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Author Topic:   Solvent to repair a vinyl fender

Hoosier posted 03-30-2013 08:31 PM ET (US)
I need to fix a cut in a Dockmate fender and need some suggestions on what to use, MEK didn't work.
contender posted 03-31-2013 01:01 PM ET (US)
I do not know of any material/glue that will hold to vinyl, It has a property of oil in it and this does not allow for a good bond, Maybe some type of vulcanization, but this would cost you more that a new fender... You can try installing a port (like a thru hull fitting with no hole) that you can tighten from both sides with the fender deflated. And then see if the fender will hold the air. But again by the time you try this it would be just easier to purchase a new fender...Good luck
Jefecinco posted 03-31-2013 06:35 PM ET (US)
Dave,
What is the warranty claim possibility?
Butch
Tom W Clark posted 04-01-2013 09:09 AM ET (US)
You do not "fix" a punctured Dockmate fender, you go buy a new one.
Hoosier posted 04-01-2013 07:04 PM ET (US)
OK, here's "the rest of the story". I tried acetone, it had no effect, I went to Gander Mountain, where I bought it, no effect either since it only had a 90 day warranty and wouldn't have covered punctures anyway. Next it was Taylor Made's FAQ page for fenders. "How do I fix a puncture in a fender"..."Get some pool patch or contact LaCrosse for their wader patch..."
Duh? So I turned around, picked up my almost empty tube of Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, & Plastic Flexible Adhesive and slathered it in and around the cut and let it cure overnight. It's been holding 10 PSI for the past 2 hours.
David Pendleton posted 04-01-2013 11:06 PM ET (US)

quote:

You do not "fix" a punctured Dockmate fender, you go buy a new one.

Plotman posted 04-02-2013 07:59 AM ET (US)
It has to hold way more than 10 psi when your boat crushing it against a piling or pier...
Run it over with your car - if it holds, then you can call it good.
Hoosier posted 04-02-2013 08:10 AM ET (US)
I'll give it a real test as soon as the water is soft enough to launch the boat...
wezie posted 04-02-2013 06:10 PM ET (US)
In the middle of the night in the rain and when the wind blows the trees around is the time of the test. These are the moments of anxiety, intense worry, or confidence.
Sleep well.
Tom W Clark posted 04-02-2013 06:13 PM ET (US)
Actually, I'm impressed. I wouldn't have though the thickness of a fender would offer enough surface area for the glue to hold.
Let us know at the end of the season how it has held up.
Hoosier posted 04-03-2013 07:38 PM ET (US)
Tom,
One thing I made sure of was that the glue got inside of the cut by bending the edges back and gooping it up so some got inside the fender. I set it with the cut facing down and let it cure so there would be a seal on the "in" side of the cut. As of a couple of minutes ago it was still holding; I stood on it and it held my 190 lbs just fine.
Now to get this off course for the sake of discussion, how much pressure should one have in a fender anyway? I've always thought that they should be a bit mushy to absorb shock and to conform to the two surfaces being separated.
egres posted 04-03-2013 08:23 PM ET (US)
And for this truly leaky subject..Here are a few good suggestions.
1-Insert a patch to the inside.
2- Fill up the fissure with compatible filler
3-Apply a patch to the topside.
4-Get your handy duct tape and secure area.
For the life left in this fender, the above steps should do the trick.
http://octanecreative.com/ducttape/bodyshop/carstories.html
EJO posted 04-09-2013 11:30 AM ET (US)
Have you ever tried using a soldering iron, welding the hole you can melt some extra old material on top if needed.
Works great.
I thought 15 to 20 psi is more than enough to keep a fender working.
tmann45 posted 04-10-2013 10:10 AM ET (US)

quote:
how much pressure should one have in a fender anyway?
Although they don't make the Dockmate fender, Taylor Made recommends 2 psi for all of their inflatable fenders.

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Author	Topic: Solvent to repair a vinyl fender
Hoosier	posted 03-30-2013 08:31 PM ET (US) I need to fix a cut in a Dockmate fender and need some suggestions on what to use, MEK didn't work.
contender	posted 03-31-2013 01:01 PM ET (US) I do not know of any material/glue that will hold to vinyl, It has a property of oil in it and this does not allow for a good bond, Maybe some type of vulcanization, but this would cost you more that a new fender... You can try installing a port (like a thru hull fitting with no hole) that you can tighten from both sides with the fender deflated. And then see if the fender will hold the air. But again by the time you try this it would be just easier to purchase a new fender...Good luck
Jefecinco	posted 03-31-2013 06:35 PM ET (US) Dave, What is the warranty claim possibility? Butch
Tom W Clark	posted 04-01-2013 09:09 AM ET (US) You do not "fix" a punctured Dockmate fender, you go buy a new one.
Hoosier	posted 04-01-2013 07:04 PM ET (US) OK, here's "the rest of the story". I tried acetone, it had no effect, I went to Gander Mountain, where I bought it, no effect either since it only had a 90 day warranty and wouldn't have covered punctures anyway. Next it was Taylor Made's FAQ page for fenders. "How do I fix a puncture in a fender"..."Get some pool patch or contact LaCrosse for their wader patch..." Duh? So I turned around, picked up my almost empty tube of Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, & Plastic Flexible Adhesive and slathered it in and around the cut and let it cure overnight. It's been holding 10 PSI for the past 2 hours.
David Pendleton	posted 04-01-2013 11:06 PM ET (US) quote: You do not "fix" a punctured Dockmate fender, you go buy a new one.
Plotman	posted 04-02-2013 07:59 AM ET (US) It has to hold way more than 10 psi when your boat crushing it against a piling or pier... Run it over with your car - if it holds, then you can call it good.
Hoosier	posted 04-02-2013 08:10 AM ET (US) I'll give it a real test as soon as the water is soft enough to launch the boat...
wezie	posted 04-02-2013 06:10 PM ET (US) In the middle of the night in the rain and when the wind blows the trees around is the time of the test. These are the moments of anxiety, intense worry, or confidence. Sleep well.
Tom W Clark	posted 04-02-2013 06:13 PM ET (US) Actually, I'm impressed. I wouldn't have though the thickness of a fender would offer enough surface area for the glue to hold. Let us know at the end of the season how it has held up.
Hoosier	posted 04-03-2013 07:38 PM ET (US) Tom, One thing I made sure of was that the glue got inside of the cut by bending the edges back and gooping it up so some got inside the fender. I set it with the cut facing down and let it cure so there would be a seal on the "in" side of the cut. As of a couple of minutes ago it was still holding; I stood on it and it held my 190 lbs just fine. Now to get this off course for the sake of discussion, how much pressure should one have in a fender anyway? I've always thought that they should be a bit mushy to absorb shock and to conform to the two surfaces being separated.
egres	posted 04-03-2013 08:23 PM ET (US) And for this truly leaky subject..Here are a few good suggestions. 1-Insert a patch to the inside. 2- Fill up the fissure with compatible filler 3-Apply a patch to the topside. 4-Get your handy duct tape and secure area. For the life left in this fender, the above steps should do the trick. http://octanecreative.com/ducttape/bodyshop/carstories.html
EJO	posted 04-09-2013 11:30 AM ET (US) Have you ever tried using a soldering iron, welding the hole you can melt some extra old material on top if needed. Works great. I thought 15 to 20 psi is more than enough to keep a fender working.
tmann45	posted 04-10-2013 10:10 AM ET (US) quote: how much pressure should one have in a fender anyway? Although they don't make the Dockmate fender, Taylor Made recommends 2 psi for all of their inflatable fenders.