Ribcollar

Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Menu
Contact Us
Material Guide

What Material Is Your RIB Tube Made From?

Most RIB tubes are made from Hypalon, PVC or polyurethane. Each behaves differently in service, ages differently and responds differently to repair. Identifying the material correctly is the first step before deciding whether to repair or replace.

Request a Repair Assessment Retube Service
Preferred grade
Hypalon
CSM-based fabric. Strong UV resistance, long service life, best repairability. The preferred material for quality leisure, commercial and rescue RIBs.
Volume production
PVC
Widely used, lower cost, suits production builds. Heat-welded seams. Does not usually match Hypalon for long-term ageing under UV and hard use.
Specialist grade
PU
Polyurethane. Used on some commercial and military applications. Tougher and stiffer than both Hypalon and PVC. Harder to repair once badly damaged.
The Three Materials

What each material means in practice.

Tube material affects service life, repairability, finish and long-term value. It also determines which adhesives, preparation methods and repair techniques are suitable.

Identifying the material correctly helps you avoid spending money on a repair that is unlikely to last, and gives you a better basis for deciding whether to repair or replace.

For that reason, material identification is an important part of any tube assessment — whether we are reviewing photos, inspecting the boat in person or advising you on the options before work begins.

Material Profiles

Hypalon, PVC and PU — what each one is.

Preferred for retubing

Hypalon

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene — CSM/CR construction

Often referred to as CSM-based fabric. Widely regarded as the preferred material for long-term durability. Bonded with adhesive rather than heat welded, which makes it a strong material for repair and retube work.

The original DuPont Hypalon brand was discontinued in 2010. Orca by Pennel & Flipo is the industry-standard equivalent used by Ribcollar and most professional retube workshops.

Typical signs
  • Matt, rubber-like surface finish
  • Dark grey or black inner surface in many cases
  • Glued seams rather than welded seams
  • Fine dust when lightly abraded on the surface
  • Slight flexibility and memory when bent
Common on leisure boats

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride — typically heat welded

Widely used because it is lower in cost and suits volume production. Often has a smoother, glossier finish and is heat welded rather than adhesive bonded. Does not usually offer the same long-term ageing performance as Hypalon under UV.

PVC becomes brittle as it ages and the plasticisers that give it flexibility leach out over time. Older PVC tubes can be difficult or impossible to repair reliably with adhesive.

Typical signs
  • Shiny or semi-gloss surface finish
  • Smooth, plastic-like feel
  • Welded seams with a visible raised ridge
  • Stiffer in cold temperatures
  • May show chalking or fading under heavy UV
Specialist applications

Polyurethane (PU)

Polyurethane — welded or bonded

Used on some commercial, military and higher-specification leisure builds. Tougher and more abrasion-resistant than PVC in many applications. Better UV resistance than PVC but harder to repair once damage is significant.

PU tubes require specialist materials and techniques for repair. Fewer workshops are set up to carry out PU repair reliably. If a PU tube is reaching end of life, replacement rather than repair is usually the more practical route.

Typical signs
  • Satin or semi-gloss finish, smoother than Hypalon
  • Heavier and stiffer feel than Hypalon
  • Welded seams in most cases
  • More resistant to surface scratching than Hypalon
  • Less common than PVC on UK leisure boats
Comparison

Hypalon, PVC and PU side by side.

Property Hypalon (CSM/CR) PVC Polyurethane (PU)
UV resistance Excellent Poor Good
Seam type Adhesive bonded Heat welded Welded or bonded
Repairability Very good Harder as material ages Limited — specialist only
Cold flexibility Good Stiffens significantly Moderate
Abrasion resistance Good Good Very good
Service life (typical) 15–25 years 8–15 years 10–20 years
Cost Higher Lower Mid to higher
Retube suitability Preferred choice Rarely recommended Possible — limited
Ribcollar's position

Ribcollar works exclusively in Orca Hypalon for all retube, new tube and repair work. We do not use PVC or PU. This is a deliberate decision based on long-term performance — Hypalon is the material that owners and operators can rely on for 15 to 25 years of service and repair options throughout that life.

Identification

How to identify the material on your boat.

You can narrow down the material using a combination of visual checks and simple tests. No specialist equipment needed for the basics.

If you are still unsure after these checks, send photos to Ribcollar with the boat make, model and year. We can usually advise on the material from good quality photos of the tube surface, seams and inner surface.

Hypalon, PVC and PU RIB tube material comparison — surface finish and seam identification
Material identification in practice. Left to right: Hypalon matt surface with glued seam, PVC gloss surface with welded seam, PU satin surface. Seam type and surface finish are the most reliable quick indicators.
01
Check the seams
Glued seams with visible tape or a folded join usually indicate Hypalon. Welded seams with a smooth raised ridge usually indicate PVC or PU. This is the single most reliable quick indicator.
02
Check the surface finish
Matt, rubber-like finish — likely Hypalon. Shiny or semi-gloss — likely PVC. Satin finish, heavier feel — possibly PU. Be aware that some PVC tubes have lower-sheen finishes that can look similar to Hypalon at first glance.
03
Look at the inner surface
Hypalon tubes often have a dark grey or black inner surface. PVC inner surfaces are often lighter, sometimes cream or grey. Inspect through the deflation valve or where any tube sections may have separated slightly at a seam.
04
Try the abrasion test
Lightly rub an inconspicuous area firmly with a fingernail or a coin edge. Hypalon produces fine black dust and the surface marks but retains its structure. PVC does not dust and tends to mark or gloss. Do not abrade a significant area — the point is to check the surface response, not damage the tube.
05
Check boat records
Look for the original manufacturer's specification, a retube invoice or any documentation from a previous repair. Many UK RIB manufacturers including Ribcraft, Avon and Humber built boats in Hypalon as standard. If the boat is an entry-level production model, PVC is more likely as the original material.
Repair & Replace

What the material means for repair and retube decisions.

The material is one of the key factors in deciding whether a repair is worth attempting or whether replacement is the more sensible route.

A Hypalon tube can often be repaired reliably years after manufacture. A heavily aged PVC tube frequently cannot — the adhesive simply will not bond to the degraded surface. Knowing the material before you spend money on a repair matters.

Hypalon

Good repair candidates in most cases, provided the base fabric is still sound. Hypalon bonds well with professional adhesive even on older material, so localised damage — punctures, small seam failures, valve replacements — can often be addressed reliably.

Where damage is extensive or the outer coating has degraded significantly, a retube is usually the better investment. But material condition alone does not rule out repair on Hypalon the way it often does on aged PVC.

PVC

Repair success depends heavily on the age and condition of the material. Newer PVC in good condition can be patched, but as PVC ages and the surface degrades, adhesive bonding becomes increasingly unreliable.

On older PVC tubes showing UV damage, chalking or surface brittleness, a repair patch is unlikely to hold long-term. In these cases, the practical options are either living with the limitation or replacing the tube with Hypalon at retube.

Polyurethane (PU)

PU requires specialist repair materials and techniques. Not all workshops are equipped to carry out PU repair reliably. Where a PU tube has significant damage or has reached end of life, replacement is usually the most straightforward option.

For replacement, most owners of PU-tubed boats opt to retube in Hypalon rather than like-for-like, given the wider repair availability and longer service life that Hypalon offers.

Not sure which route is right?

Send us photos of the tube with the boat make, model, length and a description of the problem. We will advise whether repair or retube makes more sense for your situation — including whether the existing material is worth working on. See also: How to Retube a RIB — Complete Guide.

FAQ

Common questions on RIB tube materials.

How do I know if my RIB tube is Hypalon or PVC?
The most reliable quick indicator is the seam. Hypalon tubes are adhesive bonded with visible glued seams. PVC tubes are heat welded with a smooth raised seam ridge. Surface finish is a secondary indicator — Hypalon is matt and rubber-like, PVC is typically glossier. If still unsure, send photos and we will advise.
Is Hypalon better than PVC for RIB tubes?
For long-term durability, repairability and UV resistance, yes. Hypalon outperforms PVC in all three areas over a typical boat ownership period. PVC is lower in cost and suits high-volume production builds, but it does not age as well under UV and becomes progressively harder to repair reliably as it gets older. For any serious retube investment, Hypalon is the right material.
Can you repair a PVC RIB tube?
Sometimes, depending on the condition of the material. Newer PVC in good condition can often be patched. Older PVC with UV damage or surface degradation is a different matter — adhesive frequently will not bond reliably to degraded PVC, which means a repair patch is unlikely to hold. If the tube is significantly aged, the more practical decision is often to retube in Hypalon rather than spend money on a repair that may not last.
Can you repair a PU RIB tube?
PU repair is possible but requires specialist materials and expertise. Not all retube workshops carry out PU repair reliably. If a PU tube has reached end of life or has significant damage, replacement is usually the more practical route. Most owners in this position opt to retube in Hypalon for the wider repair availability and service life it offers.
Is Orca still real Hypalon? DuPont stopped making it.
DuPont discontinued the original Hypalon brand in 2010, but the material itself — CSM-based chlorosulfonated polyethylene fabric — continued to be manufactured. Orca, made by Pennel & Flipo in Belgium, is the industry-standard successor and is what the RIB trade refers to as Hypalon. It uses the same CSM/CR compound construction as the original and is the fabric Ribcollar uses across all work.
My boat has PVC tubes. Should I retube in Hypalon?
If the hull is sound and you are investing in a retube, specifying Hypalon is the sensible long-term decision. The cost difference is meaningful but the performance and service life difference is more so. A Hypalon retube on a sound hull should give you 15 to 25 years of reliable service with better repair options throughout. That is a significantly better return than a like-for-like PVC replacement in most cases.
What adhesive is used to repair Hypalon tubes?
Ribcollar uses Bostik NE486 for Hypalon tube construction and repair work. It is a professional-grade contact adhesive specifically formulated for CSM-based fabrics. It contains toluene and is not for public sale under UK REACH regulations — it is a trade product used by workshops and professional fabricators. Do not attempt to use general-purpose contact adhesives as a substitute on Hypalon tube work.

Not sure what material your tubes are made from?

Send us photos of the tube surface, seams and any damage. We will identify the material and advise on whether repair or retube is the right route for your boat.

T  01935 722988 E  sales@ribcollar.com Workshop: Yeovil, Somerset
Related Guides & Services
RIB Retubing Service RIB Repairs How to Retube a RIB — Complete Guide Orca 828 vs 866 — Grade Guide Orca Hypalon Colour Chart Tube Attachment Methods Explained Contact Ribcollar