Good place to retube a rib

[Wellcraft26]

Hi Guys, I found a used boat that looks like it needs to retube and was wondering what is a good place with a good price to do a retube. I live in ga but would be willing to do some driving for the right place.

Thanks in advance.

[motion30]

I was always told by the inflatable boat repair guy that unless your dinghy is over 15 foot it is not economically feasible to retube

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by motion30

I was always told by the inflatable boat repair guy that unless your dinghy is over 15 foot it is not economically feasible to retube

I’ve heard the same thing from a seller.
He even gave me the cost of the new tubes.

However some have had it done, assumption is they may be cheaper out of the US.

[Cheechako]

I dont know a place, but can tell from buying tube sets for commercial boats that it's very expensive. I think a hypalon set for a 26 ft boat was something like $32000... 15 years ago!

[Chuck Hawley]

Zodiac has a patent (or HAD a patent) on slip-on tubes that made it very low labor cost to replace them. However, you still had to buy a tube set from Zodiac in Toulouse, get it shipped over, and there's a lot of cost in the tubes alone. I can't imagine this is worth it unless you get a really good deal on the tubes, and the core boat (engine, console, tank, seats, etc) are in excellent condition. Otherwise, buy a new hull complete.


Chuck

[Rick Williams]

We recently tore a large (15" long and right on the bow) hole in our 10' Avon that cost $660 used. The patch was brilliant (how do you stick the patch on from the inside?) but it was $1,500.00 for a patch. I can only imagine that there's lots of used RIBs for way less than a retube price.

[skipgundlach]

I don't have the answer to your question but I do have the link to someone who does

OFFSHORE RAFTING – Inflatable Boat Repair
Zoey Zaleta
offshoreraft@gmail.com

They are authorized repair facilities (shops in New Bern or Oriental, I forget which, and Sebastian FL) for many dinghy companies. From all reports of folks I actually know, she is da bomb for inflatables.

Whether or not your instance is effective financially (she also has great deals on used gear) remains to be seen, but give her a shout.

[SailRedemption]

Donovan Marine in New Orleans, LA does RIB retubes and repair.

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Chuck Hawley

Zodiac has a patent (or HAD a patent) on slip-on tubes that made it very low labor cost to replace them.

(clip)


Chuck

Walker Bay's Genesis line is like that. I may be replacing the hull (see thread about WBGenesis hull failure), and their assembly method would make that feasible...

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Rick Williams

We recently tore a large (15" long and right on the bow) hole in our 10' Avon that cost $660 used. The patch was brilliant (how do you stick the patch on from the inside?) but it was $1,500.00 for a patch. I can only imagine that there's lots of used RIBs for way less than a retube price.

I used to have, and then became a dealer for, an inflatable boat lift company.

I cut a severe hole in my lift with a skeg on a ski boat. Doing the patch internally is the only way to go on a large hole (and I've helped a cruiser do that on their dink in George Town, Exuma, once), as the pressure keeps it in place rather than pushing it out.

It's actually quite simple, though enhanced by the ability to compress the area while curing. Once the inside patch is on and cured, inflating and adding the outside patch on the same area makes sure that edges don't come up and does the belt-and-suspenders bit...

PS 1500 for a patch is insane. An hour or two prep at worst, and a way to compress the area (I use boards and wood clamps) flat, and another patch on top should have been all it took, unless unmounting the tubes was needed...

[ksanders]

I have a 11’ Zodiak YL340 RIB as a tender.

I re-tubed it, and the tubes cost $3600 USD.

The re-tubing took me about an hour, with help from a friend.

A new Zodiak YL340 is something north of $15K so it was worth it to me.

As others have posted, depending on the tender it is just easier to buy a new one.

[johnmyjo]

Check Dolphin Marine .Ft. Lauderdale. tel.786 486 2229. Guys name is Silvio. he does a great job. I and 8 other cruisers that I know had ribs re tubed. Better than new. Reasonable price.