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All SATURN inflatable
products are
made of 1,100 Dtex (0.9mm) New Generation PVC fabric with polyester
support, having excellent resistance to tearing, tension and
breaking.
Our
inflatable
boats, inflatable kayaks, kaboats, river rafts, etc are all hand-sealed at the seams for perfect seaming, the most expensive and reliable method used
today. Each seam is strengthened with four layers of
bonded fabric for maximum strength and durability. SATURN
seams are virtually indestructible and will not fall apart,
even after many years of use in any weather.
Seams are reinforced with inner and outer seam
tape both inside and outside for extra durability. Additional,
3rd outer seam tape is added for superior protection. To
maximize adhesive strength, we use Polyurethane glue that
guarantees high durability and protection from heat and sea
water.
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| Saturn hand-made
seams are clean and strong. No glue sticking out anywhere. |
There are currently two major methods constructing an inflatable boat: welded and glued seams.
And there is a lot of misunderstanding about “glued” PVC vs. "welded". In fact, “glued” PVC is actually solvent-welded, whereas “welded” PVC is heat-welded, and both methods result in a similar fusing of the membrane. Also, “welded” PVC may be more susceptible to damage from folding than “glued” PVC.
Furthermore, the four layer bonding construction used by Saturn actually provides more overlay and reinforcement of the seam than the simple overlap of welded construction of welding.
Glued seams on a PVC boat are fundamentally different than glued seams on a rubber (Hypalon/Neoprene) boat.
Hand Glued Seams
Vs. Welded Seams
Glued (PVC)
Strength/Bond type: Strong -- Chemical/Molecular bond
Durability: Good -- Problems with old PVC boats falling apart have been resolved for over 10 years.
Welded (PVC/Polyurethane)
Strength/Bond type: Strong -- Molecular bond
Durability: If temperature, feed rate, and other factors are ideal: Good. -- Welding combined with folding a boat can cause microscopic fracturing of the coating resulting in the boat loosing air over time. Welded seams are not advisable with polyester base fabrics.
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