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MAINTENANCE
4. REPAIR OF SMALL PUNCTURES
NOTE:
Your boat comes with a repair kit, which must be on board.
Repairs carried out on board are problematic. Follow the instructions below
whenever possible and as far as possible. Carry out the repair as soon as the
boat is back on shore or have it carried out by your dealer.
REPAIR KIT
To clean:
- light cleaning solvent (ethyl acetate) (not supplied)
To repair:
- pieces of fabric.
- tube of special adhesive (the adhesive can be stored if you recap the tube
immediately after use).
- brush - smoother (not supplied).
- Instruction sheet.
CONDITIONS FOR
OPTIMUM REPAIR
QUALITY
- temperate relative humidity: < 60%.
- temperature between 18 and 25°C.
- repair out of sunshine under dry conditions.
- buoyancy tube flat or deflated.
PREPARATION
- locate leaks (with soapy water if the leak is not visible to the eye).
- cut a round patch overlapping the tear in the buoyancy tube by at least
5 cm or use a suitable patch from the repair kit.
- mark the location of the patch on the buoyancy tube.
- clean the patch and the area around the tear with solvent.
- allow to dry for 5 minutes.
CEMENTING
- apply 3 thin layers of adhesive to both the buoyancy tube and the patch,
letting the adhesive dry for 3 to 5 minutes between each layer (the adhesive
should no longer adhere to the finger but should not be too dry).
FITTING THE PATCH
- once the final layer has dried, position the patch without pressing on it so
as to allow it to be re-positioned if necessary.
- press from the centre outwards to flatten any air bubbles.
- smooth the patch firmly using a blunt object, starting from the centre of
the patch.
- remove any excess adhesive using solvent.
BEFORE REUSING THE
BOAT
- if possible, avoid exposing the repair to sunshine or rain.
- allow to dry for 24 hours before re-inflating.
WARNING
Do not leave the tube of adhesive directly in the sun or near a flame or
heat source.
Always work in a ventilated area, avoid ingesting adhesive or breathing
in adhesive vapours, and avoid contact with the skin.
5. SEMI-RIGID BOATS: REPAIRING SCRATCHES ON THE HULL
Small scratches can be reduced or removed using polishing paste and polishing wadding.
Deeper scratches can be repaired using polyester putty. In this case, refer to your Zodiac Milpro
distributor for advice.
NOTE:
FOR MAJOR REPAIR OF THE BUOYANCY TUBE OR HULL, REFER TO
YOUR DEALER WHO HAS THE PRODUCTS, TOOLS AND EXPERIENCE
NEEDED TO CARRY OUT HIGH QUALITY REPAIRS.