer between uses.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Illinoisgiller]

Your description of the Leakey being BESIDE the seam and not leaking much except when inflated tight, leaves me to think it has absolutely nothing to do with a factory defect. It simply got poked with something. It could be simple as a thorn from a bush or stick.
Aqua Seal would be an excellent choice of repair.
Note- If this ever happens in the early stages of an outing, put the fill hose from your air pump on the valve and leave it there. If the bladder gets a bit soft, lean to the other side and give the soft one a few puffs of air. Works great to finish an outing-----or two. lol
I tried this with the valves on a fat cat--won't work. Too hard to get air through by mouth. They take a thorn just as easily though . [ So much for so called improvement ] Illinoisgiller
[signature]

[pontoonman]

I think the best repairs are from the inside, at least thats the way repaired tires hold up best. So I've thought of working through a wide valve opening like Bonston, Hawkley, etc. if the hole happens to be close enough for access. Another possibility is using a large injection needle and syringe to carefully inject repair liquid into the leak area for small holes, and work it around from the outside. Might work where you have transparent bladder material and can see what you are doing. Anybody done that, or is it more trouble than its worth?

Pon

[quote djazzbass]Out on the water in my Fishcat 4 Deluxe and noticed my rear was getting a little wetter than normal, looked at the right bladder and it was way soft.

Took the bladder out at home, aired it up and readily found the hole right next to a "seam" on the bladder. The hole is small here, less than 1/16 "....but I suspect it will be hard to repair something right next to a seam like that.

Aquaseal? The Tear-.Aid patch that came with it? Replace the bladder?

As to cause, I air it up pretty firm, but always check for a little "give" in the fabric. This looks like something that would be due to overinflation.

While I'm at it, I don't have all that much confidence in the inflatable seat, if I were to replace it with foam (can I?), what would be the specs as far a thickness and type?


Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

DJ[/quote]
[signature]