I just purchased a 1984 AVON R2-80 that is in very good shape as far as
the fabric. BUT there was a problem with rats/squirrels in the POs
garage and there are 5 large (1.2") holes in the tubes. These have
been patched with PVC patches and something that looks like 3M-5200.
They hold air but look like hell and there is a slow leak that requires
re-pumping it every 36 hours. The color of the tubes is dark grey. I
dont know what the material is. The floor is a set of hard
fiberglass/plastic (?) boards that link together on the inside.

I want to remove the patches and replace them with proper patches and
overcoat the tubes in a white colored sealant/UV protection.

My plan is to first remove and replace the patches, then fill it with
an interior sealant and air it up and roll it about to get the interior
pin hole leaks. Then I want to clean it well with some sort of
solvent, maybe alcohol?, and then repaint the surface.

My questionS A
1) WHAT do I use to re-patch it,
2) WHAT do I use to seal it from the inside,
3) WHAT solvent do I clean it with, and
4) WHAT do I use to repaint it?

I removed one of the patches and it still holds air because the 3M-5200
sealed the large hole as a filler and the PVC patch wasnt really
holding the air it. The patch just peeled of the 5200 easily without
much coaxing. But I would be affraid that the 5200 might not hold
without a fabric patch over it so I plan to leave the 5200 "plug" where
it is, clean off the fabric around the edge of the "plug" , and just
glue a new fabric patch over the area.

After getting it restored to "new" I would like to fit it with a hard
bottom keel. I have heard of people doing this but dont know if it is
really feasable.

Any comments, suggestions, arguments, etc are welcome.

BTW in case you are thinking a 1984 Avon is not worth the effort, The
fabric is in very good condition as it has allways been kept indoors
when not in use and more importantly, I paid just $50 for it.