Anyone heard of Big Dog Boats?

[debbiet]

Bought a RIB from them at the Seattle Boat Show about 8+ years ago. Not finding the company online now so may be they are no longer in business. Also not finding the paperwork.

Need to repair and I can't determine whether it's PVC or Hypalon, so I don't know what kind of adhesive to purchase. There are no tears in it so I can't see the inside, where the color would tell me. I suspect if PVC is cheaper, it's PVC.

It's a nice little RIB, or was, but we treated it poorly and now it needs help.

I was hoping someone in this group might have had one or is familiar with this company? I think they were in the Great Lakes area.

Or if there is an adhesive that works on both materials, what would work too. But it seems to be an either-or kind of situation.

TIA!

 

[rsn48]

Why not call these guys and ask them how to tell the difference of material. We have a dinghy repair place on Vancouver Island that is popular, breath new life into an older RIB and cheaper than replacing:

https://www.pacificinflatableboats.com/

 

[debbiet]

I'm going to try acetone. The only ways I've discovered are either looking inside, which I can't do b/c there are no holes, or seeing how it reacts to that. Crossing my fingers!

 

[koliver]

I'm going to try acetone. The only ways I've discovered are either looking inside, which I can't do b/c there are no holes, or seeing how it reacts to that. Crossing my fingers!

Or try Toluene.

That is what the hypalon inflatable guys told me to use on a Hypalon inflatable.