I have a pair of 2700 Edo floats in need of repair. The damage is torn skin where the keel meets the skin (located on the step of one float). I was wondering if anyone had any insight as to the easiest way to repair this issue. Is it best to remove the floats wit h the rigging attached, or is it possible to remove one float at a time for repairs? Also, if there is anyone working on floats currently, I would love to travel and observe the disassembly process. Any information or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at [email protected]

Thank you!
Jamie
MO

Contact J.J. Frey at SPA, he is a wonderful gentleman knows a lot.

http://www.seaplanes.org/spa/

Without seeing the degree of damage it is sort of hard to respond but generally I would try to make the repair without splitting the floats apart. The main spreaderbar clamps are sealed and sometimes difficult to disassemble. If it is a large rip you may be better off replacing the entire bottom skin, if it is small and does not extend under the keel you may be able to remove the damaged skin and put in a patch without removing the floats from the plane. post some pics and we can help you better.

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words...

Your "easiest" option is a simple surface patch using EDO's 5/8 rivet pitch as a guide and lots of urethane sealant. This type of repair is usually ugly. Replacing the bottom skin is an option, albeit a miserable one, as shorton mentioned.

Doing repairs, especially to the bottom skins, of "round top" EDOs is hard going. That goes double for amphib round tops, the gear tunnel is always in the way. We've pretty much stopped repairing these floats in our shop because it is rarely cost effective for most folks still flying these relics.

Make sure you find someone with long arms to do the bucking

I'll agree with the last two posts EXCEPT to disagree on disassembly. Those floats probably NEED to be disassembled and all fittings taken apart and checked for corrosion. I've found some really ugly corrosion hidden in float fittings that couldn't be seen assembled.

And trying to work on float bottoms while the floats are on the airplane is a nightmare. Take em apart.

Finally, the most difficult place to patch is right next to the keels. It may not be possible to do even a half decent scab patch. As the man says...you can't make any money doing those. It's not rocket science, but you may find that new bottoms are in your future, depending on how close that is to the keel.

Good luck.

MTV