Dink Issues

J

jeff_c

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Apr 17, 2007
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25917
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568
When I put the dink away last fall it was fine. I simply extracted as much air as possible and folded it as best as possible and put it in the basement as I had done the year before. When I took it out last week to prep for this year's festivities I find that the front chamber won't hold air
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. I have tried pumping it up fully (actually overfilled) and then giving it a soapy bath to try to find the leak (paying a lot of attention to the seams and inlet) but I cannot locate the issue. There's nothing obvious wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to either find the hole or otherwise deal with this issue? (do they make anything to coat the chamber from the inside?).

TIA for any help anyone can provide.

Jeff
 
Try checking around the valve, jiggling and working the valve around a little bit and see if the air comes out around the edges. Sometimes the outer layer will start to peel up or un-stick from the valve assembly, I think it's a two layer type assembly, where the diameter of the valve is sandwiched between two layers of the dink material (PVC or Hypalon). How old is the dinghy?
 
how long does it hold air. Did check both valve "nuts". WM and probably BoatFix does sell a sealant that other have said works personally I have never tried it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by joebooa

how long does it hold air. Did check both valve "nuts". WM and probably BoatFix does sell a sealant that other have said works personally I have never tried it.

Click to expand...


Another thing I just thought of, plumbers tape...try it on all of the threads, the cap and the valve, that might solve the problem too..
 
The dink is only 2 years old and looks new. It wasnt the most expensive as it is only "Heavy Duty 1000 denier polyester coated with PVC" but I can't believe that it's 2 years and over (even for PVC). Anyway, it loses the air overnight. The 'valve' is integrated and the plug locks with a twist (if that makes any sense - i could take pics tonight).

I wil take a look for the sealant.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
quote:
Originally posted by Laguna Al

quote:
Originally posted by joebooa

how long does it hold air. Did check both valve "nuts". WM and probably BoatFix does sell a sealant that other have said works personally I have never tried it.

Click to expand...


Another thing I just thought of, plumbers tape...try it on all of the threads, the cap and the valve, that might solve the problem too..

Click to expand...


There's no real threads but I could use some plastic to seal off the valve and see if that helps.

Thanks for the idea.
 
How much air is it losing? Going completely flat or just soft? And what type of valve? Boston valve?
 
It loses most of the air in about 6 hours so I can't understand why the bubble test isn't working. Also, it's a Naru valve. Apparently more than one manufacturer uses them on their dinks and I'm pretty sure that's not where the leak is so I am going the seamsealer route. If that doesnt work I guess it's a new dink for me.
 
if you have inflated only the front chamber and the leak is not on the exterior, it is in the seam that separates the rear chambers. try filling all the chambers with equal pressure and see if it goes down, check with soapy water after you fill the whole thing up. its leaking somewhere, if its only the seam that separates the chambers, you are probably going to need the help of a pro to take it apart and fix that.
 
You might try using "spare tire" to line the inside of each chamber...... I am joking, but I've often wondered if that actually work if you used enough of it.....anybody ever do this?
 
You can purchase a dink "stop-leak" product that you pour inside the tube and move the tube around to coat the inside of the tube. It tooks like the flat tire stuff you might use for your car but this material you pour inside of a flat tube rol the tube around and then inflate with air. It sealed a small leak inside one of my dink's tubes.
 
I guess my idea wasn't as silly I thought! Thanks for the info Neal........
 
Sounds like you have a cheapo dink (like me!) .... FWIW I keep it inflated in the off season. They don't recommend long term storage out of shape or folded.

Loosing most of the air in 6 hours is fairly slow....try inflating it until the over inflation valve blows air, or until is uncomfortable to sit on (very firm) and then check with GOOD bubbles. The pour inside sealer stuff and a NARU valve will be difficult.
 
Also, the dink will lose pressure, but not air, due to temp changes. My dink has low pressure when it is cold, and high pressure when hot. I keep mine inflated all year long and keep it full in the winter but have to let a little out in the summer so it isn't over inflated due to air pressure differences.
 
Got it! I was able to use some sealer product from a local place and it seems to have done the trick. Thank you all for your input.

Jeff
 
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