72 zodiac mk III bottom

[72mkIIIgr]

Need to reglue bottom to tube seam on inflatable. Any way to tell if the material is hypalon for sure. I read pvc would not have lasted this long
Thanks

 

[Molska]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

zodiac didn't start making pvc boats till the late 80's

 

[badabing]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

zodiac didn't start making pvc boats till the late 80's

they started using pvc in the early 80s

"Zodiac in the 80s were just starting to use pvc the boats they started with were Mark 1 2 3 the floor and the keel were pvc and the tubes were made of hypalon . About 1985-86 the whole boat was made of pvc..."

the only 100% hypalon mark 1/2/3 (except for the professional models) are the 70s and probably 80, 81, maybe 82 models, I'm not sure exactly what year they started but it was def early 80s

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

If floor fabric softness to touch matches tubes, definitely hypalon, if not pvc. According to my Zodiac tecnician, Zodiac does not combine PCV with Hypalon. MK 1,2,3 stands for the size not a model for itself. Example Grand Raid MK3.

Happy Boating

 

[badabing]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

If floor fabric softness to touch matches tubes, definitely hypalon, if not pvc. According to my Zodiac tecnician, Zodiac does not combine PCV with Hypalon. MK 1,2,3 stands for the size not a model for itself. Example Grand Raid MK3.

Happy Boating

ummm...

-Through the years, the NON-GR "MARK/MK" models had many names, like GT, Touring, Classic, but no one ever cared about that, they were and are just known as the mark I, mark IIc, mark II, mark III, mark IV, mark V....

-The zodiac in the OP is from 1972. No need to test or feel anything. In the 70s there was no pvc anywhere, ALL 70s zodiacs were 100% hypalon, floor and keel included. That's why they are still such great value when in good shape, actually even when in just ok shape when really really cheap. Under rated and under valued.

-Correct, there is no mixing hypalon and pvc on the modern models. All modern leisure and some modern professional zodiacs are 100% pvc. They are all crap, selling them new or used should be a felony. Some modern professional hypalon models are 100% hypalon. They are all good but criminally expensive.

-In the early to mid 80s, on some models, the tubes WERE hypalon, but keel and floor WAS pvc. This is fact, there is no debate about this. That is why these 80s zodiacs are over rated and over valued. Except some from the very early 80s, 100% hypalon as in the 70s.
The only thing unclear about this is exactly when they started doing pvc in keel and floor?
Was it 81? 82? 83? Does anyone have year and serial number on the last 100% hypalon boats and the very first part pvc zodiacs?

-Also, the GR models were not safe from pvc either, I've read for some years they were part or all pvc too? What years exactly?

-Don't spend one single dollar or minute repairing pvc. When it breaks, throw it away.
Repairing PVC is never worth the effort. Study the warranty on pvc and you will realize even the manufacturers agree on this. Serious professionals refuse to repair pvc.
When the government buys pvc they treat them as disposables.
When they break, they are thrown away, never repaired.
To be clear, this is fact, no need for "opinions".
There are really only two categories on this. People who know from experience, and people who will learn from experience eventually.

-If you have too much time, on an early 80s zodiac, rip off the pvc floor and keel, replace with hypalon, or use the hypalon tubes only for a rib project instead.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

Will completely disagree on some points. To start with, GT, Touring, Classic are no "names" are Zodiac models that differences from each other, and were known as : Gt, Touring, Classic Mark 1-2-3, which denotes it's lenght . Other manufacturers employs a number next to it's brand to specify lenght : Quicksilver 340, Sea Rider 380, etc. Zodiac is the only manufacturer that uses their Mark 1-6 denomination and it's not employed on all models. If you send somebody to a store to buy a Zodiac Mark 3, the seller won't know which model you want as there is not just one model having this denomination , but will know for sure that a Mark 3 corresponds to a 4.70 mt sib.

PVC & Hypalon inflatables are completely repairable as long as the fabric is in opt conditions, you can always glue back, seams. oars, cones, floor, etc, other issue would be the prohibitive prices you would pay at a boat repair shop, this issue would simply ban it's reparation, unless doig it by yourself if sufficient skilled to do a good job.

About fabric material, hypalon with pvc, pvc with hypalon, pure hypalon, pure pvc, who was first the egg or the chicken ? Really who cares this is not a CSI investigation unit. Zodiac was the pioneer in inflatable construction with more than 110 years of experience, the Brand with it's prohibitive prices still shines with their own light along with other nice brands more affordable priced thanks to globalization.

Happy Boating

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

ummm...

-Through the years, the NON-GR "MARK/MK" models had many names, like GT, Touring, Classic, but no one ever cared about that, they were and are just known as the mark I, mark IIc, mark II, mark III, mark IV, mark V....

-The zodiac in the OP is from 1972. No need to test or feel anything. In the 70s there was no pvc anywhere, ALL 70s zodiacs were 100% hypalon, floor and keel included. That's why they are still such great value when in good shape, actually even when in just ok shape when really really cheap. Under rated and under valued.

-Correct, there is no mixing hypalon and pvc on the modern models. All modern leisure and some modern professional zodiacs are 100% pvc. They are all crap, selling them new or used should be a felony. Some modern professional hypalon models are 100% hypalon. They are all good but criminally expensive.

-In the early to mid 80s, on some models, the tubes WERE hypalon, but keel and floor WAS pvc. This is fact, there is no debate about this. That is why these 80s zodiacs are over rated and over valued. Except some from the very early 80s, 100% hypalon as in the 70s.
The only thing unclear about this is exactly when they started doing pvc in keel and floor?
Was it 81? 82? 83? Does anyone have year and serial number on the last 100% hypalon boats and the very first part pvc zodiacs?

-Also, the GR models were not safe from pvc either, I've read for some years they were part or all pvc too? What years exactly?

-Don't spend one single dollar or minute repairing pvc. When it breaks, throw it away.
Repairing PVC is never worth the effort. Study the warranty on pvc and you will realize even the manufacturers agree on this. Serious professionals refuse to repair pvc.
When the government buys pvc they treat them as disposables.
When they break, they are thrown away, never repaired.
To be clear, this is fact, no need for "opinions".
There are really only two categories on this. People who know from experience, and people who will learn from experience eventually.

-If you have too much time, on an early 80s zodiac, rip off the pvc floor and keel, replace with hypalon, or use the hypalon tubes only for a rib project instead.

It's absolutely false that pvc is not worth repairing. Contact white water designs in Eugene Oregon for one of many professionals that manufacture and repair pvc boats, not to mention all the major manufacturers of pvc rafts and sport inflatables today. Your "fact" is an opinion
My bombard C3 is a 1986 pvc boat and is in great condition with a 40hp on it. So much for "pvc would not have lasted this long"? Don't sell pvc short.
I agree that if a pvc floor is on a hypalon boat and needs major repair it should be replaced with hypalon, as the two materials are completely different and use different glues, so it would be very hard for someone without great experience and skill to make a lasting repair, other than to patch holes.

 

[badabing]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

Will completely disagree on some points. To start with, GT, Touring, Classic are no "names" are Zodiac models that differences from each other, and were known as : Gt, Touring, Classic Mark 1-2-3, which denotes it's lenght . Other manufacturers employs a number next to it's brand to specify lenght : Quicksilver 340, Sea Rider 380, etc. Zodiac is the only manufacturer that uses their Mark 1-6 denomination and it's not employed on all models. If you send somebody to a store to buy a Zodiac Mark 3, the seller won't know which model you want as there is not just one model having this denomination , but will know for sure that a Mark 3 corresponds to a 4.70 mt sib.

PVC & Hypalon inflatables are completely repairable as long as the fabric is in opt conditions, you can always glue back, seams. oars, cones, floor, etc, other issue would be the prohibitive prices you would pay at a boat repair shop, this issue would simply ban it's reparation, unless doig it by yourself if sufficient skilled to do a good job.

About fabric material, hypalon with pvc, pvc with hypalon, pure hypalon, pure pvc, who was first the egg or the chicken ? Really who cares this is not a CSI investigation unit. Zodiac was the pioneer in inflatable construction with more than 110 years of experience, the Brand with it's prohibitive prices still shines with their own light along with other nice brands more affordable priced.

Happy Boating

From a strict spec sheet point of view you are correct of course, but in real life, they are just "Mark II" and "Mark III" to people, nothing else, no one ever specifies if it's a touring, gt or a classic. People just don't care or know, in normal conversation it's just a regular "Mark #" until you need to specify a specific less common model. Just check what they are called on all forums, in all ads for used zodiacs, in reviews etc. And in Zodiacs own marketing and advertising, the model name used to always be just the "Mark II" or the "Mark III", nothing else.

Like I said:
only two, sorry, no, three main categories:
-People like me who would never touch a pvc zodiac, new or used, even if it was given to me. It's not worth the effort at any price.
-People like you who will eventually come to the same conclusion. It's just a matter of time.
-Professionals like the government, who know what theyre doing because they study the numbers, the way they handle things it makes more sense to throw away pvc instead of repairing hypalon. Questionable yes very but they actually thought it through.

Like I said, you are not getting it yet, but you will eventually.
Knowing exactly which old models and years were hypalon is extremely important.
NO pvc zodiac is EVER worth buying, at any age, new or used, at any price.
And modern hypalon zodiacs are always over priced, new and used.
The only zodiacs worth buying are the old 100% hypalon models.
You need to know exactly what years and models they were to be able to buy them cheap from far away and have them shipped unseen to you. You can never trust anything a seller tells you, most of the time they are just ignorant, not really lying, but all you really have is what that little black plate in the stern can tell you.

 

[badabing]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

It's absolutely false that pvc is not worth repairing. Contact white water designs in Eugene Oregon for one of many professionals that manufacture and repair pvc boats, not to mention all the major manufacturers of pvc rafts and sport inflatables today. Your "fact" is an opinion
My bombard C3 is a 1986 pvc boat and is in great condition with a 40hp on it. So much for "pvc would not have lasted this long"? Don't sell pvc short.
I agree that if a pvc floor is on a hypalon boat and needs major repair it should be replaced with hypalon, as the two materials are completely different and use different glues, so it would be very hard for someone without great experience and skill to make a lasting repair, other than to patch holes.

I'm sorry but everything I said abot pvc is absolutely true.
The sad part is many shops don't have any choice at all, they have to smile, sell and pretend to be repairing what the manufacturers sell / what the customers are willing to pay for.
They tell the customer one thing but behind closed doors they tell each other something else.
We have pvc boats for our sins and because they can be welded with machines very cheaply, not because they make any sense whatsoever.
Hypalon boats are hand glued, hence their price.

Anything unused stored sensibly can last forever basically. When it comes to inflatables, dark, not too warm, not too dry, preferably gently inflated, if not, rolled up gently, not folded with sharp creases. An unused 1986 pvc boat could be like new today if stored well. Only problem is in actual use, in the sun, in salt water, in hot dry weather, they only last a few years no matter how well you take care of them, and they can NOT be repaired, pvc repairs simply don't last.
Hypalon boats last 10-20 times longer at least if handled and repaired well.
These ARE facts not just my opinion.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

I'm sorry but everything I said abot pvc is absolutely true.
The sad part is many shops don't have any choice at all, they have to smile, sell and pretend to be repairing what the manufacturers sell / what the customers are willing to pay for.
They tell the customer one thing but behind closed doors they tell each other something else.
We have pvc boats for our sins and because they can be welded with machines very cheaply, not because they make any sense whatsoever.
Hypalon boats are hand glued, hence their price.

Anything unused stored sensibly can last forever basically. When it comes to inflatables, dark, not too warm, not too dry, preferably gently inflated, if not, rolled up gently, not folded with sharp creases. An unused 1986 pvc boat could be like new today if stored well. Only problem is in actual use, in the sun, in salt water, in hot dry weather, they only last a few years no matter how well you take care of them, and they can NOT be repaired, pvc repairs simply don't last.
Hypalon boats last 10-20 times longer at least if handled and repaired well.
These ARE facts not just my opinion.

A "fourth type of person" is the one who is so much smarter than everyone else!

Nope, not facts only opinions.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

That's my last word on the subject.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

Yeap, plainly in agreement with you Jacoboregon, seems to much theorical reading, and -0 points in practical life, all PVC, Hypalon sibs/ribs have a lifespan don't last forever, are not kevlar, you get what you pay for, simple universal truth. Again you are complete wrong about not caring for the model but caring for the Mark denomination. Come on, plain forum theory, in the practice if buyig a Zodiac brand will need to specify which model and lenght you want, same applies in France, USA and Peru.

You cannot place oldtimer pvc with modern pvc fabrics in same sac. PVC sibs/ribs can be re glued many times as long you know to repair well and fabric is in opt/impecable state. Will end too this discussion, so be our guest if wanting to make the last post and still argue with absurd personal opinions and not true facts as happens in the real world.

Happy Boating

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 72 zodiac mk III bottom

Back to the original question...It's Hypalon. You would need Hypalon glue, but the boat is so freaking old you should throw it away.