Inflatable needs cleaning

[Grime]

I purchased a 9 foot inflatable the other day. The registration numbers are coming off and I need to redo them. What is the best thing to use to clean the boat so that the new numbers will stick?

[KenR]

Cleaning would be based on what material the inflatable is made of. The most common cleaning solvents are:

PVC - MEK
Hypalon - Toluene

Note: Both are very effective at surface preparation for applying adhesives but must be used with caution, especially proper ventilation.

[Grime]

Thanks Ken,

Methyl Ethyl Ketone I'll have to check it out

[Shipscarver]

There is an interesting article in "DIY BOAT OWNER," Issue 3, 2010.  This article, "Tender Care," written by live aboard Capt. Frank Mummery, covers prep work, cleaning, and painting a tender.

[Captain Smollett]

I've not used it myself, but a fellow here in the marina last fall swore by this stuff:



Bixler's Elixer Three Part Inflatable Boat Cleaner

I've also read of people using diluted Tidy bowl toilet cleaner (but I cannot say yea or nay on this being either effective or safe for the material).

[lecker68]

on my inflatable I am using plexiglas plate to stick the numbers to and fasten to a line on the vessel my reasoning for this is numbers are going to fail premature with deflating and inflating.