Bladder Problem

[spectrum]

No, it's not what you think, then again maybe it is.



I picked up a nice SeaQuest horse collar at a local dive shop tent sale. It was a leaker but was in such nice shape that for the right price I couldn't resist taking a chance. The color was great, the zipper fee and clean Looking it over it's hard to believe it ever saw water.

The problem is a seam failure just below the chin. I have very nice access to it without even breaking down any of the connections. The material seems to be a coated nylon and it's opened for about 1-1/2 inches. It's not a tear, just a parting of the seam. I am looking for repair method suggestions.

Thanks,
Pete

[Creed]

If you can clean up the seam and get good compression, Aquaseal should work. I used an old Seatec BC to make patches for an old Dacor horsecollar. You just need to make sure that you can apply pressure to the seal while it is curing.

[treasureman]

Sounds serious to me. better go get a doctor to look at it.

[scubadiver_bob]

I have a horsecollar with same exact problem. still haven't repaired it yet 'cause I'm diving with a scubapro bladderless horsecollar. You should do a pull test on the bladder and make sure there are no other weak spots in the seam. The whole seam may need to be reglued (I'll probably use aquaseal on mine if I ever get around to doing it). Mine needs the whole inside and outside seals reglued. Important to check all the seams, 'cause if you fix one spot another might give out on you while your at depth.

Does anyone know what the original glue was that was used in the manufacture of the bladders?

Is there a reproduction bladder for horsecollars out there that doesn't have holes in it so I can make my own holes where the power inflator hose, dump valve, and CO2 cartridge go?

These were questions that came to my mind after I got my "in new condition" and "holds air" horsecollar off e-bay. So far I've not found answers to them. My bc is a very nice, in almost new condition, Selpac that needs a new bladder or the old one reglued.

Robert

[spectrum]

Robert,

Funny to read your post. I was just returniong to say that I am finding the seam to be in total failure mode. As I fix one section another breaches.

It looks like I will now to a total teardown to repair the bladder outside of the shell. I have some concern about the uretance coating perhaps seperating from the nylon base fabric and may just use this one as a template. Too bad, the thing in in like new condition oterwise.

Pete

[scubadiver_bob]

Pete,

Same thing with mine, it just all fell apart when I pulled on the material around the seam. If you already glued one section and try to glue around the glue that already dried you might get leaks. I plan on going to a local rubber store where I live and see if they can make me a bladder out of rubber (like an inner tube). They have made me disk and gaskets for power inflators and other stuff before. I don't know if anyone has made a generic replacement for bladders. I've asked and no one has answered. Sence most horsecollars are about the same size I don't think it would be to hard to do. Just leave the holes out and people can put the holes were they need them.

Good Luck with yours,

Robert

[21]

Sea Quest was established by the late Charlie Jelhe in Orange California after retirement from Voit as director of Water Sports.

His units were designed and manufactured by Harry Rescigno of Sea Tec Inflatable systems. Harry was the father of the double bag BCs. Some of the early Sea Quest units are identical and parts are interchangeable with Sea Tec models. Charlie's early "office" was a small cubby hole in the corner of Sea Tec.

Charlie sold Sea Quest- I some how recall to US Divers? and moved to Florida for retirement..Not happy with retirement he establisd a SCUBA tank distribution company which he ran until he was forced in to final retirement due to health problems. He passed away about 3 years ago.

His daughter Cathy was employed as Sales Mgr for Mares in Colorado until they folded. Son Charlie Jr, was with several dive manufactures, became Sales Mgr for Marksman air (BB) guns, has retired and lives locally as does Charlie's widow who is up in age and in a health care facility.

Now you know a little historyof Sea Quest,

Now for repair..

The seams were presure heat sealed via a large press. Like all things they have a life and if one area is repaired another area will leak. Therefore, I would stronly urge that you contact Sea tec, which is under new owner ship, explain the problem and have them make a new bag if they still have the pattern for your unit.

Harry's originial pioneering concept of the two bag system was that the outer bag was made of strong durable material which would be sailor proof and take a lot of abuse. The inner bag was light weight made to be inflated with minimum effort. Which they were and are. The original cost of factory replacing the bag was $7.00 dollars --I fear replacement has increased a tad from the original price..

If cannot be repaired toss or sell on E bay as a wall hanger.

The idea of a local manufacture of automotive tire rubber was the method used by Bill Walters and Larry Scott when they developed the original At PAC. They used truck tires as their basic stock. The "fillet of truck tire" was placed on a large cutting die, a large rolling pin type device was rolled over it to cut out one half of the air bag. The seams were then buffed, and glued with standard automotive tire glue and presto an Air Bag for the At Pac.

Matter of fact that was one of the selling features of the AtPac. Not certain if it was advertized as a feature or a local word of mouth advertisement..But that was the way it was....

AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU ARE A MEMBER OF VDS????

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