I just got off the phone with a local guy who repairs inflatable boats.
Seems like he really knows of what he speaks. I learned a few things:
- Hypalon, the material our old Avon is made of, goes on pretty much forever, even when exposed to sun. He sees old Hypalon Avons still holding air after sixty, yes sixty, years.
- Parts are still available for old Avon dinghies, even though the brand is out of business—bought by Zodiac and then trashed…but I’m not bitter.
- He says he can fix pretty much anything that needs it on this old dinghy, and that when he gets done it will be functional for many more years.
- If the floor is leaking on any flexible bottom inflatable:
- Wait for nightfall
- Take the boards out
- Flip the dinghy upside down
- Put a bright light under it
- Circle the little stars of light you see with chalk
- Flip over and patch the chalk circles
He is going to rehab our nearly four-decade old Avon. If it goes another 20 years I’m thinking I might be done with it.
Final tip from me: Hypalon may be a lot more expensive, but it’s worth every penny.