: Sing
: So ,the vinyl tube goes through a proper size hole in the bag,with a neck on
: each side. What glue is best to cement it together? Could you explain a
: bit more how to hot iron a seal?
: I have some tarp gromets, could they be used to make the neck on either side
: of the bag with the tube pushed through and glued?
: Thanks Terry
On each side of the pattern you will need to leave an extension of fabric about 2.5" long and 2" wide on the end closest to the cockpit. After you seal both parts of the bag together(leaving the extension unsealed for now) you can insert a small length of whatever size tubing you are using in between the two flaps that will form the extension for the fill tube.Center the tube in the extension and seal one side and then pinch the fabric up tight against the tube and seal the other side up as close to the tube as you can(but not so tight as to prevent you from getting the glue coated tubing back in, cut the end to be inserted into the bag on a slant). Pull the tube out and coat the tubing that will be the fill tube with some GOOP and insert it into the neck. Use four small spring clamps to pinch the fabric around the tube and let it set up over night. If you put the GOOP on the inside of the neck and then insert the tube it will sometimes get clogged with glue and seal the fill tube so be sure to blow through it to make sure that it is not full of glue. Also, be sure to sand the end of the tube as that will give the glue a rough surface to lock into.
Be sure that your fill tubes are long enough to reach the cockpit and that they will allow you to top them off periodically from the seated position.
Sealing the fabric, if you are using heat-sealable nylon, simply entails placing the two sides of the pattern together, with the shiney sides facing each other, and using a household iron set to cotton, iron a half inch margin around the bag.
I wouldn't use the tarp grommets. you wouldn't have much surface for the glue.