Flatacraft Force 4 - Confused !?!

CraigDiver · 04 December 2006, 20:39

Hi,

I have just bought a Flatacraft Force 4 which was looking pretty sorry for itself!.

I have had a search on this forum and came across some photos and descriptions of these boats and i'm confused. All the articles mention a flappy bit at the front, mine does not have that, it has a solid bow (which could look like it has been professionally extended which the tubes meet at the front. This boat was used as a commercial rescue craft in it's better days!

Does anyone have any information on this model of boat (i.e. max size of engine, looks like seriously reinforced transom!)

Also, what are the tubes likely to be made out of (the external colour is grey, what else can I do to identify whether PVC or Hypalon?

Can't wait to get this thing patched up, glued back together and on the water!

Any info kindly received,

Kind Regards

CraigDiver

CraigDiver · 04 December 2006, 20:46

Also,

The tubes have seperated form the hull at the front to the boat, can anyone recommend a book, or a web article, showing step-by-step instructions of how to reattach. Obviously, you use the right glue for the material (which I now believe to be Hypalon) but is there a particular order that you glue it down and any tips to increase success.

There seems to have been a tape glued to the hull, then the tubes glued to the tape, is this normal?

Thanks again,

Advice gratefully received, will post photos as soon as looking better!

Craig Diver

Nos4r2 · 04 December 2006, 20:48

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...ght=flatacraft

Any help?

Max hp is around 50. Nasher will be able to tell you more.

CraigDiver · 04 December 2006, 21:02

Hi,

I have rigged up an adaptor from my dive cylinder to a short lenght of garden hose, what sort of adaptor do I need to connect it to the valve (pictured below) on my Flatacraft Force 4 RIB?

Nos4r2 · 04 December 2006, 21:11

What pressure is that putting out? You only need about 4psi to inflate a rib-much more and you'll have a big pop.

BogMonster · 04 December 2006, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

What pressure is that putting out? You only need about 4psi to inflate a rib-much more and you'll have a big pop.

Saw somebody do that here and it works ok you just need to be v careful. If I have to deflate my tubes I use the compressor in the garage (115psi) to inflate them again and that works well too

What I do is use the hose off the hand pump that came with the RIB and I just made an adaptor to fit the pump end out of an old tyre valve, stuff it in the end of the normal inflation hose and use the tyre inflator on the compressor.

CraigDiver · 05 December 2006, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

What pressure is that putting out? You only need about 4psi to inflate a rib-much more and you'll have a big pop.

What, I don't want to fill my tubes on my RIB to 4300 PSI (300 bar), might go a bit faster!!!!

Seriously though, we have been inflating ribs & inflatables for years from diving cylinders without any problems, not using that hand pump thingy, I might break a sweat!

CraigDiver

Nos4r2 · 05 December 2006, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigDiver

What, I don't want to fill my tubes on my RIB to 4300 PSI (300 bar), might go a bit faster!!!!

Seriously though, we have been inflating ribs & inflatables for years from diving cylinders without any problems, not using that hand pump thingy, I might break a sweat!

CraigDiver

I was thinking more of the age of the tubes to be honest-I wouldn't want to overpressurise old tubes like that.

John Kennett · 05 December 2006, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigDiver

I have had a search on this forum and came across some photos and descriptions of these boats and i'm confused. All the articles mention a flappy bit at the front, mine does not have that, it has a solid bow (which could look like it has been professionally extended which the tubes meet at the front. This boat was used as a commercial rescue craft in it's better days!

The random nature of the Flatacrft range really does take some getting your head round! From the old brochures, likely suspects are pictured below: (from left to right) Force 4, Force 4 GT and Force 4 Commercial (which is what I guess you might have)

Quote:

Does anyone have any information on this model of boat (i.e. max size of engine, looks like seriously reinforced transom!)

Force 4 max 50 hp, Force 4 GT and Commercial max 60 hp

Quote:

Also, what are the tubes likely to be made out of (the external colour is grey, what else can I do to identify whether PVC or Hypalon?

Flatacraft only ever used Hypalon.

Quote:

Any info kindly received

How's that for starters?

John