RIB repair

Hello folks-

I'm wondering what would be the best way to repair damage to the bow of a 13 foot RIB. The tube is separating from the rigid bottom (please see attached photo). Is this something I can do myself (I'm generally pretty handy), or is this best left to the pros?

Thanks-

Matt

 

Some people can some cant. Its not easy and materials do do it with are expensive. Its likely a pro will do a better job and have the correct materials.

Start saving for a new one is probably the correct answer.

 

That's probably the crux of the question: Is this damage even repairable, or is it esssentially fatal??

 

They are funny things and basically how much do you rely on it. If you use it as a tender to get to your boat a mile out then you need a good one . Generally people glue/ bog them up with 5200 or Sikaflex untill they refuse to hold air any more.

If its ten years old its more or less wanting to die. Its difficult to see from the photo the extent of age or damage.

1 human year is 7 rubber ducky years.

Same as a dog.

 

BTW...yup had great food and soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cheap

 

I take it this is your holiday in Thailand?

Its not cheap its just that Japan is Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo expensive

 

Well, it's only 6 years old.. so that put's it at 42 years in dog/dingy years.

Kinda like me: starting to feel my age but hopefully have more good years left in me....

 

If that happened from bumping the bow into things it doesn't look too bad to fix. I'd check it all over for other spots that are breaking down. Gluing fabric is harder than fixing something solid for me, but I think you can fix a small area ok.