3D black lightweight tender inflation pressure

claretcass · 21 March 2015, 13:45

I have a new 2.9 meter 3D lightweight PVC tender. Can anyone help and confirm the pressures I need to inflate to?
On my previous tender it was 3psi/0.25 bar for tubes and 8.5psi/ 0.65-0.7 bar for air floor.
Just cautious with it being lightweight, don't want to over inflate
Can anyone please help?
Thanks

Ronaldj · 22 March 2015, 12:42

It really depends on who made your Sib
Your challenge is going to be the floor and the keel
Most boats are in the 3-5 psi tube range
The challenge however is the keel and the air floor.
They range from 3-12psi
The higher the psi of the air floor and keel the better ride and handling the boat has.
Some are low pressure and some are high pressure.
Under inflated keels and floors are dangerous

claretcass · 23 March 2015, 10:58

Thanks for that RonaldJ.
I have never had an inflatable with a low pressure air-floor so thats why I queried it.
I have sent a query back to the supplier to check before I inflate.
Regards
SteveC

Chopperbill · 23 March 2015, 14:34

My Saturn with the recommended pressure is junk. A call to the dealer said to pump them untill they are hard to the touch with a hand pump. Went as far as to say pump them until it is difficult to put more air in. Made it a much better boat.

claretcass · 23 March 2015, 15:28

Thanks chopper bill.
I thought that. I have always pumped up the floor to0.6-0.7bar, that's what gives stability.
I asked the dealer and he said both tubes floor to 2.9.psi which I did not understand.
I have put a query in to the 3D tender website for verification.
Once I find out the correct pressures I will post on here as I close off this query.

claretcass · 24 March 2015, 11:29

Finally, confirmed from the manufacturer
The 3D super lightweight models should be inflated to:- tubes:3psi, floor:9psi, Pretty standard really.
There are changes to the 3D tender and some of the older material and manuals give out of date information

Model TWA290: Tubes now 3+1, passengers 4, maximum outboard 10hp, maximum load 510KG , weight 16.9 KG

Thanks for help and information

Nos4r2 · 24 March 2015, 11:57

It's appreciated that you came back as 9psi for the floor is quite low-they're usually closer to 15psi. Well worth knowing as you'd potentially damage the floor at 15psi.

claretcass · 24 March 2015, 14:36

Yes it is confusing. This particular model is not built for speed and as a result has no large "V" keel.
I wish they would publish pressure information as the norm and not assume we all know.
I think the better known manufacturers do publish it, Avon etc

Ronaldj · 24 March 2015, 14:43

Would you have purchased the boat if you had known up front that it had no inflatable keel?
Most Sibs with air floors have inflatable keels

claretcass · 24 March 2015, 15:07

Yes I would as it will be used mainly on lochs and lakes with very limited "inshore" use weather permitting.
As I am over 70 and travel in my motor home alone weight has become important as everything has to be manhandled.
Previously I had a excel tender, steel launching trolley, 5hp 4 stroke outboard, external fuel tank and numerous other items.
I just enjoy being on the water following my other hobbies of photography and occasional fishing so speed is not a requirement for me.
I have had to rethink how to continue my hobbies so I made changes
Got the 3D super lightweight tender (2.9 Mars) at 37lbs and packed in a convenient rucksack, easily managed, secondly got the lightweight Torqeedo 1003S electric motor (breaks down into 3 lightweight parts) to replace the 5hp outboard and fuel tank, thirdly I replaced the heavy steel trolley with a simple very light aluminium launching trolley.
Because I don't want to be placed in a position of having to row any distance I also have the foldable solar panel which charges as you go along and can still run the motor at a very low speed when the battery is discharged.
Sorry it's a bit long winded but that was the reasoning behind my choices to allow me to continue for as long as possible.

A large lightweight tender, outboard and trolley that I can manage.

Ronaldj · 24 March 2015, 15:37

I fully understand your reasoning.
I also work under a weight constraint.
I have a reconstructed should and I'm knocking on 60
It might be helpful to others to actually do a thread on lite weight boating combinations
My boat weighs 88lbs but I'm looking at a rib that weighs 79lbs
My requirement is the largest lightest boat that will use a 5hp outboard.
I am using propane to cut down on weight
I have looked at the Torqeedo also
If I go with the 79lb rib the Toqeedo may become an option.