Author Topic: iSUP leak repair and pump for while on a trip  (Read 1691 times)

SUP-Lurker

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iSUP leak repair and pump for while on a trip
« on: October 26, 2021, 07:06:20 PM »
I just got my first iSUP and wonder if I should take a small pump and repair kit with me to repair a leak while SUP-ing somewhere. I plan to do day-trips and if I have a leak, I like to be able to repair and to be able to re-inflate and get back to my starting location. That could be 10-15km on water. I'm near Madison, WI and the largest lake is Lake Mendota https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lake+Mendota/@43.1120204,-89.4954853,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88065354b86eb411:0x9729efbead0277c3!8m2!3d43.109671!4d-89.4206079 , about 6km in diameter. The lake is relatively busy and I assume I could get back to some shore. My iSUP has 2 air-chambers, so I could paddle to some pier and repair there, re-inflate and go back on my way.

The actual permanent patches and glue take 24 hours to cure before re-inflating. So that clearly doesn't work while on the water. The glue also has a shelf life of 1-year and I just know I will end up with old glue.
I found these temporary patches:
- Flex tape that allegedly also works to apply under water https://flexsealproducts.com/products/flex-tape. That would work well assuming on a pier i can't do a perfect priming job
- Tear Aid. There is one for inflatables https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B007DEEYFS/?coliid=I2PUIFHT5TXC9C&colid=PFY50K2AFXVL&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it, and one for vinyl https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001DZDCNS/?coliid=I3MMTOHVG5BPHM&colid=PFY50K2AFXVL&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it. I'm not sure if either has a pressure rating to be used on drop-stitch. i couldn't see if that has a drying time and if it can be applied on wet or otherwise imperfect surface.

Do those patches actually work? Or are there other patch methods that work without a long curing time? I know I would need some sort of small high-pressure pump since I don't want to carry the large floor-pump with me. But first I need to know if I actually can patch.

another wrinkle I see is when there is a leak, water may be inside the iSUP. Regardless of what type of patch, how does one get that water out before patching? Or can the water be be coerced out later by opening the valve and somehow funneling it out?

Am I over-thinking this? I've never seen a video or picture of iSUP with people having pumps with them unless it was a packed touring iSUP. I'm a somewhat belt and suspenders guy, hence the dual-chamber iSUP.

(I still haven't figured out how to include the links in a word so they don't show full length)
« Last Edit: October 26, 2021, 07:09:35 PM by SUP-Lurker »

 


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