repairs to a Topper
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11972
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 10:07pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: repairs to a Topper
Posted By: djdhi
Subject: repairs to a Topper
Date Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 2:18pm
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Hi, I'm looking at a Topper for sale, quite well equipped and at a reasonable price. The snag is that it has a 4 cm in length bite out of the foredeck edge , obviously the result of a heavy collision. I do know that Toppers are the made of poly propylene. Can they be prepared using a household epoxy kit.? Many thanks djdhi
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Replies:
Posted By: foaminatthedeck
Date Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 7:06pm
You used to be able to buy plastic from Topper which could then be used to affect plastic weld repairs using a heat source. A better option than an epoxy repair which due to the massive variation in material stiffness is unlikely to stay bonded for long.
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Lark 2170
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Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 7:59pm
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Polypropylene is a right pig to glue, not much will stick to it. As foamin says, welding is about the only option.
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Posted By: sandgrounder
Date Posted: 21 Apr 15 at 8:59pm
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What you actually require is a hot air (plastic welding) tool. I use a Leister Triac S. Please don't bother with a hair drier or wallpaper removal tool, you'll be wasting your time. You also require some polypropylene welding rods. I have some of these in both red and white. PM me if you require any additional information.
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Posted By: Buzz
Date Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 1:03pm
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If you are in Cornwall I have a hot air welder and plastic welding rods.
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 1:12pm
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There are so many Toppers about though is it really worth purchasing a damaged one bearing in mind the hassle factor.
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Posted By: Buzz
Date Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 4:51pm
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If the damage is where the hull and deck join be very careful. The deck and hull are joined by embedding copper tape at the two edges. Electricity is passed through the wire which fuses the hull and deck together. If the join is broken then you can't weld the plastic back together as you cant create a 'V' groove with a chisel in which to insert the welding rod. An ordinary split is quite easy to fix.
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Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 22 Apr 15 at 10:10pm
Polyprop can't be glued, only welded.
The deck joint is back a bit, you see lots of dry perfectly Toppers with chunks missing from the gunwales, but I have also seen boats that have had a shunt on the edge and split open.
Blow it up through the bunghole until the fordeck swells then pour soapy water along it.
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