getting the floor stringers on - is there a technique?

[nelvar]

My Quicksilver 420HD aluminium floored SIB is currently half assembled in the back garden.

It is the first time it has been assembled (partly assembled), and after a fair bit of puffing and sweating, the tubes are about 50% inflated and I have the floor panels in place.

My question is this.... is there a technique I am missing to get the stringers on?
Do you use lubricant (washing up liquid, for example), or is it just use lots and lots of brute force and swearing?

Does it get easier with practice? or with the number of times the boat has been assembled? or both?

Thanks in advance for any guidance offered.
Dave

[Fenlander]

SIBs can be tight for the first few times. No not brute force just the knack. 50% up to pressure on the tubes or 50% by volume??... often needs to be the latter.

Have you put the oars under the SIB about 0.5m in towards the centre so the alloy floor is supported just above the ground... that helps loads.

[jeffstevens763@g]

talcum powder

[nelvar]

Finally managed it.

It definitely needed something under the side in order to get the stringers on

I am going to let it sit for a couple of days to push out the creases and check it has no leaks.

In the mean time I will order a hand pump that has a pressure gauge on it.
I will also be acquiring a 5 ft long piece of 2x2 wood for next time.

(I do have a Kampa 12v inflator for an inflatable caravan awning, but it is stored with the caravan at the moment).

[office888]

Inflate the boat to operating pressure and let it sit for about a day, then deflate and assemble. Gotta give it time to stretch a bit.

[billows]

Had the same problem with new Honwave. Spray everything liberally with silicon oil. It gets easier are the boat stretches
I bought two lengths of wood on which to assemble boat. This keeps the floors on the same plane and allows one to lie down inside the boat when forcing on the stringers. I found it easier to insert them away from the transom and slide or hammer gently into correct position longitudinally. On the Honwave you hook the groove on the stringer onto the floor and roll the stringer forward into position .
Anyone know a hack to get the last two floors to mate without trapping fingers?