mending plastic boats

   my feva has 2 cracks in the transom because it is one of the older hulls with the self draing channels not covered so there is a lot of load on them and a new hole has appeared near the rudder pintel plate. we have talked to RS and they said they couldn't mend it because they dont have anyone who knows how to do it. Does anyone know of anyone who does repairs on rotomoulded boats?

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
mike ellis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 30 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike ellis Report Post Quote Reply Topic: mending plastic boats Posted: 25 Aug 06 at 7:41pm
	my feva has 2 cracks in the transom because it is one of the older hulls with the self draing channels not covered so there is a lot of load on them and a new hole has appeared near the rudder pintel plate. we have talked to RS and they said they couldn't mend it because they dont have anyone who knows how to do it. Does anyone know of anyone who does repairs on rotomoulded boats?
	600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Aug 06 at 8:23pm
	Andy Holmes at Wet and Windy in Bristol may be able to help. 01179 669582 is his number.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Bumble Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Nov 05 Location: Taiwan Online Status: Offline Posts: 302	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bumble Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Aug 06 at 9:04pm
	Not a bad bit of after sales care there from RS. My intial reaction would be that I don't believe them. Then - do it yourself. Maybe the subtext of 'we don't have anyone who knows how' is "wouldn't touch that with a barge pole mate. What you've bought is a lemon". Since when has patching up Roto's been rocket science?

freddo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote freddo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Aug 06 at 9:30pm
	Plastic boats repairs. I have a topper where the topdeck has broken away from the hull and needs repairing , but the only way it can be done is to send it to Topper and have it done with the proper kit. Seems a shame because it will mean that the repair is likely to cost more than the boat is worth. Surely there is a method of repair to plastic baots without all this tooling and expertise?Anyone had experience with this boat and this type of damage?
	freddo

Skiffe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Jun 05 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiffe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 06 at 8:39am
	Hunt around for a "plastic welder" should be under plastic repairers in the phone book (Yellow Pages?). Most car plastic interior parts can be repair this way, I cannot see why a rotomolded boat is any different. Just talk to them.
	12footers. The Only Way to FLY Remember Professionals built the titanic, Amateurs built the ark.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 06 at 10:22pm
	The Topper is fairly easy to mend, provided you have the kit. A hot air blower type thing with a feed for strips of plastic. Again, Wet and Windy will be able to do it far cheaper than Topper. The Rotomoulded boats are built from 3 layers of different plastics, and are trickier to mend. The main thing you need though is the correct sort of plastic, or it just doesn't stick. Had fun mending plastic canoes years ago when working at the afore mentioned chandler, and some went better than others. It might not be rocket science, but it certainly takes a different set of tools to mending wood or GRP. Though I am surprised at RS's reaction, and a little sceptical that it is correct.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

mike ellis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 30 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike ellis Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Aug 06 at 7:45pm
	RS said the guy who used to mend the fevas for them went to work for someone else and they gave us his number but when we tried it he told us he wouldnt be able to fix the boat untill october, RS are normally more helpful than that. i just thought i'd save you all the story. the boat is one of the older hulls and this is why it has broken, they changed the design after about sail number 300 or 400 so we might be able to get something out of them but we are the second owners of the boat so im not sure. Edited by mike ellis
	600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 27 Aug 06 at 9:23pm
	Hot melt glue gun should do it, be sure its polyethylene rods if its a polyethylene boat, I imagine it will be, rotomoulded is old technology cross linked P.E.

Philsy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Sep 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 344	Post Options Post Reply Quote Philsy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Aug 06 at 7:16am
	There's a Topper specialist in Emsworth who can mend hulls. I don't have his details, though. Does anyone else? Phil

Contender443 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender443 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Aug 06 at 8:12am
	http://www.sailing-solutions.co.uk/Home/ContactUs/tabid/101/ Default.aspx Thats the link for Sailing Solutions in Emsworth, hope they can help.
	Bonnie Lass Contender 1764