This is a difficult
repair for your first experience with working on
inflatable dinghies. You'll have to determine if it is PVC or hypalon. If it is PVC, I would take it to someone who
repairs inflatables or liferafts, because your best results will occur if the
repair is done in humidity controlled conditions: warm is good; dry is essential. It also involves the use of expensive glues, which don't keep well.
If it is hypalon, you may be able to do it, using SC 4000 glue from Rema Tip Top. The prep is very careful
sanding (to provide "tooth" for the glue),
cleaning it with MEK or toluene; masking it; apply one coat to both sides (the floor and the tube), let dry, and apply second coat, and let dry a bit till not tacky when touched with the back of your finger nail, and then carefully stick the bits together, using wax paper to keep it from grabbing where you're not ready. Once stuck down, it isn't moving. A big repair like what is shown in the picture is going to be tricky to get done right in any case.
A very long time ago, we refloored a hypalon
dinghy using 3M 5200 for the glue to bond hypalon (dinghy) to herculon (PVC) floor material. It took a week to set up, once glued, and lasted a few years. It was very kind of our friends to let us do it in their living room, a 13 ft.
dinghy takes up a lot of space in a house! but it was warm and dry.
Ann
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