Boat Construction and Repair

A rigid inflatable boat (RIB) speeding across the water, creating splashes and demonstrating its stability and performance, with a forested shoreline in the background.

Thanks to the large selection of hand-held extruders, welding machines and heat guns, manufacturing and repairing plastic boats, inflatable boats, ballasts and freshwater tanks made from foil membrane can be done with ease. Depending on the material of the boat, LEISTER’s heat guns have a wide range of potential applications.

This is how hand-held extruders can be used for manufacturing hard, plastic boats. Inflatable boats made from light coated tarpaulin materials can be joined together using welding machines like the SEAMTEK (with or without tape), heat guns or even infrared heaters. The drying process can be sped up with warm air, particularly for repair work. LEISTER offers suitable hot air solutions for a wide range of boat construction projects, which can be used in manufacturing as well as professional or DIY repair work.

HDPE Boats

Workboats made from HDPE plastic have an extremely long life-span, with many being used for several decades. Polyethylene is buoyant, resilient and has a high density. It has a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface, is resistant to dirt, and does not rot.

Two small motorboats travel at speed near an industrial waterfront, with warehouses and hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

This makes HDPE boats nearly maintenance-free. Unlike other boat materials, this material is also environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. Furthermore, it absorbs vibrations, making for a better and more enjoyable experience for passengers.
These plastic boats are mostly produced for customers in the commercial sector who use them for lifeboats/workboats in the fishing industry, as well as police and military use (personal security, coastal region water security, etc.).
Leister’s hand-held extruders and heat guns are the ideal tools to produce HDPE boats.

Welding Inflatable Boats

Inflatable boats, sometimes referred to as rubber dinghies, have an inflatable tube for a hull. They are produced from plastic film, mainly PVC or synthetic rubber, such as PU.

A blue inflatable boat hull is positioned next to an automated welding machine in a well-lit workshop, illustrating boat manufacturing or repair with precision equipment.

Storing these boats is made easy thanks to their valve, which lets the air out.
In addition to the classic inflatable boat made for two people to paddle on a lake, there are other variants, such as inflatable kayaks and rafts. Last but not least, there are lifeboats used for ships and airplanes.
Inflatable boats can be welded with hot air and sealed with tape to ensure complete watertightness and a long life-span. These 3D forms can be constructed using Leister’s welding machines. Heat guns make repairs easy as well.

Freshwater and Ballast Water Tanks

Various tanks made from hard plastics or flexible membrane materials are used on all kinds of boats. These include freshwater tanks for drinking water, wastewater tanks and ballast water tanks for speedboats, such as those used for wakeboarding.

A flexible ballast bag or tank is installed inside a boat compartment, secured with hose connections for water intake or storage.

Tanks that are made from food-safe polypropylene or tarpaulins, depending on their intended application, have an advantage over flexible containers since they can be firmly anchored in place, thus preventing any shifting. Most of them have an opening large enough for ventilation, filling and draining with a gas-tight seal. Other advantages include their longer life-span and greater stability, making them more environmentally friendly. The sanitary tanks can also be used in campers, vans or motorhomes and can be installed by both professionals and those with less experience. The hard, plastic tanks are primarily manufactured and repaired with extruders. Tanks that are made from flexible material are joined together with tape using welding machines, i.e. glued or otherwise welded and thus made watertight.