Click Here for Current Production Lead Times. Up to 1 week Lead Time on Accessories.

Happy Holidays! Alpacka Raft will be closed Dec. 23-29th. Our Customer Service and Shipping teams will be off at this time too, so new orders placed will be shipped when we are back. Thanks!

Close Menu
Back
Back
Back
Back
Back
Back
Back

Patch Instructions

Using Alpacka Raft Assorted Patches 

Our patch material is made from a nylon fabric with a TPU coating on both sides to provide an airtight seal. Alpacka Raft Assorted Patches can be used to repair the coated(Outer) side of the tubes of our pack rafts.  This can be used for all of our boat models and fabrics (Lightweight 210d, 210d, 420d, Vectran, etc.) as a permanent patch solution.   

Adhesive:

Alpacka Raft does not sell adhesive or solvents on our website due to HAZMAT Restrictions. You can purchase these materials at your local hardware store, or ULINE or NRS websites. Specifically for our patches, we recommend:

  • Recommended Adhesive: Clifton Urethane LA4123 or Sta-bond 
  • Recommended Solvent: Acetone or MEK 

Basic Gluing Instructions

When using Alpacka Raft Assorted Patches, you'll need the following items to make patching successful.

Equipment:

  • Gloves 
  • Eye Protection 
  • Fume Respirator 
  • Work in a well ventilated area 

Tools:

  • Glue Roller 
  • Lint-free towel 
  • Dry erase marker 
  • Rubbing Alcohol 
  • Scissors (For custom patch shapes) 
  • Sandpaper (180 grit or similar is fine) 
  • Solvent 
  • Adhesive 
  • Ideal ambient temperature for gluing is 75 degrees F and less than 50% humidity 
  • Boat should be patched while deflated and the underside/backside of the boat braced along a flat uniform surface so it can be rolled against a hard surface to create a proper adhesive bond. 

Instructions:

  1. Choose which patch will be most suitable to cover the damaged area.  The small circles are great for pinholes, where the larger circles or rectangle will be great for a tear.  Ideally you want to have a solid 1.75’’ margin all the way around the damaged area to prevent leaking. 
  2. Mark the area that you want to patch on the boat with a pen, pencil, or dry erase marker.  Silver and Red sharpies work great for black or floor materials. 
  3. Lightly sand along and within the marked area on the boat to create a roughed surface.  You do not need to remove the TPU material, you can stop when you notice the sheen of the material has faded slightly. 
  4. Use a lint-free towel to carefully apply acetone to the glue-side of the patch and the marked area on the boat.  Make sure you are prepping/gluing a larger area than the patch itself to ensure all edges of the patch have ample glue.  Usually going just outside the marked line is sufficient. 
  5. Apply a thin coat of adhesive to both the patch and the boat.  Let set for 5 minutes. 
  6. Once again, apply a thin coat of adhesive to both the patch and marked area.  Wait until the glued area appears to be dry (5+ minutes) 
  7. Align the patch and press both surfaces together.  It is good to work from the center outward to prevent air bubbles from forming between layers.  Use your roller to roll in every possible direction across every millimeter of the patch material.  The patch will only cure where it has been physically pressed down from rolling.  Make sure all of the edges get rolled nicely in multiple directions. 
  8. Wipe away any excess glue with a lint-free rag and alcohol. 
  9. Let cure for at least 24 hours. 
  10. Do not roll up or store the boat with the patch folded until the patch is completely dry.  You can use a fingernail to try and lift the edges to ensure a good bond. 

 

Please refer to our Repair Guide for more information.