How to repair rubber boat bumpers?
 

I put a floating turtle trap in one of my ponds several months ago...the type that floats with two rubber bumpers. Caught and relocated over 30 yellow sliders :). Then recently, the trap was caddywhompus, half submerged...something had eaten small holes, 1/8" in one of the bumpers :(. I filled the holes with caulk, let it harden, and put it back out....now BOTH bumpers have been chewed on....trap was on the bottom. The caulk didn't hold up either....what to use? Don't know which critter is chewing....I also have muskrats, and big azz snapper turtles in the pond...both are suspect....suggestions and ideas please :)

Nope...I will NOT eliminate the chewers...."live and let live"...within reason....

edited...I went online to the trap's site (Pond King), thinking I might call them....the bumpers are soft vinyl, not rubber if that makes a difference....

Sorry, I only know about rubber baby buggy bumpers.

funny, I had to look it up too

fenders

Could cover them with tight hardware cloth or depending how much time you want o invest use metal tanks/jugs/floats... instead.

Duct tape fixes everything.

Then coat with the 'as seen on TV' spray sealer.

Kidding..... but serious.

fill with expanding closed cell foam

After repairing wrap with wire mesh before launching again.

most all the stuff is open cell and will waterlog in cans from the hardware store

Styrofoam is closed but requires a part-vacuum to expand and is very hard to get in small batches
vinyl can be patched with pool toy repair kits but most are thin and do not hold up well

just use crabtrap floats they are cheap Styrofoam balls

Thanks for the suggestions guys....appreciate it!

Not exactly sure what the bumper is you are refereeing to. Is it one of the white vinyl inflatable type? Similar to this type?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1507654074.jpg

If so 3M 5200 will stick and hold to the vinyl. Repair similar to a bike tube. Find something to bridge the gap 5200 around the hole and press the patch into the 5200. Fill as usual. Of course what ever ate through will do it again.

I think Jeremy's foam idea is pretty good. Spray the foam in the hole, after it sets use the patch and 5200 to make water resistant. The foam will keep it from sinking again.

Got any old glass gallon jugs?

Yes, two FENDERS like those :). I like the foam idea too...been looking online for something I can spray. Gotta keep it light, glass, etc. is out, and I really don't want to enclose the bumpers in a wire mesh....weight and snagging grasses, etc. Thanks all...the search continues...

Can you replace the floats with something cheaper? Like 4" pvc pipe and endcaps?

https://www.fgci.com/products/35/Liquid-Foam/

you can also attach to pool noodles

That's the type of stuff I was finding too...seems to set up & expand pretty fast and I'm not sure how I get it inside the bumpers.

The 4" PVC w/ endcaps might work...great suggestion too!

Just use the foam cans from one of the box stores. has a straw to stick down in the hole.

I think I'll do that, even if it's not closed cell foam, seal the holes, maybe a bit of duct tape too and see what happens...thanks all!