How to patch a hypalon to fiberglass leak.

[Captain Bill]

This may be buried somewhere in the forum, but I had no luck in finding it. My almost 5 year old hypalon Achilles dinghy has developed a leak where the rubber meets the transom. At least that is where the air is coming out. I was under the impression that this piece of hypalon was simply glued to the tube and transom but did not actually hold air. My suspicion is that the seam in the tube underneath this piece of hypalon has failed. Of course I am in the Bahamas and have no access to anyone who might be able to fix it. Does anyone have any clue as to how I might be able to patch this leak. I have a hypalon patch kit but it doesn't seem to me that gluing a simple patch onto the transom and flap of hypalon is likely to solve the problem.

[Pete7]

Think you are going to have to peel back the tube to expose the area, then patch over the suspect seam for some distance because air can leak along a seem, then finally glue it back in place to the transom. You will need the two part glue for hypalon for this, not bicycle stuff. Also only use a very thin layer of glue and rough up the hypalon with course sand paper first.

Pete