Tuff Inflatable Dinghy Restoration

When we purchased our Bayliner 3058, we thought the dinghy was big and ugly. All the salesman could say was, "It holds air." Our initial thought was to purchase a new one, but other items had to take priority, primarily a replacement windlass and refrigerator. Then we found out our Quicksilver inflatable is made with higher quality Hypalon.

While we were staying in Richmond during the purchase process, we visited Steveston Marine & Hardware. It's an amazing store with everything nautical you can imagine. At the end of an aisle we found Tuff-Coat inflatable repair kits. They weren't cheap and sounded too good to be true. After we got our boat home to Powell River Wayne decided to order some online. The shelf price for the kit is $179.29, now on sale for $127.99.

The first step is to thoroughly clean the dinghy. Wayne masked the rubber seals. You can paint over these, but Wayne thought leaving them gray would be attractive. The base coat is the most important part of the preservation/restoration process. It brushes on thick, but smooths out as it dries. It seems to meld right into the surface of the dinghy fabric.

After the base coat dries, you apply a coloured top coat. It comes in gray, black, white and red. Wayne loves colourful things. Fortunately our moorage spot it the last on the finger, so Wayne had a good spot to do all the work. It took about four days to complete the painting and drying process for both sides.

Now we have a beautiful dinghy with a restored surface. Rather than getting rid of it and spending lots of money on a new one, we have a distinctive new looking tender that should last us many more years. Job well done Wayne, and great product Tuff-Coat. -- Margy