prv
Well-Known Member
Ariam's tender is quite compact, with nowhere really to stow any gear. Currently I have a water-resistant (but not really -proof) bag containing stuff like the anchor, outboard tools, torch, etc, but I've had the bright idea of transferring this stuff to an old flare cannister which is properly waterproof and can also double as a small seat. The one thing that remains a problem is the pump.
The footpump that came with the dinghy is massive, the biggest such thing I've ever seen. Great for inflating, but it's an awkward thing to put in the dinghy, so we generally don't. This makes me uneasy, as I've always thought an inflatable boat should carry a pump for topping up.
So, does anyone know of a compact pump which would be adequate for topping up a floppy dinghy (it will rarely or never be used for a full inflation) and is easy to stow. Very preferably, it would fit through the neck of the standard yellow offshore flare bottle. I remember seeing an RAF helicopter liferaft as a kid, which had a handpump somewhat like a sailor's accordion or concertina - that's the kind of thing I have in mind, but other solutions are welcome.
Note that the ubiquitous red ebay handpump ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Siphon-Wa...681?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a85e3ac51 ) is not really suitable. Admirably compact, but it moves so little air that it's not really suitable even for topping up.
Cheers,
Pete
The footpump that came with the dinghy is massive, the biggest such thing I've ever seen. Great for inflating, but it's an awkward thing to put in the dinghy, so we generally don't. This makes me uneasy, as I've always thought an inflatable boat should carry a pump for topping up.
So, does anyone know of a compact pump which would be adequate for topping up a floppy dinghy (it will rarely or never be used for a full inflation) and is easy to stow. Very preferably, it would fit through the neck of the standard yellow offshore flare bottle. I remember seeing an RAF helicopter liferaft as a kid, which had a handpump somewhat like a sailor's accordion or concertina - that's the kind of thing I have in mind, but other solutions are welcome.
Note that the ubiquitous red ebay handpump ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Siphon-Wa...681?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a85e3ac51 ) is not really suitable. Admirably compact, but it moves so little air that it's not really suitable even for topping up.
Cheers,
Pete
