No More Hypalon - Now What ?

[avb3]

Many posts refer to the desirably of Hypalon dinks over PVC ones, yet DuPont no longer makes Hypalon.

The only equivalent product I could find is made by Tosoh Corp out of Japan, called Tosoh-CSM.

Is anyone familiar with who builds dinks using this product?

Whatever Google search parameters I am using are not getting the results I had hoped to see.

[zeehag]

there is stilll hypalon it just isnt like it used to be. caribe and others use the new hypalon which isnt as good as was original hypalon. but is still hypalon.

[noelex 77]

There still seem to be a lot of new Hypalon tenders produced.
I replaced my tender reciently and could not get a Hypalon model with the dimensionsions I needed, so had to go for PVC. I plan to have a sunbrella cover made for the tubes. The old PVC model lasted 12 years without a cover so PVC may turn out to be the best/ most cost effective option anyway.

[Steve Pope]

PVC with a cover is the only way to go especially if you are in the South Paciific or some other high UV area. I had a Walker Bay with PVC tubes that was showing signs of sunburn within a year of purchase. The down side was that I didn't immediately recognise what it was and that it was caused by UV rays. By the time I realized and contacted the importer it was out of warranty. I contacted Walker Bay and after a bit of tooing and froing their "PR" lady basically called me a liar and said I was trying to rip them off!! Yeah right!!! I know who was getting ripped off!!
I ended replacing them with some old stock Hypalon ones (at a miniscule discount) I have covered these with Sunbrella to try and make them last as long as possible.

[ausaviator]

I started a thread on this a few days back, bought a PVC inflatable off ebay, alloy floor, reserve was $500, buy it now $750 for the 3.0 metre and there were smaller ones available. You probably wouldn't be too worried about how long it lasted at that cost so with a cover if you can get a half dozen years it sounds like great value.

[colemj]

Relax. Hypalon is a DuPont trade name for a specific polymer chemistry. This compound is no longer protected under patent and is now made by several other companies. Only DuPont stopped making this polymer.

Mark

[fstbttms]

Plus, even a 20-year-old Hypalon boat will outlast a brand new PVC boat. Buy used, save money and relax.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Plus, even a 20-year-old Hypalon boat will outlast a brand new PVC boat. Buy used, save money and relax.

Agreed. My 1995 Caribe holds air as well as the day it was first pumped. Last summer, all it needed to run good as new was a new outboard.

I looked at the Caribe website just now, and they are still selling hypalon boats. Must be getting it somewhere?

[senormechanico]

Same goes for our 1992 Avon 3.10 RIB.
It spent 4 years in Mexico and every day since then in all weather in the PNW.
It still holds air as well as it ever did.
It just looks like crap because the Blue Heron uses it for a night perch on our dock.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by colemj

Relax. Hypalon is a DuPont trade name for a specific polymer chemistry. This compound is no longer protected under patent and is now made by several other companies. Only DuPont stopped making this polymer.
Mark

Hypalon is the DuPont trademark for ChloroSulfonated PolyEthylene (CSPE) synthetic rubber (CSM).

[CharlieCobra]

I bought my new Sea Eagle Hypalon 8.2 for $1,500.00 with accessories. Great little dink.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

I started a thread on this a few days back, bought a PVC inflatable off ebay, alloy floor, reserve was $500, buy it now $750 for the 3.0 metre and there were smaller ones available. You probably wouldn't be too worried about how long it lasted at that cost so with a cover if you can get a half dozen years it sounds like great value.

This will work unless you actually cruise to areas where you can't simple get a new one off eBay.... which would be 90% of the worlds cruising grounds.

cheers,
Nick.