Rescue Tape is simply amazing.

[Roy M]

I'm quite sure many of you are well aware of this stuff, but it is new to me and as awe-inspiring as multihulls, forward scanning sonar, and some things better left unsaid. It's called Rescue Tape. Google it, period. it will change your lives. That is not hyperbole. I am discovering, daily, myriad uses that could not be achieved by any other material. High temperature resistance, electrically insulating, waterproof, air-tight, pressure resisting, the list goes on! Imagine, being able to replace a fan belt with a roll of tape! Wow.

[svHyLyte]

Rubbish. We've tried that material on several of the alledged applications and found it no better, and in some cases worse, than other self amalgamating tape, particularly on pressurized hoses.

Can you say Duct Tape?

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[Roy M]

There you go, folks! Yin and yang. Somewhere between may be the truth for you. Or maybe not.

[Tellie]

I wouldn't compare Rescue tape to Duct tape at all.

[bob_77903]

What would you compare it to?

[GordMay]

“Rescue Tape” could be compared to other Silicone Rubber tapes, like “Tommy Tape”, and 3M’s Scotch 70.
I prefer Scotch 130 Linerless Ethylene Propylene Rubber Tape, for most boat applications.
They're all (4) highly conforming & self amalgamating tapes.

[S/V Elusive]

Also, as an FYI, it doesn't like UV at all!

[Sunspot Baby]

I repaired a crimped and leaking diesel exhaust hose with one of these tapes and it allowed me to motor for 3 days to get back to port. I was pretty impressed. Duct tape would have failed miserably.

George

[Pete the Cat]

I used it on an intake hose and it failed rather quickly. It seems to come apart over a short period of time (few days) even when it looks great after first applying. I have never understood the outlandish claims for this stuff.

[GordMay]

Taping Tips:

When wrapping with any of the non-adhesive (self-fusing, amalgamating, vulcanizing) conformable rubber tapes, it may help to apply with the outside in. The inside (tacky) side of the tape is turned to lay on the outside of the wrap, keeping the roll closer to the work.

Electrical tapes are generally applied under in successive “half laps”, and under tension, so that the tape elongates (stretches) to the point where it’s width is about ½ to 3/4 of it’s initial dimension - then completed with a final lap which is not stretched at all. This prevents “flagging” (winding back on itself). Rubber tapes are often over-coated with a protective layer of regular vinyl tape.

This tensioning technique is not always suitable for co-axial cables, especially foam cores, which have little compressive strength. The tension can cause dielectric breakdown of the cable.

When taping vertically, the final (top) layer should start at the bottom and tape uphill, creating a rain-shedding lapstrake (shingle lap) effect.

When taping screwed component co-ax connectors, tape in the direction (clockwise seen from cable end) of tightening the threaded joint.

There are several specifications to compare when selecting a particular electrical tape product, including:
Thickness
Tensile Strength
Elongation
Heat Resistance (operating temperature) & Thermal Dissipation
UV Resistance
Dielectric Strength
Linerless rubber tapes are slightly more expensive; but MUCH easier to use than lined rubber tapes.

[Roy M]

Have any of you tried Coax-Seal for outside protection of coax connectors? It simply "smushes" to itself when kneaded by your fingers. I liked the Rescue tape because it felt more substantial to abrasion and attack by the elements.

[GordMay]

“Coax -Seal” or any “Putty Tape” (3M “Scotchfil”) is only used to build-up and smooth irregular surfaces; and should always be over-wrapped with a sealant tape (vinyl, or rubber/vinyl).
It's adequate stuff, used properly, but WAY over-advertised - 3M and others are better.

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Have any of you tried Coax-Seal for outside protection of coax connectors? It simply "smushes" to itself when kneaded by your fingers. I liked the Rescue tape because it felt more substantial to abrasion and attack by the elements.

We use it and it works very well but wrap it with another tape because it comes off on everything. We use it on VHF coax and on the connections for the USB cable for our WiFI antenna which is out in the weather all of the time.

[S/V Antares]

This "New Tape" has been around or years in other industries (Aircraft) Just a little buytal tape and a lot of marketing hype. I have the tape, the knives and the pans etc They all work fine but a good bit less then hyped. FYI I bought the equivelent aircraft tape that was out of date by a few months (FAA taged) at a flea market for $1 a roll. The aircraft stuff also has a red line stripe to help with the proper wraping.

[rebel heart]

In the Navy we used stuff called EB Green. Electric Boat made it, and it was the default tape option on the submarine. Way better than regular gray tape.

I can't stand tape in general unless there's no other option. It always fails, and leaves a mess. I had a hole in an intake line as well, and managed to use a hose clamp, a cut piece of an inner tube, and some glue to fix the thing.

I'd highly recommend always carrying an old bicycle inner tube with you. Tons of rubber you can cut to size. Just put some glue on the cut piece, stick it on the hole, and zip tie it down. Carry small zip ties.

I don't know, but it worked for me fairly well.