How to repair mooring buoys

[diggergilks]

Here's an odd ball question. Has anyone figured out how to repair those white plastic mooring buoys made by Taylor? The ball is foam filled with some kind of plastic or vinyl shell. After some years of use the shell cracks. So we have these six inch tears or rips in the shell. Anyone know how to repair this? All the usual epoxies won't stick. Good old Bondo won't do it. One guy suggested we might heat up a soldering iron and melt the plastic back together. What we need is some really rugged duct tape that would stick forever and stand the salt water environment. We do not wish to spring for the $200 or more that a new one will cost. We've got ten of these things that need repairs. Thanks a ton.
Digger
email at jeanandme@maine.rr.com

[Chris Boers]

This stuff says it will stick to polyethylene, which is what the buoys are covered with, I believe.

Marine-Tex Poly Dura (http://www.marinetex.com/PRODUCT%20PAGE_files/All%20PolyDura%20Info/PolyDura%20General%20Info.htm)

[Pete Dorr]

Digger

If you do try that solution or find a different solution please post back so I can know how to fix mine.

Thanks
Pete

[diggergilks]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the information on Polydura. I'll check it out and let you know if it works. The recommended "Flam Preparation" sounds a little dicey. But hey, we're desperate.

Thanks again,
Digger

[Henning 4148]

Some thoughts (haven't tried it, so no guarantee):

Part of the reason that your plastic cracks is probably degradation of the stuff by the UV light and by changes in moisture content in the plastic. So if you just repair the current cracks, you are very likely to see more in the future.

Now, what if you cover the spheres with two layers of glas - epoxy or glas - polyester? It will not stick very well to the shell, but once it's hard the original shell will be going nowhere because there is the second shell around it to hold all in place.

[rbgarr]

Digger-

Good luck with the Poly Dura.

Have you had any more luck finding plans for the Marblehead 23 (?)

An aside- Are your Taylor buoys the type that have steel rods through the 'poles' with loops at each end for attaching the mooring pennant on top and chain on the bottom?

If so, ones rented out by our local boatyard got about as old as yours and during a stormy evening one of the rods broke due to crevice corrosion and a boat went on the rocks. The boatyard has now changed over to the Taylor buoys that have a hollow tube through them that allow chain to run through and attach to the mooring pennant directly on top of a big washer with shackle and swivel. I also think these type of buoys will be required by town/federal mooring regulations in Maine.

You might want to check with your local harbormaster (or not!) ;)

[ 04-07-2005, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]

[diggergilks]

Thanks guys. These are the ones with the 2.5 inch hole up thru. Lined with a piece of plastic pipe. So the mooring chain comes up thru to a swivel/ shackle combo and attaches to the pennant. The Biddeford HM calls for one inch chain on the bottom and a 5/8 top chain and that's what we got. I got a reply from Tear Aid and they thought their Type A tape might work. http://www.tear-aid.com/ So the sales lady is going to send me a sample. I'll let people know if it works.
Digger

[PaulC]

I keep coming back to the same thought; Would encapsulating in "truck bed liner" work? Have you explored in that direction at all?

[ssor]

Chopped strand mat/polyester resin is the most conformable system that I know of. I have wrapped a tennis ball 180 degrees with a single ply and spread it to the board that the ball was on.You will probably need three plies but if you over lap the seams they should be sound, not real pretty, but sound, you will paint them any way.

[diggergilks]

Update on repairing the mooring buoys. We're trying a product called Tear-Aid from TearRepair Inc. They make two types of repair tape....Duct Tape on steroids. They claim their Type A will stick to darned near anything. Nice folks. They sent a few samples which I have since applied to the cracks in the mooring balls. Talk about adhesion! Plus the stuff is supposed to be water tight, streatch and give and be UV resistant. What more could you want? Except that it work and last the season. Oh well, we'll be puting the bouys overboard in another week or two. I'll make an other update later...yea or nay, depending on the results we get.