flotation bag repair help needed

[eubie]

I have a stern NRS rodeo bag that has "diffuse" leaks along the seams. Would that "slime" stuff used for tires work? I've tried the usual stuff, various goops and goos, to no avail.

[Steve S]

Tire sealants such as Stan's Tire Sealant used for road and mountain bike tubeless tires are formulated to work with rubber. And it's nasty stuff; all you have to do is pull a tubeless tire off the rim to see the mess it leaves.

I think that you may have better luck with one of the Aquaseal products. To identify where the leaks are, use dish soap to make up a 1/2 gallon of soapy water. Use a paint brush or rag to spread the soapy water over the fully-inflated air bag. A leak will form easily spotted bubbles in the water. Once you dry the area around the leak, apply the Aquaseal.

Which Aquaseal product? I'm thinking about the tubes that many tent manufacturers used to include with their tents so you could seal the seams in the floor and the fly.

[eubie]

thanks, Steve. Hadn't thought about seam-sealer. Think I have some.

[andrewcarroll]

I also have a couple of those and they leak from everywhere let me know what you use to fix it.

[Chester]

Just FYI, NRS sold some bags about two years back that were substandard. They were leaking around the vent tube seal and the seams. When I called them about it, months after the purchase, they were aware of the problem and sent me and others free replacements. Probably been too long for you now, but there it is. I later bought Gala's, still going strong.

[Steve S]

It may not be too late to get a warranty replacement on the NRS air bags. They replaced my bad air bags in January, 2008, with the new ones. It probably helped that Ozark Outdoor Supply where I bought the original bags sent the them back to NRS for me.

[eubie]

Do you think they'd take them back even though repairs have been attempted?

[Steve S]

I think that if you have the store where you bought them ask NRS to supply warranty replacements, you will get new bags.

Joe Clark at OOS handled the warranty request for me.

[lalyle]

Dude . . . duct tape and tequila. Ya seal it with the tape, inflate to maximum capacity, slam a few tequila shots then paddle like a ^$%@#!. You finish the trip before all the air's gone or you just don't care, whichever comes first.

[turboturtle]

I never had any luck with these type products holding air after a short time. I purchased brand after brand hoping for, and always being disapointed. I gave up. The only water displacment product found in my boat for many years now has been a Pelican box. and depending on the size boat I'm paddlin the box/s can sometimes get "Very Small".

I have to admit to a slightly increased feeling of security on the steepies in the early days having what I thought at the time to be the best option out there for water displacement. So I cannot with good concience recommend anybody forgoing the added degree of safety this option permits. Some really need it! <chuckle added here>