Transom Repair Pvc Zodiac

[AEROCOOK]

What is the best glue to bond the pvc floor fabric back onto the plywood transom? Seems to me that the pvc glue works by actually melting the material and when attaching pvc to pvc Im sure is quite effective, but I question how it would bond pvc to wood since the glue obviously wont melt the wood.
After gluing it, I was considering attaching a strip of stiff wood (like a hockey stick shaft) along both the inside and out side of the transom using several brass or stainless screws to effectively sandwich the pvc fabric between the transom and the wood strip and help prevent it from falling apart again.
Can anyone offer advice on gluing the pvc to the wood?

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: Transom Repair Pvc Zodiac

I used two part Stabond glue for both my PVC to PVC bonds and directly to the transom. You might skim through the following thread for some further discussion of transom repair. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=266962&highlight=nobrainsd

I haven't had any trouble with my pvc to wood bonds, but you do need to have a clean well prepped wood surface that is absolutely dry.

Screwed on strips might capture the very edge well, but that won't be a very strong bond if the rest of the transom/fabric surfaces arent glued together well. The transom endures some pretty serious dynamic loads and you need the bond between the pvc and the transom to be good all around.

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: Transom Repair Pvc Zodiac

Thanks for the reply.
I do plan on doing a proper glue job between the pvc and wood transom, the strips are just insurance.
Ive read many articles and posts on this topic but for the most part they all detail pvc to pvc bonds and there is little info on pvc to wood bonds.
I will look for the Stabond 2 part glue that you used... BTW where did you get it?
I agree with your point about dynamic loads at the transom but this is only a 10 footer with a 4 hp motor so they shouldnt be too great.

 

[marcus3]

Re: Transom Repair Pvc Zodiac

I've done quite literally dozens of transom repairs on Zodiacs over the years, and the glue to use is the two part Zodiac polyurethane contact cement for PVC coated boats. As long as the wood on the transom is in good shape, has been cleaned, sanded (no more than 100 grit), and degreased with acetone or MEK, the professional cement will bond the fabric to the wood perfectly fine with no need for additional reinforcing strips, etc.

You can get the cement from any Zodiac dealer. Make sure it's the two part cement with the separate bottles of hardener, NOT the one part cement in tubes. Anything other than the Zodiac-branded cement, you're wasting your effort.

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: Transom Repair Pvc Zodiac

I usually buy my Sta Bond from http://nrsweb.com . They are very good at rotating their stock and have good turnover. I have used a number of two part glues ( Sta Bond, Polymarine, Weaver and Zodiac). The Zodiac branded glue is fine, but is generally expensive and the stock may be old. Purchasing a glue that has been properly stored for less than a year is important. The rafting companies I work with all use Sta Bond and they abuse their PVC rafts.