Defender Inflatables – Operation, Maintenance & Warranty Manual
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4.1 Repairs
DANGER
Avoid serious injury or death from a fire,
explosion, or poisoning. The glues and solvents
used for repairing inflatable boats are toxic and
highly flammable. As a safety precaution,
always work outdoors or in an area that is well
ventilated, and away from any open flames,
sparks, or appliances equipped with pilot lights.
Breathing the vapours or exposure to the skin
may be hazardous to your health. Avoid
breathing the vapours and contact with skin and
eyes by wearing eye protection, a carbon filter
respirator and protective gear over all exposed
areas of the body.
4.1.1
Small repairs
If you have any damage to your boat, it is strongly
advised to consult with a local inflatable boat repair
facility for the reparation.
A single-part glue is best suited for a temporary or
emergency repair. A two-part glue will need to be
used for a permanent repair.
If the damage is a small puncture, you can use the
material you find in the repair kit.
Larger areas or if patch will overlap a seam should
be patched by a professional repair technician at an
inflatable repair station. Contact Defender and we
might be able to assist in locating an inflatable
repair station.
For the best results when gluing, the relative
humidity should be less than 60%, ambient air
temperature should be between 18 °C to 25 °C
(65 °F to 77 °F) and not in direct sunlight.
Locate puncture by “hyper-inflating” the boat so
that the tubes are drum tight. With a soapy-water
solution, spray the boat surface until you see air
bubbles. Re-inflation may be necessary if the hole
is larger.
In general, work as follows:
Cut out a patch large enough to overlap the
damaged area by 1 inch from all sides.
Center the overlapping patch over the damaged
area and trace with a pencil the outline of the
patch.
If the fabric of your boat is CSM you have to
buff, roughen with sandpaper, the patch area
on the boat as well as the backside of the
patch. PVC need not be buffed for repair.
Use care when sanding the surface around the
puncture and the patch. Lightly scuff with the
sandpaper evenly. Avoid sanding so roughly
that the thread of the fabric is exposed.
Clean the area to be repaired and the patch
with solvent (MEK for PVC, Toluol or
Acetone for CSM).
Refer to the instructions provided with the
adhesive being used for the repair. Order of
operations may vary based on manufacture of
adhesive. Provide ample time as adhesive may
need to sit after it is applied before being
adhered to surface.
Wait 24 hours before you inflate the boat
again.
4.1.2
Air leak in tube by cut
A. Air leak caused by an angled cut (“L” shape)
Check size of the cut to measure if your fingers
can work inside with a small brush. If the cut is
not large enough to let your fingers in, just
extend the cut using a knife to get a proper
space your fingers can work through. Make a
patch in a suitable size which will be large
enough to cover up the entire cut area.
CSM boats, lightly abrade the interior tube
surface and the patch surface. PVC & CSM
clean with solvent the patch and inside of the
area to be patched.
Refer to the instructions regarding application
provided with the adhesive being used for the
repair. Order of operations may vary based on
manufacture of adhesive. Provide ample time
as adhesive may need to sit after it is applied
before being adhered to surface.
Let sit for 24 hours. Then, fully inflate to
detect any air loss, by spraying or brushing
area with soapy-water solution. Look for
bubbles.
If no air leak is detected, dry the soapy water
completely. Now you are going to put a patch
on the outside of the cut.
Make the same size of patch and follow the same
procedures, as done with the interior patch.
Defender Inflatables – Operation, Maintenance & Warranty Manual
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Caution
Repaired air chamber must be aged for at least
24 hours from repair at less than 80% of the
recommended air pressure. Full inflation or
premature use of the boat may cause poor
adhesion of the patches.
B. Air leak caused by straight cut or small hole
Check the size of the cut or the hole to
determine if your fingers can work inside with
a small brush through the rip. If the rip is too
small to let your fingers in, extend the cut
using a knife to get a proper space your fingers
can work through. Then, make a strip of
material that is slightly longer than the cut and
approximately 2” wide, so that the actual area
of cut can be completely covered.
Follow the same procedures as described in
repairing other leaks. Inflate the chamber at
less than 80% of the recommended air pressure
and keep it at a dry place for 24 hours.
If any problem occurs, please contact Defender’s
service staff at 800-628-8225.
4.2
(Winter) Storage
NOTE
IMPORTANT
: To prevent hull or tube
discoloration from marine growth or polluted
waters, DO NOT store boat in the water for
extended periods of time.
1. After use, the boat and all components should be
washed with a mild soap and rinsed with fresh
water. Dry all parts before storage in the carrying
bag. This will help prevent mold or mildew.
2. Wood components should be inspected for
damage or deterioration of the finish. Surface
scratches or abrasions should be refinished with a
marine grade varnish or marine paint.
3. To keep the boat looking new, store the boat in a
cool dry area and avoid excess exposure to direct
sun light.
4. An accessory cover is available to purchase to
cover and protect your boat during storage.
5. If you store your boat for a longer period do not
keep the boat in the delivered factory carton.
The boat is folded tightly in the original shipping
package, which gives sharp folds in the material.
Roll or fold up the boat loosely and store it on a dry
place away from rodents or pests that can damage
the fabric. To avoid damaging the boat during
storage, do not place heavy objects on the boat.
5. Environment
Be aware of local environment laws and always
respect codes of good practice.
5.1
Discharge of pollutants
Prevent pollutants from reaching the water around
your boat. Using the water for water sports also
means taking care of a clean water sports
environment.
5.2
Discharge and disposal of waste
Waste means all forms of garbage, plastics,
recyclables, food, wood, detergents, sewage and
even fish parts in certain water – in short, nearly
everything. We recommend you bring back
everything you take out with you for proper
disposal ashore.
If you have a marine sanitation device (head or
marine toilet) installed, use an approved pump-out
facility at your marine.
Many areas prohibit the discharge of sewage
overboard or even an operable overboard waste
discharge.
5.3
Advisable speeds
When running, take care of high speed as they may:
Be dangerous to yourself or anyone or
anything in the water in front of you.
Cause considerable waves behind the boat
which damages the waterfront.
Cause unnecessary noise to fellow boaters.
5.4
Excessive noise
Noise means engine noise or even yelling. Many
bodies of water have adopted noise limits.
Music and loud conversation can carry a
considerable distance on water, especially at
night. Be respectful to those around you.
5.5
Exhaust emission
Increased exhaust (hydrocarbon) emissions
pollute our water and air. Keep your engine
tuned and boat hull clean for peak
performance. Consult your dealer and engine
manual for information.
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