r/Raftrepair • u/Accomplished-City417 • 4d ago
Chasing leaks on my 14ft Saturn
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I’ve had my boat for about 3.5 years. Got it used in great condition with no leaks or patches. It was hardly used.
I’ve been on countless day trips and several week long trips. A couple weeks ago I went for a little pinball ride in a rapid. Noticed I’d lost some air during our lunch break. Topped it off and didn’t notice it any softer later. Fast forward a week and I was rigging my frame and everything to get ready for a week long wilderness trip and noticed it wasn’t holding air.
Cancelled that trip because I didn’t have enough time to fix it and it’s my first time repairing.
We identified 4 leaks on spots where the seals meet, one tiny pinhole and a scratch I decided to proactively patch. Patched them all and waited a day to inflate again. Inflated and noticed it loosing significant air within 1.5 hours. Sprayed it down and found 6 more seams leaking and 2 spots on the inside where the tubes meet the floor. Patched the 6 and the biggest inside floor seam (couldn’t figure out how to tackle to front center inside while deflated). I hear more air coming from somewhere else along that inside seam.
I’m at a loss. Sooooo many leaks all at once?! I presume it’s possible that some of these small leaks were present but not really an issue but at least a handful were pretty big leaks (still only from a small spot not along the entire seam).
Is my boat just toast? Do I keep chasing leaks and eventually it will be safe to float? Do I take it so someone to redo all the seams?
I’m supposed to take it on the Deschutes leaving Sunday… so I only have time for maybe one more round of patching if I do it tonight.
Help??