Help! Need major tube repair done!

[rsmiller]

I put a 35 inch tear across two chambers on a NRS cat tube last weekend. I have a permit for the Smith River in Montana June 13.

Inflatable Technologies in Denver won't be able to get it done in time....

Any advice on who can patch her up???

[lhowemt]

No, but if you have to cancel your permit, let me know before you do....

[the_dude]

AAA inflatables?

[rafterman2007]

You can do it. I would get come emery cloth, clifton glue and accelerator. Air dry the tube completely. Prep the back with Toulene, rough the entire area on the INSIDE and the patch. Determine the patch size and cut it from one single piece of fabric-prep as usual. Make two duplicate patches----one for inside, one for outside.
Start on the inside--apply glue and let dry to the inside of the tube and the surface of the patch. Here's the key though--work initially with a 2 inch length portion of the patch and inside tube --that will get it centered. If you get the first part right, you can then go from 2in to 4 in sections. Just work your way out until you reach the end. Once finished, let dry and repeat on the outside patch.
You can ALWAYS remove an incorrectly placed patch with a hair dryer on high and vice grips. No worries. Go to nrsweb.com and download their instructions on how to patch.
It will be tricky at first but after the initial part--it'll go rather quickly.

Dont give up on your trip!! Any mistakes you make can be rectified by you or others so you have really nothing to lose!

Good luck.

[rsmiller]

I am going even if I have to float down with water wings.

My big concern is that two chambers are involved. I have never had to apply a inside patch.

[rafterman2007]

Hey, there was a time you never ran a class IV rapid right?
You ran headlong into it--this is bit safer---why not try it? When you succeed you'll be that much more comfortable ifn you're out in the $hit and something like this happens and you have to do a field repair.
Let us know how it turns out.

[Spade Hackle]

try Ron at Riverboatworks in Salida.....(866) 539-9323

[rsmiller]

Thanks for the encouragement. I might need to do this myself if I can not find someone. Rafterman I did not understand your suggestion about the inside Patch

Originally Posted by rafterman2007

Here's the key though--work initially with a 2 inch length portion of the patch and inside tube --that will get it centered. If you get the first part right, you can then go from 2in to 4 in sections. Just work your way out until you reach the end.

Can you explain further?

[Andy H.]

Send a pm to Zbaird - if he can't he'll know someone who can.

[stinginrivers]

Second on Zbaird if not get a hold of Eric at IRR down in Salida he can do it.

Eric is an authorized NRS repair guy.
Inflatable Restoration & Repair
3244 E US HWY 50
Salida, CO 81201
719-539-9751
mtnkaos@amigo.net