An illustrated procedure for small punctures in PVC, the flexible plastic skin of the SUP. Check the material and damage before bonding. Stop if you are unsure.
An orderly workstation prevents interruptions while the two adhesive coats are drying.
This procedure is only for small, simple punctures in PVC. Check that the cut does not reach a seam or the layers that give the board its shape.
Stop if you cannot identify the material, the cut is long, the layers are separating or an earlier repair has already lifted.
Lay out every tool on a clean, stable surface. The SUP must be clean, dry and supported without creases around the repair area.
Read the adhesive label first. Amounts, waiting times and use of heat vary between products.
Cut a patch larger than the puncture and round every corner. Clean the board and patch separately as stated on the label. Do not touch the bonding surfaces again.
Rounded corners reduce lifting points; both surfaces must be dry and free from dust or grease.
Place the patch without adhesive, centre the puncture and trace its outline. Add two small marks to recover the position and mask the area outside it.
Check the position now. Once the two adhesive surfaces touch, moving the patch becomes difficult.
Read the label to find how much of each liquid to use. Measure only what you need and mix for the stated time.
Shorten the bristles of a small brush only if this helps you spread a thin, even layer.
Spread a very thin, even layer on both the patch and the marked area of the SUP. Leave no lumps, pools or bare spots.
Wait for the time stated on the adhesive label.
If the label requires a second coat, spread another thin layer on both surfaces. Close the container immediately.
Wait again for the time stated on the package.
Close and remove the solvent, cloths and containers. Let plenty of fresh air through the area. Only when the label requires it, warm the dry adhesive using the distance and movement stated by the manufacturer.
Do not guess a temperature. If the instructions do not require heat, do not use it.
Hold the patch by its edges, follow the reference marks and make the first contact lightly. Press with the spatula from the centre outwards, working around the full edge, then remove the masking tape.
Wait for all the drying time stated on the package before inflating the SUP or taking it onto the water. Bubbles, open edges or a moving patch require professional assessment.
A patch cannot solve every type of damage. Request an assessment before working if any of these cases applies:
Locate the leak with soapy water, try the least invasive correction and replace the valve only when it is genuinely required.
Check that the structure is intact, rebuild the joint and add an external reinforcement only when materials and working conditions are suitable.
Seven illustrated procedures, from diagnosis to the condition that says stop.
Send the measurement and photographs to RiparoSUP. We will assess the case before you arrange shipping.