Am I doing something wrong

[Steve on sheppey]

So when I bought my SIB it came with this, presumably to check the correct pressure in the tubes, yet when I try connecting it, the needle stays on zero and air escapes,
Is it buggered
Is it a waste of time
Is it me

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Steve on sheppey

So when I bought my SIB it came with this, presumably to check the correct pressure in the tubes, yet when I try connecting it, the needle stays on zero and air escapes,
Is it buggered
Is it a waste of time
Is it me

#2/#3... 40 years with inflatable Boats...never used one never wanted one and never needed one

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Maximus

#2/#3... 40 years with inflatable Boats...never used one never wanted one and never needed one

What my good friend said

[Fenlander]

My pump has a gauge so 99% of the time I never use an additional gauge. However if your SIB has an air floor you will need a gauge for best performance.

That gauge type is often supplied with several different thickness rubber collars/seals so that when the bayonet engages the seal is tight.

[jambo]

Check that it's exactly the same entry profile as your pump connection. You may need this type https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2Pcs-High...8OtH:rk:3:pf:1

[pagick]

Originally Posted by Maximus

#2/#3... 40 years with inflatable Boats...never used one never wanted one and never needed one

With 40 years I would hope you can FEEL the proper pressure. But if your new to inflatables I expect that when the boat is 2 psi you would think it's full. So a gauge is a huge plus.
My new sib came with a gauge. I used it to feel what full felt like, Checked psi increase when driving my trailered boat over a high pass. And checked what happened between filling in the cool morning and mid day heat. All a must so you know. Then put it in a safe place where it will probuly never see the light of day!

And a note to the original poster. The gauge should not hiss when checking pressure.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Maximus

#2/#3... 40 years with inflatable Boats...never used one never wanted one and never needed one

If he’s got an air floor sib and comes complaining about a hump, or spray or various other issues he’ll be given exactly the opposite advice. When the air is just a fancy bumper the pressure may not be critical but when it’s actually part of the structure it is.

[ShinyShoe]

Are you putting the gauge into the valve? Or on a T piece on the pump supply?

[Fender]

You do run the risk of tube damage with under inflation, many moons ago I pumped up a RIB, felt quite firm by hand and I was quite happy with the pressure - out of curiosity I checked with a gauge and the pressure was just over 2 psi, RIB manufacture stated a tube pressure of 3 psi or you ran the risk of issues - for the sake of a few seconds I now religiously check with a gauge
Oh, chatting to a boat dealer a few years ago, heading to france early one morning in a 8mtr, he knew the tubes were a little soft but felt as soon as the sun came up and the pressure increased he'd be fine - one of the rear cone seams failed and he limped back to the south coast

[Steve on sheppey]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Are you putting the gauge into the valve? Or on a T piece on the pump supply?

Onto the valve, on closer inspection it differed very slightly than the one on the pump, I'll probably get something combined with a pump for future reference

[jeffstevens763@g]

Get an itwit pump I think it was bigplumbs put us onto it £40 with preset pressure gauge job done.

[boristhebold]

try another guage from someone, ive never used one, tend to test tubes by feel and when weather changes in autumn and winter I just check by feel and put some more air in if needed, the pressure will fluctuate alot depending on the weather if you live somewhere with lots of fluctuations like we do in the UK so probably impossible to keep tubes at a certain pressure over many months.

[Steve on sheppey]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

somewhere with lots of fluctuations like we do in the UK so probably impossible to keep tubes at a certain pressure over many months.

Mine will be deflated after every trip, storage is/was my main problem, when I lived in my mobile, I had enough space underneath for a kayak, now I'm in a beach villa, no outside storage, but a 2nd bedroom that's my man cave