Keep that Pressure Up

[Bigplumbs]

A confession.......... Over the past 2 years I have left the pressure in the tubes of both my Ribs and my Sib as 'they are' in other words I have given this scant attention. I recently bought an inflatable canoe and with it I bought a lovely pump with a nice duel action and a pressure gauge. I thought I would therefore check my various inflatable boats.

Long story short the pressure in all of them despite feeling 'all right' did not even show on the gauge. I then decided to pump them up to about 2.5 PSI (The book says 3.6 psi but that just scares me).

All I can say is this is far far better and I now feel so much better about these boats for some reason and sitting on the tube is completely different.

The pump I bought was only £14.99 and it is excellent. I also bought the electric one to see what that is like and I am very impressed.

I also have a Bravo electric (£110) but I like these itiwits better

the £14.99 one

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/kayak-ha...d_8387583.html

The electric one (which has a halkey Roberts adapter)

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/0-15-psi...d_8387582.html

If you buy either of these you will not be disappointed


I wonder who else has their tubes well underinflated


What say you Pickey

Dennis

[SixtyNorth]

If I were you I would ensure that the tubes are inflated to the correct pressure. I once experienced flexing of the aluminum floor board joints on a Zodiac Grand Raid SIB in rough water and this was due to low pressure, they were about 1 PSI less than specified after a long trip without being topped up. SIBs depend on the pressure for rigidity. You really need a gauge to get it right.

[Bigplumbs]

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

If I were you I would ensure that the tubes are inflated to the correct pressure. I once experienced flexing of the aluminum floor board joints on a Zodiac Grand Raid SIB in rough water and this was due to low pressure, they were about 1 PSI less than specified after a long trip without being topped up. SIBs depend on the pressure for rigidity. You really need a gauge to get it right.

If you look at the pumps I listed you will see both have a gauge

[SixtyNorth]

Yes, I was more concerned by:

"Long story short the pressure in all of them despite feeling 'all right' did not even show on the gauge. I then decided to pump them up to about 2.5 PSI (The book says 3.6 psi but that just scares me)."

You really need to get the boat up to the manufacturer's specified pressure to ensure the boat is safe and seaworthy. If they say 3.6 psi then aim for 3.6 psi.

[two stroke mick]

I believe that it is more harmful to have the tubes underinflated than over

Tsm

[willk]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

If you look at the pumps I listed you will see both have a gauge

I suspect he means an independent Manometer - and he's not wrong.

I enjoy a convert - in the beginning you knew better than the RIBnet Massive and now you know better than the manufacturers.

3.6psi - get crackin' you wussie!

BTW, Piking on Pickey Dave is a sporty sport...

[Bigplumbs]

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

Yes, I was more concerned by:

"Long story short the pressure in all of them despite feeling 'all right' did not even show on the gauge. I then decided to pump them up to about 2.5 PSI (The book says 3.6 psi but that just scares me)."

You really need to get the boat up to the manufacturer's specified pressure to ensure the boat is safe and seaworthy. If they say 3.6 psi then aim for 3.6 psi.

Well been using them like this for 2 - 3 years now and nothing bad happened yet

[Bigplumbs]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

I believe that it is more harmful to have the tubes underinflated than over

Tsm

And the reasons ?

[two stroke mick]

It causes the tubes to bend in particular past the transom and end cones

[Roflhat]

You can feel straight away in a thundercat if the pressures are low, handling is all over the place and the boat flexes excessively. Far more likely to roll it sideways if the hijacker pressures are low, they're meant to be rock solid at 12 psi

[Bigplumbs]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

It causes the tubes to bend in particular past the transom and end cones

Interesting. Going out in her tomorrow so will see how much better she handles

[willk]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

..so will see how much better she handles

No, you won't. She'll handle exactly the same way (unless she is a SIB). That said, if you're getting value for money out of whatever RIB you have now, you'll have less issues with tube damage over time. Typically cone end damage, seam fraying, fabric wear and most particularly, rubbing strake separation.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

BTW, Piking on Pickey Dave is a sporty sport...

Eh! What happened? Never felt a thing

[Bigplumbs]

Well both ribs were firmer and fatter rather like the blokes on/in them. Felt a lot better