How small can your SIB go?

[tinker]

Trying to get my deflated SIb as small as possible. Just wondered how others manage and how small they can get them.

My SIB is a 3.8 m Zodiac futura MKII with the air floor.

Method used.
Floor removed.
SIB All deflated as much as possible (until the pump can suck no more) valves replaced ASAP.
Folded the sides of the SIB in, starting at the transom.
Rolled the SIB up starting at the front until the rolling finished on the transom (which was laying flat)
Ratchet straps then used to hold it all together (not to tight though).

Package sizes
Floor rolled up and deflated measures 105x22 cm
SIB 134x50x70 cm

Any other methods to get it smaller? (apart from chopping it up)

[astra]

Sounds like you done as much as i would do,Maybe try some magic good luck

[yoyo]

Can they be vacuum pumped out??

[tinker]

Originally Posted by yoyo

Can they be vacuum pumped out??

yep (until the pump can suck no more)

[Nasher]

I've always struggled to get the smaller Nashers SIB back in its bag after use.

However I recently got hold of an elecrtic pump that can also be used to suck the last of the air out as well.
For the first time ever I managed to easily roll it up small enough to slide it in its bag wouthout help and resorting to a lot of swearing.

Nasher

[jyasaki]

One other thing that may help is to kind of arrange how the tubes lay as you're sucking the air out. If you can get them to fold in on themselves neatly, you won't be losing space to the ridges and such that just sucking them out creates.

jky

[codprawn]

To be honest I have never had trouble packing my SIB away in it's bag. I don't even bother sucking all the air out - just lock the valves open and roll it up.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by tinker

Method used.
Floor removed.
SIB All deflated as much as possible (until the pump can suck no more) valves replaced ASAP.
Folded the sides of the SIB in, starting at the transom.
Rolled the SIB up starting at the front until the rolling finished on the transom (which was laying flat)
Ratchet straps then used to hold it all together (not to tight though).

I've had the best results this way:

1 Pull both tubes together along the centre line of the boat as you deflate them. This helps stop the final bundle being too wide.

2 Deflate with pump as far as possible, then allow just a small amount of air back in. This allows the tubes to roll up easier as the inside surfaces aren't so firmly stuck together.

3 Fold end cones flat against transom and roll up towards bow. I haven't felt the need to use any straps as it goes into the cover easily this way.

Some covers are better than others. The Zodiac one was pretty sturdy, but the Quicksilver one is less substantial and could really do with beefing up. I haven't tried the Bombard yet because I've got a trailer