How Tuff Coat Works – How to Repair and Restore your Inflatable Boat

To order direct from the manufacturer, click here!

Do you have an inflatable boat? Or did you have one? Or is the one you had stuck away in a corner of the garage or basement because it needs repair? But no matter what the damage, whether it’s worn fabric, or UV damage, or pinhole leaks; and no matter what type of inflatable boat it is, whether it’s Hypalon or PVC – there’s still hope for it. In fact, there’s more than hope – there’s virtually no doubt you can repair and restore your inflatable boat to a near new condition using a revolutionary new product called Tuff Coat.

How are inflatable boats used?

Ever since the first modern-day inflatable boats, the industry has grown to amazing proportions. Almost every major country in the world has its own inflatable boat manufacturer. Zodiac is probably the biggest and best. They have a few lines of their own, like Bombard and Zoom. And then there’s Avon, in the United Kingdom. Other manufacturers worth mentioning are Aqua Dutch, AquaPro, Apex, Narwhal, Nautica Ribs and Sea Eagle. Obviously, there are hundreds of others, and we’ll mention a few as we go along. For now, we’ll look at why inflatable boats are so popular.

Basic inflatable boats can carry one or two people, or up to a full crew complete with equipment. They can be anywhere from 6 to 20 feet long, so you can imagine how versatile that makes them. One of the most popular uses is for fishing – it’s much easier to stand up in an inflatable boat, than in a conventional boat. And because of it’s flat bottom, it can be used in shallow water. Also, it can accommodate a small motor for trolling. It’s a fisherman’s favorite.

One of the most common uses of inflatables is as tenders – ship-to-shore boats. A couple of examples are Mega-Yacht Tenders by Zodiac, and Falcon Tenders by Brig. Because they’re so light, and can be deflated and stored in a small space, they’re ideal as fishing vessels. For the same reason, they’re also becoming very popular for emergency lifeboats. One of the more recent additions to inflatable boat design is the inflatable keel, which adds even more stability to its already buoyant nature.

Police, security and military personnel find inflatable boats very versatile. They’re great for reconnaissance missions and security patrols, up rivers, through shallow waters, and other areas that can’t be accessed by conventional boats. Many inflatable boat manufacturers are designing boats specifically for this purpose, like Gemini and Delta.

RIBs are in big demand by the military and coast guard, too, because they’re virtually impossible to capsize. RIB stands for rigid inflatable boat, with the rigid part being the fiberglass hull. Some examples of RIB manufacturers are Zebec, Humber, Viking and Voyager. The fiberglass hulls allow the bow to be shaped like a conventional boat, which gives it more speed capabilities, while retaining the buoyancy characteristics of inflatables – the best of both worlds.

Why you need a good inflatable boat repair product

Inflatable boats are manufactured with fabric, covered with a rubber coating. Actually, the coating can be made from other materials, with Hypalon and PVC being the most common, but the principle’s the same. When something’s made out of fabric, it can get worn. When something’s made out of rubber, it can get punctured. And when you look at some the uses of an inflatable pontoon boat – all the places they go where they can get bumped, scraped, hit, poked, etc. – then its no wonder they get damaged.

And to add to the possibility of damage, there’s also the wear and tear factor. Inflatable boats are subject to UV (Ultraviolet) damage from the sun. They’re also subject to deterioration from salt water. They can be damaged by gas, oil and other pollutants in the water. The seams can come apart, leading to leaks. They can get pinholes, leading to more leaks. You get the picture – there are all kinds of possibilities when it comes to rendering your inflatable boat unusable.

So obviously, what the inflatable boat industry needs is a superior product – one that can repair every possible type of damage. And wouldn’t it be the icing on the cake if this product would not only repair it, but restore it to its original sparkling condition? Well, the industry did get halfway there. You can buy products that repair your inflatable boat. But they only do half the job, and they don’t even do that well. But wait, don’t throw out that boat. There is a product that’ll totally repair and totally restore your inflatable boat, leaving it just like new! This product is called SRC (Synthetic Rubber Coating) Tuff Coat, and it was created by Michael Fry, a very successful entrepreneur and boater.

What can SRC Tuff Coat do for you?

SRC Tuff Coat is a revolutionary product. Its uniqueness comes from its ability to completely repair any kind of damage to any kind of inflatable boat. Even the new RIBs, with their fiberglass hulls, can be repaired with Tuff Coat. (And by the way, have you seen some of those new RIBs – check them out, by such great manufacturers as Delta, Ribcraft, Scorpion and Valiant.) When Tuff Coat is applied according to the surprisingly-simple instructions, it’ll leave your boat waterproof, free from any sign of damage, and generally just like new.

It doesn’t matter what’s keeping you from launching your inflatable boat, Tuff Coat can fix it. And it doesn’t matter how experienced you are in inflatable boat repair, Tuff Coat’s easy application can give you professional results. And it doesn’t matter if your inflatable boat is made from Hypalon or PVC, Tuff Coat works as well on either. And it doesn’t matter if your inflatable boat is a soft-bottom model, or a RIB (rigid inflatable boat), Tuff Coat can restore it to showroom shape. Tuff Coat does it all, and does it well!

How does SRC Tuff Coat work?

SRC Tuff Coat comes as a kit, containing two 1-quart cans, capable of covering a 9-foot inflatable boat. One can is a Basecoat, the other is a Topcoat. First, we’ll look at the Basecoat – what it is and what it does. We’ll keep the chemical makeup of the Basecoat simple, and just say that it’s a solvent-based chlorosulfonated, polyethylene resin. If you’re not a chemist, then that may not seem so simple to you, so suffice it to say that it’s a formula that’s been tested and proven to provide an extremely tough, waterproof coating which sticks directly to Hypalon, or to PVC with a little simple preparation.

The Basecoat contains UV protectors and vulcanizing agents. Now if you don’t know what vulcanizing is, Dictionary.com describes it as a process that improves the strength, resiliency, and freedom from the stickiness and odor of rubber. What more could you want if you’re repairing your inflatable boat?

After the Basecoat is applied and dried, the Topcoat can be added. As with the Basecoat, the Topcoat is an easy-to-apply acrylic latex that’s specifically formulated to stick to the Basecoat in a permanent union. This bonding will leave your boat with a strong, but flexible surface that provides a stable seal for your boat, while continuing to protect it from damage.

We mentioned that the Topcoat is a latex formula, and if you think of paint when you think of latex, then you’ve got the right idea. Think of the Basecoat and the Topcoat as inflatable paint, because that’s essentially just how you apply it. And it’s that simple.

What are the basic instructions for applying SRC Tuff Coat?

Keeping with the simple theme, Tuff Coat can be applied by anyone, even if you’re just a beginner. We’ll outline the simple instructions here, just to give you an idea of how easy it really is.

Before applying the Basecoat, you need to prepare the surface. In very basic terms, it just needs to be clean and dry. That means removing anything from the surface, like oil, wax, grease, or any other contaminant. Since the Basecoat is formulated to stick to the boat’s surface, anything foreign will affect the reaction, possibly preventing proper adhesion. That’s why cleaning the surface is so important. But it’s not difficult – just follow the instructions carefully.
Applying the Basecoat is, as we mentioned, as simple as applying paint – you just brush it on (or roll it or spray it). An important thing to remember here is the value of patience. Although you’re probably anxious to get your inflatable boat back into the water, you can’t rush the Tuff Coat process. Drying takes time, and if you don’t allow enough of it, the bonding process may be affected. The Basecoat must be thoroughly dry before the topcoat is applied.
Applying the Topcoat is, again, a simple process. All you’re going to do is paint. But remember, you can’t paint on the Topcoat until the Basecoat is completely dry and cured. How long this takes depends on the weather and the climate. If it’s hot and dry, it should take about 24 hours. If it’s cold and damp, it could take up to a week. Again – be patient!

SRC Tuff Coat does it all

Tuff Coat is such a superior product that, when used as directed, its list of capabilities is long and strong. It repairs your inflatable boat. It renews it. It restores it. It does an equally great job on Hypalon or PVC. It repairs any kind of damage, from pinholes to worn fabric. It restores UV damage. It’s the best, in fact the only, coating product on the market that answers all the questions pertaining to inflatable boat repair.

Zodiac has recognized the quality of Tuff Coat. They’ve gone so far as to adopt it as part of their own line of superior products. It’s marketed as SRC, and it’s the real thing. When a company with the international stature of Zodiac endorses a product, you know it has to be good. As more people become aware of Tuff Coat, and its high level of performance, perhaps other manufacturers will endorse it as the product for inflatable boat repairs.

Mercury Marine, manufacturer of the popular Quicksilver inflatable boats, would probably find Tuff Coat to be a profitable addition to its line of quality products. Or another international company, Grand Marine, might recognize the value of Tuff Coat for inflatable boat repair. Literally any manufacturer, from anywhere in the world, would be wise to market Tuff Coat. It’s a number one product, doing a number one job, and it’s unequalled in the industry.

So if you have an inflatable boat that needs repairing or restoring, get the only product that’ll do the job right – SRC Tuff Coat!

To order direct from the manufacturer, click here!

About The Author

Gareth Marples is a successful business writer providing valuable tips and advice for consumers purchasing inflatable boat repair products, inflatable boats, supplies and accessories and affordable boat insurance. His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.

This article on the "How Tuff Coat Works" reprinted with permission.

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