Prepping for a dive trip - checking my gear and realise by two big float arms are water logged.

As you should, you pull out the artillery and get them apart. Using my bearing puller and aluminium jaws in the vice, I've managed to pull one end off the float. The carbon tube is actually very solid.

Now the difficult part. I can clean up the open end and re-epoxy that. However, the end that's still left in the carbon tube - I can't think of a delicate way of getting that one out without making up some elaborate jig to hold the carbon tube as I try to pull the remaining end.

I could:

1. hope that the glue joint that was leaking was the one I was able remove and the other end is fine.

2. lay out a new layer of epoxy internally at that end and hope it's going to withstand the pressure if there is any leak here.

3. cut ~10mm off the tube as neatly as I can and then re-glue it to the end cap after i'v ecleaned it up. Will have slightly less buoyancy.

4. Heat it up maybe and try and soften the existing glue?

5. Just buy two new floats and worry about this some other time.

6. ... any other ideas?

Lateral thinkers, let me know your thoughts.

I would think that any repair on the other end would best be done from the outside. Any time you are doing waterproofing any sort of barrier is generally laid from the wet side, that way the water pressure pushes it on rather than the pressure acting to lift the layer of water proofing away from the surface. Cleaning up and getting a good key down inside the float would also be a potential issue. You could glue on some waterproofing tape over the seam perhaps? something like this:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/t-rex-50mm-x-1-5m-strong-waterproofing-tape_p0088307

might look ugly? but could be vaiable solution though it may not be permanent.

Having said all that given you are spending $$$ on a dive trip the cost of some new arms would be good insurance I think. Dive centre Bondi would likely have the INON float arms in stock if the buoyancy they provide suits. I use the 390GR lift arms and have been happy with them.