Glue/adhesive to repair torn rubber part of fin

[Kernowek]

Hi all

Hoping someone with similar experience can suggest or recommend something suitable for repairing this tear. My initial thought was to use normal superglue, but I'm wondering if that will be too rigid and will just cause the rubber adjacent to the fix to just tear away instead?

Did a search here, a thread did mention the adhesive used for fish tanks as being a possiblity, has anyone tried this? Just wondering if it will be strong enough, considering the area that the tear is in will be frequently flexed.

Any advice appreciated, thanks!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

duct tape dude. It will be fine, looks like the other thicker rubber has stopped the crack.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I would contact the manufacturer as it looks like a premature failure that they should cover. I can't speak for Aqualung, but I know other manufacturers would cover such a defect even if outside of warranty and assume Aqualung will as well. Just looks like it was a bad mold

The problem is you don't have a lot of surface area to glue together. If I were fixing it, I would use contact cement on the edges, wait 20mins and push them together. Then I would go over it with duct tape, then I would put seal cement over the duct tape. The initial glue should hold it together more than enough, but the duct tape will for sure strenthen it, then to keep the duct tape from coming off....you have the seal cement that won't go anywhere. Not saying it will work...but it is what I would do IF the manufacturer didn't do anything about warranty

 

[melanie.]

My buddy tried using contact cement to fix his fin, but it wasn't enough to hold it even for one dive. Maybe Dive Right in Scuba's method would provide enough support to hold it in place

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I have seen many fins repaired like that. Duct tape will hold, there is absolutely no need to put glue over it. After a very long time, the outer wrap of duct tape my come off (maybe a year) and you just rip that off and add another layer.. Would be cool, if they sent you a new fin though.

 

[redacted]

I would try pieces of inner tube glued on with neoprene cement for a permanent fix. Rough up the surfaces a bit for better adhesion. If there is enough room in the foot pocket, I'd probably put a piece on the inside also. I'm sure the duct tape would work for a while as a temporary fix.

 

[CuNanoTube]

If you use a large bike tube repair patch on each side you should have a pretty good bond. I used a bike patch on my father's rubber drysuit boot and it has held for the last 40 dives he has done.

 

[Kernowek]

Awesome feedback, cheers all. RE the warranty, the dive shop I got it from (in Thailand) said it was just normal wear and tear. They've served me well through about 140ish dives, but then they are only three months old, so possibly if I contact Aqualung here in the UK maybe they can suggest something.

Otherwise, I like the sound of the combo methods suggested above, will look into that as a backup. It's still kinda usable as it is right now, but the tear could continue down the ridge towards the middle so I don't want to push my luck!

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far, much appreciated

 

[boulderjohn]

Awesome feedback, cheers all. RE the warranty, the dive shop I got it from (in Thailand) said it was just normal wear and tear. They've served me well through about 140ish dives, but then they are only three months old, so possibly if I contact Aqualung here in the UK maybe they can suggest something.

Years ago I had a pair of Mares Volos, and each one broke at the point of their weird hinge systm. They were 5 years old. I used duct tape to hold them together for a while. I showed them to someone from the dive shop where I bought them when I went in to purchase a replacement. She mailed them to Mares, and they sent me a brand new pair for free.

Of course, I had by then decided I didn't like the fins, but it was a pleasant surprise, and I am sure the person I sold them too is quite happy with them.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

Tried shoe goo? Its like liquid rubber or liquid plastic.