Deflated Dinghy? Repair it for Under $100

[@roythomas9376]

I work for Defender. I sell lots of dinghies and coach people on how to repair them (or not) . Just watched your vid and OMG this is brilliant!!! Can’t wait to pass this info on to customers.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Roy Please suggest they watch our video and maybe subscribe. We could use the new viewers.

[@ookulelewess]

... sometimes it's just that simple... I had my dinghy down and deflated for some maintenance. My neighbor was mowing and for reasons I can't comprehend, decided to ride right next to it, and, you guessed it, he clipped the side!! Which subsequently pulled more under before it tore free.. thus, a HUGE hole down the side. I was just about to strip it down into patch kit material but this might be the answer!! Looking up those bags now, then maybe sew some velcro to the seam to close it off the chamber. I'm excited now! 8^)

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Great. Let us know how it goes.

[@coachwendymay]

This is brilliant. I was just told by the manufacturer that my $1k inflatable is in repairable due to a seam split. The boat is in excellent condition otherwise. This looks like my solution for getting back on the water. Thank you!!!

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

You, Sir, are an Engineer! I can give no higher praise.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

That's so nice of you to say.

[@knievelhotmail]

Great idea! Another option would be an inner tube from a farm tractor tire. That would give you a standard tire valve for inflation as well as being super tough.

[@flowplanet429]

great idea

[@ericcagle1192]

Best idea yet… thanks

[@sailingkoko]

Bout to go barter for a failed rib. Thank you so much!

[@fabiogodoy6722]

Hi Clark, great idea. I' ve just glued my dinghy which was completly open with Nautiglue a spanish glue specially made for PVC. A real bomb, had a 15 cm open and a total deflated dinghy. Now working perfect. Thanks for sharing só much knowled and congrats dor ypur channel

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Fabio, Glad the glue worked well for you. Better to keep is "stock" as long as you can.

[@boat6868]

Smartest guy in the room.

[@SAILBOATJACARANDA]

Genius my man. I'll be doing this.

[@andersnilsson6625]

Thanks! Truly one of the better do it yourself tips in a long time!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@SouthernSierra56]

Very good idea,.There are boats actually made this way with a zipper(such as Aire), but you have provide a cheap place to buy the bladders.

[@takenbythewind]

Clark,you should have business cards that read: “Clark E Coyote, super genius” 😁 I once tried to repair a deflatable by filling it with spray foam.boy was that a mistake.not only did it take about 50 cans to get it about 1/4 full, but afterward it weighed about 1000 lbs.I wish you had been around then to save me from my own stupidity😂

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you. The spray foam dinghies also always end up looking like they have cancer. All bumpy.

[@flowplanet429]

ill bet that cost a fair bit !

[@rouxgerber9362]

Great!

[@parkarlsson7955]

Yes! great and thank you! Have a ten year old dinghy that needs a new bladder or inter tube. Will do it your way! Also have a more than 50 year old Zodiac dinghy, not one hole!! Still holding air like a champ! All the best from Sweden

[@YTMegiddo]

What a great idea! Sounds like something the manufacturers should be doing from the get-go.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yes. They put tubes in tires, right

[@torbjornhenriksson4088]

Best idea for a long time!!!!!!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you Torbjörn

[@gefginn3699]

Wow !! Great post Clark ! Great Tip / Trick / Hack. 🌞🌴⛵️

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Gef

[@NathanCampbellGuitarist]

Thanks for the idea, I just got an old one that holds some air but needs repair. Got it for free so if I can make it float it is a win.

[@leandroflaherty]

Great hack!. I have also been having good luck with pre thickened gflex epoxy from west system on a hypalon patch. Easier and cheaper than the other specific glues with a much better shelf life.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for sharing that.

[@justinrice8509]

Another hit out of the park!!!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Justin, I must admit I'm kinda proud of this idea. I wish more people would have watched this video.

[@drwindsurf]

Great solution - Thank you Clark

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're welcome Jeffrey

[@MrBuglerbear]

Very innovative idea for someone on a budget or in the middle of nowhere. My experience with inflatables has been very good with them holding air I just seem to have problems with the seams for the floor coming unglued due to sand working its way into the joint. I know that the hypalon boats are supposed to be way better than the PVC ones, but I have found the PVC so much easier to repair. We used to do a lot of white water rafting and you'll be amazed at what a self-adhesive patch can do when you're in the middle of nowhere. I have often wondered if you could use RV roof coat to get a few more years out of our old tire dingy. Keep the content coming.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@larrydugan1441]

That's clever.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks. I really wish more people had viewed this video. I'm proud of this idea and I think it could help a lot of people. Feel free to share links.

[@mattwright6013]

Great idea i have a boat Nabor on a very strict budget and i ordered him a couple of these just to give it a try! Thanks Clark

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're welcome Matt. Tell us how it works for you.

[@SvMobyduck]

For your dinghy, to make stabilizer tubes you can buy 8" pvc discharge hose and a seam welder. The whole kit for both sides will run ya about 600 USD. Weld in a spot for an hr valve. install the valve. Weld the ends together and inflate. Cover the whole thing with sunbrella. Put in grommets to hang it on your dink. Job done. Good dink idea. Passed it on to a friend in need.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Good to know. Might try that someday

[@Spoony01]

Greate hack Clark 🙂thanks for sharing.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Your welcome Ralph

[@robertlewisvideo]

What an Awesome and Useful idea. Great. Thanks

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Your welcome Robert. Please pass this link around.

[@EricEversonArtAndDesign]

This is a good option for an inner tube. The only potential issue I can see is the possibility of chafe in places where there are folds/wrinkles in the inner tube. They look tough enough to last a long while, though. I love this as a solution to reduce dinghy waste.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Eric, If the dunnage bag did fail I think you could probably fix it with tape and put it back in, since the pressure should be equal on both sides with the dinghy skin as long as the repair wasn't in a crease once reinstalled. If not vinyl is easy to patch.

[@johndixon5097]

Great idea Clark. I have a dinghy with that problem.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Glad the idea might help you out.

[@Pillowcase]

This is a great idea. Here in canada, they only come in packs of 10 for $300+ I maybe need 3!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Split the pack with a friend

[@Pillowcase]

Yea I need to find a friend as desperate as I am.

[@SalingSamantas]

Very very cool Clark you never cease to amaze me.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you. So nice of you to say.

[@hyperfilmprod]

Wow, this is a great idea! Thanks for sharing Clark!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're very sweet

[@johncongerton7046]

Love that dunnage bag idea!

[@StartingOverProject]

Legends! Great solution

[@bradfordsimms715]

OK Clark, of all your tips this is the best. I am on the hunt for a deflatable to try this out. Thanks

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Bradford. Tell us how it works out.

[@kodiham7532]

Any luck finding one?

[@bradfordsimms715]

@@kodiham7532 tried it on a friends dink nd the inner tube failed in a week. Not a long term solution

[@alwaystinkering7710]

Good idea! There might be some other uses for this. You could add extra flotation under boat floors with them. Heck, kids could use them as pool toys.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Sure. And kids use everything as a pool toy! Thanks for the thought

[@jroschella]

Great idea to add an inner tube

[@nealgrant7727]

This would be a great video to edit into a short. A good way to go fishing for new subscribers. Thanks again excellent solution.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Interesting idea

[@chrisstephens9948]

That's amazing! Thanks Clark

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Your welcome Chris. Have you watched many of our back catalog of videos? Lots like this.

[@adelarsen9776]

That's fascinating. I never knew dunnage bags existed. Interesting. Thanks for teaching me something new. :-)

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're very welcome, Ade. I hadn't either before Adrian described them.

[@JoJoRocks5]

What a great idea.. genius

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you

[@upsidedown1986]

Great idea 👍

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@fyahoo]

Brilliant! I love it

[@Roly679]

Dunnage bag is my new word for the day, not sure how I'm going to slip it into conversation yet.

[@VeezyLife]

Lol. Yeh ive heard of them before and I don't own an inflatable boat but I've already thought of a handful of ideas I can use by utilizing these dunnage bags

[@david78212]

I have a dinghy that has started to lose air in one bladder, interesting fix.

[@sailingstpommedeterre4905]

Awesome idea !!!!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@DirkVersluis-uk5bo]

Brilliant. Thank you very much.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're welcome

[@anchorinpositivity4040]

Yes! Thank you!!! Let’s get more plastic out of land fills⚓️ Such an Awesome idea…. Love to have some beers with you guys some time and solve more of the Worlds Problems!

[@KaracsonyZsolt]

Genius thanks for sharing

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You're welcome

[@anthonyk5496]

Howard Hughes did the beach-ball flotation thing inside the Spruce Goose!

[@lenwhatever4187]

Good one, I will remember that one for all the blow up toys. Wish I had kept the inflatable kayak I threw out...

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Hope to see a lot of older blowup toys out there.

[@guitarMAK3R]

There’s actually a product called Inflatasaver. Works good. Repaired my rib.

[@garypoole9553]

Could store a couple on a liferaft as well as bungs?

[@stephengreen2898]

Great idea.. Thanks mucho

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Glad you like it. Hope you don't need it!

[@Thfeyhvfdetyhbvcd]

Could these be used to slow a damaged boat from sinking? Maybe fill a v berth? Flotation bags have always been available for kayaks.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

If you had enough of them and either tied them down or had a deck strong enough to support the boat. Sure.

[@bigcmoore]

Outstanding!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Chance. Pass it around??

[@markwng]

That is a good idea.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Mark

[@SevenRavens007]

Great idea

[@markleveszy4908]

Genius!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Mark

[@danaparedes5613]

Great idea! Does Adrien know he's on the YT? This video should have been shared alot already... everytime a newcomer asks... anyone repair dinghies?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Please pass it around. I've always been disappointed that our video didn't do better. It came out in the fall when people weren't thinking about boats. Yes he knows. We came up with this over beers one afternoon. Think of the landfill savings not to mention $$$

[@bill2292]

I've always wondered why sailboats use inflatables. Can you please tell me the advantage over a 12' V hull aluminum boat.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I personally don't think there many. Coast guard occupancy is higher, due to the large boyancy.

[@cyber_surfer]

Nicely done ! ... But I don't understand (why) the tears & seams can't be (adequately) re-bonded ... or patched?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Sometimes once you fix one part another part just starts leaking when it gets old. Sometimes you just can't find the right glue.

[@cyber_surfer]

@@Clarks-Adventure ... Makes sense ;)

[@SirPhoebus]

i know absolutely nothing about boats or dinghys but what about expanding foam? could you fill it up with marine foam or expanding foam as a solution ?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Often tried. Never works

[@MysteryMycology]

you da man

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@adventureswithgrandpa]

Love it!

[@Relaxed161]

Clark- 11 months later and my RIB has a leak I cant find/patch. Remembered your cargo bag video. Have there been any negative experiences with this idea? On the other hand, has anyone tried it and been happy?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

The original boat is still floating and being used. It's about to get bags in the front section, it's glue is a mess! I'd give it a go if you can't fix the leak. It's a better option then buying new and landfill

[@winmosser]

Excellent thank you for sharing; here’s hoping some energetic souls will re-purpose some trash using your ingenuity.

[@scarol99]

Brilliant!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Steve

[@jfv65]

smart idea!

[@brianmiley2109]

Great Idea! I have looked at those dunnage bags before and was wondering if they would work as fenders for a raft up. Certainly much cheaper than the actual inflatable fenders of any size. Any thoughts?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I wouldn't. Unless wrapped in something strong and not fully inflated they wouldn't stand up to the forces of a big boat. I've watched strong fenders go pop

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I wouldn't. Unless wrapped in something strong and not fully inflated they wouldn't stand up to the forces of a big boat. I've watched strong fenders go pop

[@JeremyWilliamsTx]

I like it!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Jeremy

[@chhindz]

I like it a lot!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Christopher.

[@jeffweeks901]

Wow.. These things could also save your boat.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yes I guess they could.

[@FatherTech]

Simple and effective. A million inflatable dinghy manufacturers just cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Good one

[@VeezyLife]

Wow so simple. That's a great idea and fix. It's one of those great ideas tht which after hearing, it makes you think, 1.) "How has nobody ever thought of this before" and 2.) "How am i just hearing about this" lol. Thanks for sharing!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I hope you choose to subscribe and watch our other videos. We have a bunch of this kind of thing

[@onemantwohands5224]

Ahahahaah yesssss , just found you my guy ❤excellent

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@braithmiller]

Franken dinghy for Halloween. The amount spent on rib repairs or outboards which is greater? Planning to build a custom fit dinghy as none really are well suited.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

It's so rewarding to build a boat. I built my own skifs for years before I started using utility boats. I say do it. Emily enjoyed building her boat.

[@braithmiller]

@@Clarks-Adventure I would rather repair a composite than repeatedly have poor performance repairs and pump up everywhere. Light, sail, row, outboard, lifeboat nobody makes it. Passenge home from Port Townsend soon.

[@glennr9913]

eBay has them listed individually. (Dunnage bags) I see one in Utah for $3 each. So, Clark when will you be back in the Bahamas? You could get into the salvaged dinghy business!! They'd be great for hurricane relief.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Feel free to start that endeavor. With the BankManager and the air-conditioner I have too much going on for a retired guy.

[@sailingbrooklynne]

I need that inner tubes

[@johnscarborough8425]

Love it. Refurbishing inflatable dinghy s with bags or truck inner tubes. A new industry for kids in the Caribbean. Makes me wonder why they don’t use inner air bladders to start with. More repeat sales without I suppose.

[@ravicabral2522]

Genius! Lol.😊

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks, Yeah. I'm kinda proud of this.

[@diogenes848]

Take this a step farther... this would make creating inflatable dinghies from scratch really easy. I mean, the reason no one does that is because the skin is wearing all those hats and it is hard for anything but the factory to do that. But if the DIY dinghy only needs to hold a shape and have some strength and the air bladder is cheap and only has to be air tight. You could make a skin out of whatever dinghy skin is typically made out of and attach it to a little fiber glassed hard bottom. Then put a bunch of grommets in the seem... locking the whole thing together with some rope. Seem should probably be on the inside so the outer rim is contiguous fabric. This could be a super cheap dinghy design concept. Because the hard bottom is fairly small and possibly could be pretty basic, that could be fabricated on your boat... its not huge. And the rest is just cutting and stitching together. I appreciate Clark has a "ride" issue with these things and prefers the solid utility boats but perhaps that could be addressed to some extent if one could really shape it however they wanted. This is a very neat idea and its odd in fact that it isn't standard. I mean, this is how a lot of bicycle tires work and as he said, footballs work this way as well. I think the old airships had this model as well. So its a very old idea but apparently entirely unimplemented in inflatable dinghies for no reason.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

If you make one I really want to see it. Yes I agree, one could build their own boat similar to what I had planned with the collar around my aluminum. As a product of someone made those collars for hard dinghies I think they would sell. I'd buy one.

[@bryrensexton4618]

👍!!!

[@Slaughterk360]

Fancy

[@crazyg74]

this is essentially how kitesurfing kites are constructed. A thin under-stressed bladder inside a tough nylon shell.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@lacky903]

The only drawback would be the inside will be wet and grow mold. It's no reason at all not to repair a dingy that way but building one from scratch that is a consideration. It's the drawback in kayaks built with inner bladders.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yes and it would likely cost more to produce. But as you say, as a method of extended the life of a "dead" boat. Well, one must make allowances.

[@flowplanet429]

so crate of 10 for 250 is 25 usd each.. roughly.. not far off the price of a double sized air mattress. you can get a single air mattress at about 15 usd approx.. those are likely more durable though. another option is expanding spray foam. but it would not then deflate and would cost more.. this is effective and cheap. i cant fault it. beats buying a new boat.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Don't use the spray foam. Seems like a good idea, but I've seen it fail a lot. Looks like cancer

[@Grumpyneanderthal]

Simple genius…. and actually a great concept business model for dinghy manufacturer… except the planned obsolescence of dinghies creates greater revenue .

[@Flembgemb]

Hahahhaa brilliant

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you Bryse

[@MiQBohlin]

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks MiQ. What , no beach ball icon??

[@MiQBohlin]

Couldn't find any. On the other hand wether balloons might do the job as well?

[@paulwyand6204]

Seeing deflatables in the dumpster of just about every marina I often thought about filling one with expanding foam. You would loose the ability to deflate but most never do anyway, especially with the RIBs.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Seems like it would work. Doesn't. Check through the comments on this video.

[@russberry3240]

I like you.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thank you. I hope you subscribe and watch my back catalog. There are lots of good ideas in those videos.

[@glennr9913]

Sort of like an erectile dysfunction implant for dinghies. LOL Nothin's worse than a limp dinghy!!

[@kodiham7532]

Great idea, can you show us better photos of securing the hole after you stuff the dunnage bag? Also I have a good pontoon section from another zodiac I'd like to stuff into my damaged zodiac section.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Sure. My friend is now having trouble with the bow section, he plans on using a spare part of another inflatable as you suggest. Same idea. I can't attach photos here so you have to use your imagination. It's laced like shoes or a corset.

[@mikeoconner557]

Brilliant!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks Mike