Black Zodiac too hot?

engarom · 20 April 2009, 03:28

Hey all,
I just got a Zodiac fc470. I am wondering if the black hypalon will be too hot.
I had planned on using it this summer but will stik with my grey Avon if the black boat is unbearable.
Thanks

chewy · 20 April 2009, 06:46

It will get hot and the air will expand running the risk of popping the tubes. It may have pressure relief valves fitted so it doesn't go pop?
It might get a bit hot to sit on too!

IBWET · 20 April 2009, 09:10

I've had two black ribs,the first one an Avon didn't have pressure relief valves, in the many years I had the boat the sun or anything else heat related caused it to leak (in this country). I think from my experience all the "'it'll burst you're toobs if you leave it in the sun' is one blokes idea' which has become fact.

The next one was/is a Ribcraft with pressure relief valves. I didn't consider any other colour when I ordered this boat. UV damage which I have no experience of, is irrelevant in this case as I use black boot polish.

I've never found the sitting on it burning ar**'s to be true...if the suns that warm,you be grateful if your getting out the water for the heat,two seconds on the plane toobs are cold. again from my experience it's not an issue in this country.

chewy · 20 April 2009, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBWET

I've had two black ribs,the first one an Avon didn't have pressure relief valves, in the many years I had the boat the sun or anything else heat related caused it to leak (in this country). I think from my experience all the "'it'll burst you're toobs if you leave it in the sun' is one blokes idea' which has become fact.

Try telling Blackpool Lifeboat that, grey tubes on a 21, over pumped at the start of the day, left outside all day on show and flat tubes at the end of the day.

Black tubes will get hotter to touch than other tubes.

batman4ck · 20 April 2009, 09:45

Not to open a new thread, i am also wondering for the temp of my tubes.
I have ordered mine with the new fabric impression, carbon color.
This not black but quite dark i would say.
I am living in Greece and the temp here in the summer is more than 35-37 C.
I know by experience that normal dark Hyphallon tubes become very hot but the fabric impressions series seems to be better.

Poly · 20 April 2009, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Try telling Blackpool Lifeboat that, grey tubes on a 21, over pumped at the start of the day, left outside all day on show and flat tubes at the end of the day.

But that was the problem - without a controlled test you can't really say that a dark tube was worse. Even if the air inside the tube is heated from 0-100 deg C (which seems unlikely) the pressure actually only increases by 36%.

chewy · 20 April 2009, 10:19

What I'm getting at is that it can happen, as I said the 21's tubes are grey. Given that black absorbs heat better its going to be worse.

Tim M · 20 April 2009, 10:56

I've got a black RIB and so far haven't had any issues with it being too hot to sit on/touch or tubes blowing up. When the sun starts coming out I let a bit of air out of the tubes but generally they don't need much attention over the course of the summer.

PeterM · 20 April 2009, 12:06

I'm with Tim & IBWET on this - Ifyou are dim & pump it up really hard & then leave it all day in a realy hot sun then MAYBE you will have problems. If you show a bit of common sense/ intelligence then you let a bit out in and they run just fine.

I've got dark blue tubes on 2 boats and while they do get hotter & harder - they are never too hard or too hot to work with.

prairie tuber · 20 April 2009, 12:18

FC-470s have been around for many years and are one of the most harshly abused models of inflatable boats in existence. Given that most of them are operated by marines don't foot the bill for their aquisition and maintenance, and who regularly drop them out the back of airborne Hercules, run full speed beach landings etc..., they should hold up very well to civilian use.

Specific to the black color, if the boat is in the water, The top surface of the tube may get hot, but the temperature within the tube should not be a problem since the water will conduct heat from within the tubes very effectively. The main sponsons of these boats do have overpressure valves. The speed tubes & keel do not, but since they are completely immersed, solar overheating of those isn't a concern if waterborne. When on a trailer in hot weather, use a light colored boat cover and burp some air from the speed tubes and keel. Top their pressure back up just prior to launch.

Prior to sitting on the tubes (esp if wearing shorts), just touch test the surface first and splash a bit of water on it if it is too hot.

chewy · 20 April 2009, 13:34

Looks like theres nothing to worry about unless your a complete numpty and leave it on your trailer over inflated.

engarom · 20 April 2009, 16:17

You always come through. as soon as i have it claened up i will post some pics!

jyasaki · 20 April 2009, 17:07

If the boat is in the water (and the tubes are partially in) the conduction will prevent overpressure problems (if you want to verify this, pump your tubes up to the correct pressure while on the trailer in the sun, then launch the boat and recheck pressure after 10 or 15 minutes. Many boats will suffer a fairly substantial drop, depending, of course, on ambient air temperature, water temp, and your boats' specific configuration.)

If the boat's on the trailer, and sitting in the sun, you may have overpressure problems regardless of the fabric color (mine's grey and will go from sagging to nearly correct pressure from night temps to noontime in-sun temps.) Unless it's overcast, raining, or really cool, the first order of business after pulling the boat is to relieve the tubes of a bit of pressure. If it's hot, it's a lot of pressure.

FWIW, my red Achilles used to get too warm to sit on comfortably; a bit of water fixes that pretty quickly. Don't remember it happening with the grey fabric (but might simply not remember.)

jky

codprawn · 20 April 2009, 22:55

It's ok with most SIBs but remember most RIB tubes are out of the water.

I saw one that had burst a couple of years ago - one of our few hot days. The Rib was black and the boat was on the water but of course the tube was clear. No pressure relief valves either.

IBWET · 21 April 2009, 07:06

Engarom,

Opinions are like the very common part of your anatomy,everyone's got one,

we've all seen deflated tubes,if it's black oh well it must have been heat expansion.

Listen to the people with actual experience of owning black ribs....simples

codprawn · 21 April 2009, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBWET

Engarom,

Opinions are like the very common part of your anatomy,everyone's got one,

we've all seen deflated tubes,if it's black oh well it must have been heat expansion.

Listen to the people with actual experience of owning black ribs....simples

I spoke to the owner as well...............

Of couse it may have also burst if the tube had been pink but logic dictates a black tube will absorb more heat but NOT if it's in the water!!!

chewy · 21 April 2009, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I spoke to the owner as well...............

Of couse it may have also burst if the tube had been pink but logic dictates a black tube will absorb more heat but NOT if it's in the water!!!

Logic, something that has been missing for the past couple of days on here!

Cookee · 21 April 2009, 15:54

Our dark blue tubes on the race boat survived the heat of Italy and even South Africa without relief valves, but we had to pump the tubes up after we launched it otherwise they would flop around as they were almost flat!

JHouser · 29 May 2009, 09:45

Yea, You may want to just ship you F470 up to me in Seattle. That sunny SD heat may be too much.

fast fred · 10 June 2009, 02:41

the heat will kill the glue bond, the seams will fail. when i sold hulls, some wanted a boat with black toobs, i would not take there order.