Dive Rite bladder hole.

[Scuba_88]

This sucks! I just found two holes in my Dive Rite bladder today. Can you patch these things or should I try to send it back to Dive Rite? It's an older Rec wing and I'm not even sure they will still have the parts. The wing looks new so I don't want to just scrap this thing. Any suggestions?

 

[Dsix36]

I have patched plenty of wings. In fact my current wing is patched. Sand the area around the hole, apply aquaseal, let dry, cover with duct tape (just for good measure), go diving.

Never had an issue with one of my patches yet.

 

[tbone1004]

you can patch them, Dive Rite can patch them, and they probably have new bladders available. Call them and ask, the guys over there are really helpful. Aquasealing like @Dsix36 said is what they're going to do though, so you may as well DIY, it's the same as patching an air mattress or inner tube.

 

[Scuba_88]

Awesome! Makes me feel a lot better.

One more question. Do you guys just use this Aquaseal stuff or do you ever cover it with a piece of rubber the way you fix a bike tire? Just asking because the holes are like tiny 2 mm cuts.

 

[tbone1004]

if they're more slits than holes I just patch with aquaseal, but you can use a bike tire patch no problem. These aren't really under any pressure so it's less critical than a bike tire, but if it makes you feel better it won't hurt.

 

[rddvet]

Skip the aqua seal. Buy some type a tape (google it). It’s what we use to repair holes in the bladders in our kites kiteboarding. Kiteboarding bladder is thinner than a bc bladder and takes more abuse. In kiting your kite often slams the water very fast and hard. I’ve had multiple bladders repaired with type a hold up for years. Including sitting in my hot car for hours.

 

[gstrek]

I read about Tear-Aid for BC repair (type A for nylon) and have a few inches of it my save-a-dive kit. I haven't used it for BC repair but have used it for repairing a tear in a outdoor furniture cover. It held up over a cold, snowy winter.

I would repair with Aquaseal and cover it with Tear-Aid.

 

[rhwestfall]

Tear-Aid is a fantastic product. Just make sure you get the right one (there is "Type A" & "Type B"). Specific uses are listed on the packaging. Of interest is that if you are using it in conjunction with AquaSeal, it might not matter...

 

[gstrek]

Tear-Aid is a fantastic product. Just make sure you get the right one (there is "Type A" & "Type B"). Specific uses are listed on the packaging. Of interest is that if you are using it in conjunction with AquaSeal, it might not matter...

I haven't used either Aquaseal or Tear-Aid on a BC so can't say which one or both would work or not. I guess using both would be the belt and suspenders approach. FWIW, I only bring Tear-Aid with me when I am on a dive trip.

 

[rhwestfall]

I've used TearAid on latex seals quite successfully. It is a important component of my DS Save-A-Dive kit.

I imagine the same product would work well to patch a bladder.