Quick Guide: Temporary Field Boat Repairs

ArticleMarch 02, 2012

These products can provide permanent repairs in many applications, and they are certainly great things to have in your repair kit for on-the-water emergencies. However, for air-holding patches on inflatable boats, we recommend you replace field patches with permanent repairs when you get back home.

Tear-Aid comes in a kit with various size patches, alcohol prep pads and reinforcement filament for repairing tears in edges. It’s also available in a roll 3"W x 5'L. The roll is a great item to pack in your repair kit.

Tear-Aid Patch—Type A

  • This product adheres to a wide variety of surfaces—Pennel Orca® boat material, Hypalon®, rubber, latex, most fabrics, fiberglass, nylon, most plastics (including polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane), non-oiled leather, aluminum and stainless steel. 
  • The clear polyurethane tape has a peel-and-stick adhesive backing for easy repair convenience. It’s exceptionally tough and abrasion-resistant. It stretches and springs back without losing its grip.
  • Rounding the corners of patches helps prevent peeling.
  • Thoroughly clean the repair surface with alcohol or other solvent/cleaner before applying Tear-Aid.
  • For repairs on vinyl or PVC, use Tear-Aid Patch—Type B.

Tear-Aid Patch—Type B

  • Tear-Aid Type B is for vinyl/PVC ONLY. The oils in these materials and coatings require the special adhesive in Type B.
  • The polyurethane tape has a peel-and-stick adhesive backing for repair convenience. It’s exceptionally tough and abrasion resistant. It stretches and springs back without losing its grip.
  • Rounding the corners of patches helps prevent peeling.
  • Thoroughly clean the repair surface with alcohol or other solvent/cleaner before applying Tear-Aid.
  • For repairing other materials, use Tear-Aid Patch—Type A (see above).