Tubes pressures

[Roy Smith]

Ok I know i should know better.
But how do i know when i have the right pressure in the tubes. Is there a pressure gauge you can buy.It seams that i eaither put to much in or not enough, some say 2.5 lbs others 3.5.
Any help ?

[codprawn]

Glad you brought this up cos i was wondering as well.

I think going by what feels right is a very good way. On my SIB it makes a hell of a difference - the harder the tubes the faster and more rigid the boat is but the ride is worse.

On a RIB as there is a hull to keep it all rigid some people say the tubes should be slightly softer as they will absorb knocks and wave motion better. Also I suppose there is less chance of them bursting - maybe that Goldfish RIB on TopGear would have been ok with a bit less air in the tubes???

[Alex Brown]

You can buy pressure guages that you pop into the air-in one way valve in the tubes (whatever they're called). I bought one directly from Humber when I got the boat and always check the pressures when pumping up the tubes.
There should be indication somewhere on the boat as to how much pressure the tubes will take - mine is on the yellow spec sticker that Humber attach to the console.

Humber insisted that I have pressure release valves when I purchased cos the tubes are a darkish colour, so in theory I shouldn't be able to over pressurise the tubes.

I'd be more concerned about the tubes being lower in pressure than running at their spec'd pressure cos they move around a lot more with less pressure which for sure will end up damaging something, or unsticking something somewhere. I may be completely wrong here, but surely when they're pumped up properly, the strain on the tubes is spread over a larger area - if they're not so pressurised that strain could end up all in one location?

In my case, the boat handles and feels a lot better with the tubes at full working pressure than not. The tubes also spend a lot of their time in the water, even when the boat is moving unlike a lot of ribs.

-Alex

[Roy Smith]

On our last Rib a 7.5 Cobra if we pumped it up to what every body said was the right preasure the tubes used to bit into the rear end if to soft the we used to get a funny noise because the tubes used to vibrate in the water

[gingercoastie]

I got a pressure guage with the boat, plus instructions to keep the tubes at 2psi.

[Roy Smith]

Where can i purchase the said gauge as i cant find one in the chandlers, and they look at me in a funny way when i tell them what i want it for, is this normal for a 46 year old male or am i to becoming possesed by my RIB

[Alex Brown]

I'd bet that if you can't get one in a local chandlery you could buy one from Scorpion or Humber directly?

-Alex

[codprawn]

http://www.inflatable-boat-supplies.co.uk/

LOADS of good stuff here!!!

[Pete7]

Roy, there are differing thoughts on tube pressures, some like them hard, me I prefer them to deform slightly with an open palm. Remember that changes in air temperature will have a dramatic effect on the pressure in the tube. So don't blow them up hard early morning or in the evening during the summer or you risk damaging them during the heat of the day. Equally they will go soggy during the winter if they haven't been pumped up since the summer. What the temperature under a cover too, dark coloured covers really heat up the boat inside.

You won't go far wrong if you can deform the tubes slightly by hand.

Pete

[Tim M]

My local chandlery has them for about ten quid. You shouldn't have much trouble finding one.