Avon redcrest inflation pressure?

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HONEYMOMMY

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I bought a used Avon redcrest as a tender and for the kids to mess about on.

I have made a solid wood floor (in three sections).

The problem I am having is:

I inflate it and its fine at first. In the morning it is partially defalted. In warm weather it stays well inflated, then deflates slightly at night when the temperature drops.

So.... Is it OK to inflate it fully when it has partially deflated from the cold?

Will I risk overinflating it this way and cause damage to the seams?
 
HONEYMOMMY said:
I bought a used Avon redcrest as a tender and for the kids to mess about on.

I have made a solid wood floor (in three sections).

The problem I am having is:

I inflate it and its fine at first. In the morning it is partially defalted. In warm weather it stays well inflated, then deflates slightly at night when the temperature drops.

So.... Is it OK to inflate it fully when it has partially deflated from the cold?

Will I risk overinflating it this way and cause damage to the seams?
Click to expand...

I was told that if you are inflating with a foot pump keep going until you can stand on the pump and no air pushes out. It could be right who knows?
 
I would deflate it a bit after use as i have burst both seams on the rear of my Yam260 tender by leaving it in the sun after inflating it in the cool of the morning .. :( lesson learnt
 
So two very different answers.

Whats a girl to do... :confused::confused: ;)

I plan to hang it from davits, but sideways on fixed to two U bolt plates I have put on the bathing platform. This is so we can still have access to the bathing platform. Deflating could be a problem.
 
Spyro said:
I was told that if you are inflating with a foot pump keep going until you can stand on the pump and no air pushes out. It could be right who knows?
Click to expand...

I agree with this. The assumption is that you are using a standard foot pump for inflating dinghies. I have never heard of a avon bursting at the seams unless it was rotten, etc. I inflate my tinker dinghy the same way and it is the same material as an avon redcrest.
 
Can only say that Spiro could be right and I Know I burst me seams :) .. However I do know that the local RNLI inshore Rib is inflated so hard that you can hardly push into it with your finger. .. I would also assume that rib seams are a lot stronger than Tender seams.. However I will still be letting a little out on hot days or while unattended in the future .. :)
 
I witnessed an inflatable burst. It had been inflated hard in cold air and left on deck in the sun. Made an almighty bang and alarmed the whole harbour. Luckily nobody near at the time.

Although I inflate my dinghy hard in cold air it is kept afloat which keeps it cool on very hot days. If I stored it on deck or in davits I would let some air out but hard enough to be usable - just to be safe .
 
2.5psi is correct. That is what we inflate our display RNLI branch "D" class to. I think you have a leak somewhere. Ensure that you give all the chambers equal inflation. That way you don't put a strain on the membranes between the chambers nor are you subject to an alarming loss of volume should you get (another) puncture in an overinflated section. Counting the strokes is as good as any method.

Chas
 
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Great help thanks. I am thinking perhaps ok to inflate to a firm level but not over inflate. Add more if required. Eventually we should find a happy medium while on the davits.

I am Interested to know how to check the psi.

Excuse spelling. Phone auto adjust comes up with allsorts. :D
 
HONEYMOMMY said:
Great help thanks. I am thinking perhaps ok to inflate to a firm level but not over inflate. Add more if required. Eventually we should find a happy medium while on the davits.

I am Interested to know how to check the psi.

Excuse spelling. Phone auto adjust comes up with allsorts. :D
Click to expand...

You can buy pressure gauges. Not very useful though unless you can find a recommended pressure.

Generally inflate until firm enough to resist moderate finger tip pressure and reatain shape in use. No good if floppy :D
 
The more expensive Avons used to come with a pressure gauge that read from 0 to 4 psi.

I've used the standard foot pump to inflate them as hard as possible everywhere from freezing winters to the heat of the tropical sun and have never had, or heard of any problems.
 
If you are using it in Scotland blow it up until it's rock hard. Only on a very very hot day may you wish to let it down a little in the middle of the day. A good avon shouldn't lose any air for a few days. Check the valves when fully inflated with dilute washing up liquid (don't forget to wash it off as the valves can become gummed up),while you're at it brush the liquid over the seams and check for bubbles. Take a little time and you'll find out if you have a very small leak. My guess it may be a very small leak around the valve. An artist's paintbrush will clear any muck in the valve. If the boat is pumped up hard the valve seal will seat better.
An Avon is a real good bit of kit and will put up with the abuse your kids will probably give it.

H
 
The operational D Class Inshore Lifeboat at our Station is inflated to 3.25psi in the sponsons,and 3psi in the keel.These have been the standard reccomended pressures for years,be it RFD,EA,or now the IB1 Inshore Lifeboats.
However,if left in sunlight ashore,the pressures are dropped.We have had an ILB burst in direct sunlight,with no cooling effect from the water in the past.
There is a low pressure guage available but these as expensive.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
 
Copied and pasted from here http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319991


I can never remember if the dinghy is a Redcrest or a Redseal, it's a roundtail though with a flexible floor. One thing I have noticed is if I pump it really hard, the stability is increased. I have before pumped it up using the electric pump alone, fine in calm conditions, but you really notice it if it chops up a bit.
 
I've never used a guage to check the inflation - purely 'cause I don't have one. One of the local dive club told me that in the days of inflatables, before RIBs, when the tube was hard enough, the hose jumped off the valve! In general, you'd be unlikely to overinflate with the average foot pump and the electric pump will get nowhere near it, needing a few strokes tof the manual pump to achieve a working pressure.

My own test is to flick my fingers on the tube and when hard enough to be used it rings like a drum skin. Normally, launching will cause a small drop in pressure and may require a few more strokes of the pump, particularlu on a hot, sunny day. Hauling out and leaving inflated, I'd be inclined to drop the pressure very slightly in bright sun - each chamber will only require at most a dozen strokes of the pump to reinstate working pressure. Not so easy on newer dinghies which deflate by unscrewing the whole valve!

Rob.
 
theoldsalt said:
I witnessed an inflatable burst. It had been inflated hard in cold air and left on deck in the sun. Made an almighty bang and alarmed the whole harbour. Luckily nobody near at the time.

Although I inflate my dinghy hard in cold air it is kept afloat which keeps it cool on very hot days. If I stored it on deck or in davits I would let some air out but hard enough to be usable - just to be safe .
Click to expand...

That happened to us, many years ago - it was a Metzeler Inca that exploded! But Metzeler replaced it, despite it being second-hand! Despite the windage from the bows, that was a good inflatable.
 
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