12v inflator pump for dinghy - any good

[prv]

dive shops are often sniffy at the very least when it comes to refills if you don't have 'a certificate'

When I used to dive, no shop ever asked to see any diving qualification. The cylinder does need testing though and a shop should refuse to fill it if it's not in date.

Pete

 

[gjgm]

How big a dinghy?
Mine is 2.4m. I use £10 jobbie for the volume, and footpump for the pressure. That is probably just a bit quicker than doing it all with the footpump, and of course a little less exercise!
Electric one is good for deflating, dont forget. I guess if this is eomething you do 25 times a year a really powerful electric one might be worth it, but for occasional use seems a bit of overkill. Mind you, if you dont have a decent footpump already.... they arent cheap either.

 

[nigelmercier]

When I used to dive, no shop ever asked to see any diving qualification. The cylinder does need testing though and a shop should refuse to fill it if it's not in date.

I can confirm the above, and a dive tank is an excellent thing to have on a boat, providing there is also a diver!

Let's do some math:

Dinghy 2.4m long (or 240 decimetre, dm), tubes 40cm diameter (4 dm). Cross-Sectional Area of tubes: PI x r^2 = PI x 2 x 2, so about 12.5 dm^2. Two tubes, each say 250 dm (to allow for curves) so volume is 12.5 x 250 x 2 = 6250 dm^3, or 6250 litres (now you see why I used dm). Tubes to be inflated to 0.25 bar above atmospheric, so inflated volume = 6250 x 1.25 = 7812.5 litres.

Air tank, 10 litres (good size for boat) at 230 Bar (if you are lucky). Volume of gas 10 x 230 = 2350 litres.

See the problem?

 

[lustyd]

Although I follow your maths and it all seems right (apart from 10 x 230 = 2350?!) I still feel it should work for some (irrational) reason so I'm going to have to try it now I'm sure you are right, but my brain says no

 

[nimbusgb]

oops!

2.4m = 2400mm = 240 cm = 24 dm.

your dinghy = 625 litres not 6250 litresl

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Nimbus, I knew something was amiss but couldn't put my finger on it

 

[pappaecho]

Decent nipples for inflatables, have a bar across the nipple which holds down the valve when inflating, but allows the valve to seal immediately the nipple is removed. If you fit this to a cheapo £10 electric inflator, I think you will not need to finish with a manual pump.
Even with cheapo pumps I do not use a cigar socket because they get too hot and dont make proper contact, even the so called marine versions. I sue gold plated Banana sockets from Maplin, which are good for 20 amps and dont get hot

 

[VicMallows]

Decent nipples for inflatables, have a bar across the nipple which holds down the valve when inflating, but allows the valve to seal immediately the nipple is removed

Never come across these for HR type valves. Do you know a source?

Vic

 

[pappaecho]

I have got 2, for my Tohatsu inflatable. the older one has no central bar, and the newer one has. This is a claw type fitting. The older one now has split pin in it and works as well as the new. As for source, I have to confess I could not find one, hence the modification (bodge)

A few years ago I had an Avon inflatable (Tornado) and again this had a moulded inner section with holes, so that it depressed the valve, but allowed air past. Rule do a selection of nipples for their air pump and Force 4 sell as an accessory

 

[Cappen Boidseye]

I have one of the RULE high speed dinghy inflaters. It needs to e crocodile clipped to the car battery as it draws 25 amps. It inflates my Avon Redcrest in about 2 minutes and I find I do not need to top up with a footpump. I don't use the inflater on the boat because the electrics are too far from the cockpit, I need to rig some sort of high current supply socket to the cockpit for that.

 

[Csail]

Ask your local pub for a cylinder of co2.

 

[VicS]

I have one of the RULE high speed dinghy inflaters.

That's the LVM one mentioned previously ?

 

[VicMallows]

Ask your local pub for a cylinder of co2.

Acquired 2 pub ones years ago. Wanted CO2 to pressurise the home-made beer, and SodaStream refills ridiculously expensive. Never did find anywhere to get them refilled economically. (By definition I am not on good enough terms with a pub landlord to get them that way).

vIC

 

[jakeroyd]

aldi

bought one from aldi for about 6 GBP , pumps my dinghy up fine in minutes.
Finish off with the dinghy pump afterwards

 

[forelle541]

Coleman do a good one for a tenner off Ething.

 

[Cappen Boidseye]

That's the LVM one mentioned previously ?

Very similar.

http://www.force4.co.uk/515/Rule--High-Speed-Dinghy-Inflator-12-volt-Pump.html

 

[davidpbo]

I would look at the Coleman rechargable as previously mentioned. I used to have a Halfords one which wound sit there putting the majority of air in the tubes while I got on with something else. Finished it off with the foot pump.

Had a look at the £20 Coleman one and it seemed better. I like rechargeable as no drain on boat batteries if on board, easy to use on quay when launching etc.

 

[nigelmercier]

oops!

2.4m = 2400mm = 240 cm = 24 dm.

your dinghy = 625 litres not 6250 litresl

D'OH! Do you know I looked at the m to dm conversion and thought it didn't look right! Even so, you still only get a couple of refills from a full tank.

 

[Cappen Boidseye]

I like the idea of a pump which is both rechargeable and high speed for use on the boat. I use mine from the car battery on shore but the lead isn't long enough for use in the cockpit.
Must have a look at that one mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[pathfinderstu]

I like the idea of a pump which is both rechargeable and high speed for use on the boat. I use mine from the car battery on shore but the lead isn't long enough for use in the cockpit.
Must have a look at that one mentioned earlier in the thread.

I bought one recently. its connector is clip on type to tyre valve there are a few small size adaptors with it but my dinghy has a much larger fitting that you push in and turn to secure, my problem is that I cant find an adaptor/ any tips pls.