Viking Marine Boats and Outboards

TUBE REPAIRS
We are now able to offer a tube repair service on all makes of Rib. Contact us for details.

TIPs for DIY tube repair

Patches
A rib repair patch should be cut to a size allowing 5cm (2 ins) all around the tube tear. The patch should be cut with rounded corners as these will glue better and will not be snagged as easily as sharp corners. The side to be glued should be sanded to give a dull surface which is they key for the glue.
All surfaces should be sanded just enough to give a dull surface finish. This surface is the key for the glue to attach itself to. Do not sand through the top layer or you will expose the high tensile fabric fibres which will not provide a strong bond. The prepared surfaces must be cleaned of all traces of dust, grease, finger oils etc before gluing. The glue should be mixed with the hardener/catalyst according to manufacturers directions. Both surfaces should be coated with a layer of glue. Not too thin but also not too thick. The glue should be allowed to go past being tacky before it is ready for a second coating. If you touch the surface of the glue lightly with a knuckle it should not stick to your skin. If it does then the glue has not gone off enough.
A second light coating of glue is then applied to both surfaces and allowed to start going off. When the glue surface becomes non tacky, it is ready to be joined. Do not touch with fingers as fingers leave oils on glue surface which spoil bonding.The glue is a contact glue and once the two surfaces are pressed together they will not come apart easily.Apply the tube repairing patch carefully over the tear making sure the two sides of the tear are in contact. Then press down firmly in the center of the patch and apply pressure working outwards to the edges.A hard rubber or metal roller is then used to roll the patch from the center outwards in all directions. This pushes all air bubbles out and ensures full contact between the two surfaces. The rib repair patch should then be rolled in all directions firmly.

Tube Attachment Repairs
If your RIB tube is the glued on type, it may occasionally become detached from the hull. In this event the RIB Tube repair is a simple case of cleaning both surfaces of all sand and salt and sanding both surfaces to a dull finish before re-gluing. All traces of dust, grease and finger oils must be removed from prepped area before re-gluing. Glue is applied to both surfaces and allowed to start to go off before applying a second layer of glue. Again wait for the glue to start to go off and becomes non tacky before joining surfaces. When applying glue layers to the crevices at each end of the hypalon repair, care must be taken not to put too much glue in the crevices. Too much glue in the crevices will cause a weak point in the repair. Follow glue manufacturers directions for optimum bonding of your boat tube repairing. Allow full curing time before use.
For mechanical fitting RIB Tube repairs we will need to know exactly what the problem is to be able to advise on the required course of action.

Repairing Rib Tube Seams
Again, when repairing rib tube seams, both surfaces must be sanded clean to a dull surface before applying two glue layers to both surfaces and re-joining. Allow each glue layer to become non tacky before applying second layer of glue, allowing to become non tacky and joining. See prepping instructions and use a roller firmly to get a strong bond of the seams. Care must be taken not to put too much glue into the crevices. Follow glue manufacturers instructions for mixing and curing times.