installing d rings to an old open boat

[chuck]

My old d rings came up and brought some of the grey vinyl up also. Any suggestions about reinstalling? Would putting a layer of the 3m scothc urethane adhesive be a good first step. The abs is not damaged at all. THere are only three small tears in the vinyl.
Thanks
Chuck

[sbroam]

Are these d-rings for thigh straps or something else (i.e. air bags)? I had some come up that way that were par of my air bag anchoring system and I put them back using "Marine Goop". [I think that this and "Outdoor Goop" differ from plain old "Goop" by having extra UV inhibitors and/or plasticizers, but that may just be marketing hype...] I don't know if I would have trusted that for thigh straps, but it has held up fine for several years nonetheless.

[chuck naill]

Additionally the d rings are for thigh straps

[yarnellboat]

Chuck,

If the tears in the vinyl are contained to an area that is easily covered by the vinyl base of your new d-ring anchor, I'd just glue in the new large d-ring with the 3M epoxy.

If whatever ripped out was already large, maybe I'd put down a layer of epoxy first to shore-up the vinyl and then glue on the d-ring, as you suggested. Alternatively, you could glue down a large vinyl patch over the damage to the vinyl and then start fresh on top of that, but simple is better.

Good luck, Pat.

[dixie_boater]

Since the vinyl has come up with the d-rings I would replace the vinyl anchors with plastic extrusion anchors. The reason I recommend this is that thigh straps require the strongest bond possible to a Royalex hull. By using plastic extrusions with 3M 3532 urethane adhesive (two part mix) you can achieve the strongest bond possible. This is simpler than adding a vinyl patch or shoring up the old vinyl with a layer of urethane adhesive prior to anchoring the old d-rings to the hull.

I know it is more costly to replace the d-rings, but wouldn't you rather fix it with the best method. Nothing more unnerving than having an anchor break loose on the river.

[chuck naill]

Where would I likeily find the plastic extrusions? Thanks for the advice. Also what type of retailers carry the epoxy adhesives?

[dixie_boater]

You can buy the anchors from Voyager (http://www.voyageur-gear.com/2002_produ ... r=B#300961) or NOC. NOC also carries 3M 3532 urethane adhesive. This adhesive is usually carried by specialty adhesive distributors. I would check the Yellow pages in Knoxville for these distributors. Since you aren't too far from Wesser NC you could go to NOC and buy everything you need at one place.

[chuck naill]

Dixie,

Thank you. We are planning a trip to NOC this week.

Chuck

[dixie_boater]

The plastic anchors I have bought at NOC require a slight modification before installation. The stainless steel D-ring that comes with the plastic extrusion doesn't fit into the extrusion perfectly. Insert the d-ring into the groove on the extrusion and you'll notice that the inside bends of the ring contact the corners of the groove before the bottom of the ring is flush with bottom of the extrusion. I wish I could draw a sketch to better illustrate what I am trying to say in words. The fix for this problem is to use a 1/8" dia. round file on the inside corners of the plastic extrusion. Only a very small groove needs to be made to allow the ring to fit all the way into the extrusion. Don't take off anymore plastic than is absolutely necessary. If this modification is not made the base of the extrusion will not fit flush against the hull and the d-ring will not rotate freely in the groove of the extrusion.