MAINTENANCE
28
4. Push in the valve stems on the side air chambers to release
the air pressure evenly on all chambers. Push in the valve
stem and turn the stem a quarter turn clockwise to lock the
valve in the open position.
Air Chamber Repair ‑ Hypalon Fabric
!
WARNING
Avoid serious injury or death from a fire, explosion or poisoning.
The glues and solvents used for repairing inflatables 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 vapors or exposure to the skin may be hazardous
to your health. Avoid breathing the vapors and contact with skin
and eyes by wearing a carbon filter respirator and protective gear
over all exposed areas of the body.
The repair kit which comes with the boat is a one part glue
operation and should be used for emergency minor repair. For a
permanent repair, a two part Hypalon glue should be used. This
two part Hypalon glue and patching materials are available from
Mercury Marine.
Small tears and punctures in the air chambers which are
1 cm (0.393 in.) or less, can be repaired in an emergency. Larger
areas, or if the patch will overlap a seam, should be patched by a
professional repair technician at an inflatable repair station.
Contact your local Mercury dealer for the nearest 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.
Cut out a patch large enough to overlap the damaged area by a
minimum of 38 mm (1.5 in.) from all sides. Center the patch over
the damaged area and with a pencil trace the outline of the patch.
Apply masking tape around the perimeter of the outlined patch
area to ensure a tight and clean glue line.
