Sevylor “Zodiac”

[bikersmurf]

I know this is about as far as I can get away from a Landcruiser. I picked up an 11’ Zodiac that’ll fit inside my Ambo, or on top of the 40. For $50 it was hard to pass up. The add said it was good before it was put in storage a couple years ago.

It seems to hold air well, but there are a couple spots where the floor has come unglued from the tubes. Other than that, it appears to be in decent shape with no visible deterioration of the material.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what glue to use to repair the loose seams?

I’m hoping to get it at Industrial Plastics or somewhere not boat shop to avoid the boat markup on materials.

I’ve read that the area needs to be prepared with methyl ethyl keytone… but have zero experience with this sort of repair and would appreciate advice.

 

[seapotato]

I dimly recall there being a special glue for that. Was like contact cement I think, only more flexible.

There was a shop in Nanaimo that repaired rubber ducks back in the day...long gone now.

Also depends on what it's made of...hypalon?

In the early 90's zodiac changed their formula and the glue joints all failed after a year.

Knew a guy who was so pissed after it shat the bed on him in the middle of nowhere (like Tonga nowhere) he started gluing with 5200.

It was ugly as hell but it worked.

 

[bikersmurf]

It’s a 2000

unfortunately I don’t know what it’s made of. Fabric reinforced ‘rubber’ of unknown variety

 

[seapotato]

It’s a 2000

unfortunately I don’t know what it’s made of. Fabric reinforced ‘rubber’ of unknown variety

Might even be a type of pvc now.

I see there's repair kits that have a PVC and a hypalon version, so probably need to figure out which one it is.

Being Sevylor, I'd lean heavily towards pvc, but ???

 

[bikersmurf]

I’m going to bring a part into the marine department at Industrial Plastics… I’d think they would have some idea.

Google hasn’t been any help.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Go to a zodiac or Stryker dealer and ask them. They’d know for sure what’s safe and effective

 

[seapotato]

I’m going to bring a part into the marine department at Industrial Plastics… I’d think they would have some idea.

Google hasn’t been any help.

Yeah, they'll probably know. I think I remember them having a display setup with patches on inflatables at the nanaimo shop before they moved.

 

[bikersmurf]

Inflatable Boat Material & Valve Reference Chart

Reference chart used to determine the correct material, glue and valves to use when repairing a boat from a specific manufacturer.

www.nrs.com

PVC or Hypalon? | Polymarine how to Clean and Repair Inflatable Boats, Dinghies and RIBS

www.polymarine.com

Looks like PVC from two independent sources. Apparently I’d been asking google the wrong questions.

 

[seapotato]

Inflatable Boat Material & Valve Reference Chart

Reference chart used to determine the correct material, glue and valves to use when repairing a boat from a specific manufacturer.

www.nrs.com

View attachment 2781736
View attachment 2781735

PVC or Hypalon? | Polymarine how to Clean and Repair Inflatable Boats, Dinghies and RIBS

www.polymarine.com

View attachment 2781737View attachment 2781738View attachment 2781739

Looks like PVC from two independent sources. Apparently I’d been asking google the wrong questions.

Figured it likely was. I remember hypalon being more expensive so it was only still used by the higher end stuff. Like Avon. When west marine came along regular folk could finally afford a soft dinghy. Waaay cheaper.

Zodiac the brand cheaped out in the 90s, probably to compete with west.

Everyone uses the zodiac name but it's kinda like Kleenex.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Everyone uses the zodiac name but it's kinda like Kleenex.

I’ve been on the Zodiac site. They don’t cheap out anything, look at the Milspec boats. I’ve actually been looking at every kind of inflatable there is lately. I wish I could get a zodiac. But that’s like comparing Tesla to Nissan Leaf for pricing. All North American content is made in South Carolina now.

 

[seapotato]

I’ve been on the Zodiac site. They don’t cheap out anything, look at the Milspec boats. I’ve actually been looking at every kind of inflatable there is lately. I wish I could get a zodiac. But that’s like comparing Tesla to Nissan Leaf for pricing. All North American content is made in South Carolina now.

Wasn't my experience. They made boats that literally fell apart at the seams.

Arrive in harbor, inflate dinghy go ashore, go back out and pick up the poor bastards that owned zodiacs that had whole seams fail when they tried to inflate. Rinse repeat.

Wasn't a one off thing.

Pretty much lived with inflatables for a few years. They were our cars to get out of the house.


You couldn't pay an Aussie to own a zodiac back then, the company had serious issues.

Probably bought by someone else for that name recognition so maybe they've changed.

Edit... apparently so.

Zodiac Nautic - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

We had an old west marine, and sold it for an even older Avon rib, I'd rather have had a caribe, they came out with the bigger diameter tubes so you actually could get somewhere with a dry ass, but too much money.

 

[bcsteel]

If it’s pvc you can use aqua seal. Just needs to be cleaned and scuffed. Ad the goop. If it’s Hypalon then get the 2 part stuff from nrs and apply as directed

 

[bikersmurf]

If it’s pvc you can use aqua seal. Just needs to be cleaned and scuffed. Ad the goop. If it’s Hypalon then get the 2 part stuff from nrs and apply as directed

It’s PVC according to all the literature and factors. Haven’t sanded it yet, but both sides are the same colour and Sevylor are made of PVC. Actual Zodiac changed through the years as listed above.

 

[bcsteel]

Use aqua seal. Light scuff, clean with alcohol. You can buy pvc patch kits. Use aqua seal liberally. It works great.

 

[bcsteel]

Adhesives & Solvents

The unsung heroes of the repair and maintenance world, adhesives, solvents, epoxies and seam sealants keep your raft and inflatable on the water for years of adventure.

www.nrs.com

several options at nrs for repair.