Re: Seam repair on my Mercury 430
Repairing a floor seam is not easy, but with the proper prep and environment a very strong bond results. You must remove all old glue. New glue will not stick to old glue. I bought my boat with poor repairs in place. Removing the ridiculous thick glue layers was a pain. I used abrasive wheels from Dremel to remove the glue and avoid damaging the underlying PVC coating.
If a section of your floor is separating there is probably more to go. All of my floor seam did not come apart. But I did pull apart any part of the floor seam that would separate without damaging the PVC coating on the fabric. Very dishearteneing to expand the opened seams, but you should do this for a reliable repair.
Larger sections were glued in place with the boat flipped. Smaller sections can be done in place from below. I used thread and weights to hold my seams open when working from below.
You will find that the glue in the cracks at the end of a seam you are repairing will not dry out at the same rate as the rest of the repair. It can be hard to have a good active glue across the repair area and into the cracks. I often apply pressure in these spots to hold the bond together until the glue cures. The tackiness of the rest of the open area holds the repair together, but those little end crevices need some help. The glue will cure and the repairs do hold well. Not an issues for gluing accesories or patches, but I've included a pic with a painters extension pressing on the back edge of a speed tube repair. Has never come loose.
The environmental conditions have to be right. The two part glue is hygroscopic and the bond strength deteriorates with moisture. I have included a link to the real method of using two part glues. If any part of these directions sounds too complicated you should get a professional to do this. The MEK (not acetone) wipes are absolutely necessary, the multiple layers of glue and the drying times are key and the time allowed for cure is not to be foreshortened! Do not guess at the humidity. Do not go by how it feels out or what the weatherman says. I bought a cheap hygrometer for $12. It is a good investment. Don't work if it is too hot or cold either. Those guidelines in the instructions should be adhered to.
I've reglued much of my zodiac including the transom. None of my reglued seams has failed. Proper prep, positioning your work so all repairs are easy clean untensioned layers, watching the humidity and fresh glue make it work.
The two patches on the floor seam in the background do not hold the seam in place, they repair damage to the tube by the PO when he prepped for the repairs on that section. Be careful removing old glue . Don't make things worse!
Removing glue from the front edge of a speed tube.
Pressure on the back edge of the spped tube repair. Glue was not tacky enough in the crack to hold the layers without help.
How professionals use two part glue.
http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/INFO/INFOGLUE.html
I prefer Sta Bond two part PVC glue and I get it fresh from NRS. Whatever you do make sure you mix properly.
