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How to find and fix a leak in a raft?

6K views 17 replies 8 participants last post by  Jim F. 
#1 ·
Hey guys, I have a Curtis raft that has a leak in it, and was wanting to get it ready for some backpacking this Summer. What process do you use to find they leak, and how to you repair them? I don't have the patch material sent with the boat. Just curious how you would go about it.

I have to say, my attempts at fixing waders in the past have all failed, so I obviously have no idea what I'm doing when finding and fixing leaks.

Thanks!
 
#3 ·
If the hole is small, you can use AquaSeal or some other waterproof adhesive that sets flexible. Outdoor Goop will work and I've heard that AquaSeal is a thin type of the same stuff they use for Outdoor Goop.

If the hole is large, you must know the material of your raft and cut a patch of the same material. Attach it with AquaSeal, or again, a similar waterproof adhesive.

I've fixed lots of leaks in inflatable fishing devices with the above approach.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Scott, good advise. I came across a clear tape used by rubber rafters that was intended to use for sealing holes in a rubber raft during a trip. I know it works for rubber but I'm not sure about any other material. As my SuperCat is made from rubber raft material, I carry a roll of the clear tape.
 
#11 ·
I poked a pin hole in one of my tubes with an errant cast. A spray bottle with dish soap helped locate the leak. I marked the hole and deflated the tube. I used a drop of aqua seal on the leak and sucked the rest of the air out of the tube with a vacuum cleaner, actually pulling the some of aqua seal into the pin hole. It has held for over 8 years. Tom
 
#17 ·
You may be okay with using the sealant with the tube inflated... if it doesn't work, you can always reseal it.

Seams are indeed a bitch... so are valves. My SuperCat would lose air over time while hanging in my garage so I used the soapy water test and I found a number of tiny leaks in the cap end seams for the pontoons. I resealed all the seams on the ends. Now, when I inflate the pontoons they stay inflated for months and lose very, very little air between fishing trips.

Sometimes a valve will leak due to dirt keeping it open. If it is sticking, cleaning the valve will normally work. Other times you have no choice but to replace it.
 
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