What to use to patch a hole in the bladder?

[Warren_L]

I have an oxycheq signature series 45# singles wing I picked up a couple of years ago. I really only use this on a few dive trips a year when I go down south for some easy warm water single tank diving. I just got back from San Andres last week and was giving my gear a good soak to get rid of the salt when I noticed a hissing sound coming from my wing. I took off the exterior cover and noticed a pinhole in the wing (I can only guess the material got pinched between something).

Anyhow, I was wondering what would be appropriate to use to patch the pinhole. I don't know if the bladder material is the same as from other manufacturers of wings. I emailed oxycheq a couple of days ago, but no response yet.

 

[O.M.O.H.]

OMS makes a bladder repair kit: http://www.omsdive.com/bcaccess.html

I would also take to a local shop that has repair contracts just to be certain its properly sealed.

Cheers.

 

[Hoyden]

A dab of aquaseal will do the trick on a single pin hole. There is no need for a big patch if it is just a pin hole. I have two single layer bladder (no cover) wings that both have aquaseal "patches" that have held for many dives - one of them probably has 70 post-patch dives on it. I bet the aquaseal is tougher than material around it, but if it fails, well, you have a pin hole again - no big deal, just another dab of aquaseal when your wing is dry again. I did have another wing that got multiple pinholes in a small area - that one I used aquaseal and some tent patching that I bought at REI - that one has also held up very well.

Jackie

 

[rcontrera]

Even better (and a lot cheaper) ... water bed repair kit. About $3 from the water bed store.

 

[airsix]

I'm sure the above advice will serve you well. I'm just shocked to hear of a signature series bladder with a puncture in it! Those things are heavy-duty.

-Ben

 

[Warren_L]

I'm sure the above advice will serve you well. I'm just shocked to hear of a signature series bladder with a puncture in it! Those things are heavy-duty.

-Ben

I'm not sure how it got there, but when I travel to warm destinations, it's the only wing that travels with me since much of the diving for me is singles diving. At home, it doesn't get used. So, I suspect it was probably pinched somehow during travel in my luggage.

 

[Warren_L]

Oh, I just got a message back from Oxycheq on this. They suggest using some aquaseal, or alternatively a urethane patch.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I'll give the aquaseal a try first.

 

[O.M.O.H.]

I'm not sure how it got there, but when I travel to warm destinations, it's the only wing that travels with me since much of the diving for me is singles diving. At home, it doesn't get used. So, I suspect it was probably pinched somehow during travel in my luggage.

I with you there! Well at least it wans't a manta ray (just kidding)

 

[battles2a5]

I use the adhesive-backed patch kits for bicycle tires. They are compact, you can stuff them in your dive bag, and you can patch a wing in no time at all.