Dingy Inflators

seanfoster

seanfoster

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I'm looking for a reasonably cheap but effective 12v inflator for my dinghy, I have a 12ft zodiac does anyone have any recomendations? I have seen a £7.99 jobby in Maplins but I doubt it would do the job, has anyone found anything suitable?

Also anyone got any ideas about making some transom mounted wheels, I've seen the commercial ones available, but seeing as I'm a tight arse I'd prefer to try and cobble up something in my shed!
 
I bought a £5.99 pump from Aldi 2 years ago I wasn't expecting much but it has been superb. It has a high volume output but not a great pressure so I have to finish off with the footpump.
 
I bought a Camping Gaz inflator for airbeds years ago. I now use it on my 2.3m Zodiac. It is a rechargable one and works very well. It is possible to use it alone although I normally finish off with a few pumps on the footpump just to make sure.
Allan
 
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3 minutes with a good leg.

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followed by 3 mins with the other one, then a lie down to recover!

I can second the Aldi pump, very impressive and lot cheaper than the preferred make.
 
Regarding the wheels.....I came across some wheels in a skip, got a fitter to weld a steel strip on each and just bolted them to the transom. Beats me why swindleries think its reasonable to charge a hundred quid for two plastic wheels and struts, made by machines and costing peanuts to fabricate. Mind you my wheels are starting to show their age after 3 seasons!
 
The cheap ones seem fine for putting bulk air in, but you need a manual pump to get the pressure up. Expensive oones like the LVM pump will get a better pressure.

Machine mart are quite good for basic wheels.
 
A diving bottle is much quicker than those 'orrible noisy inflators. Do you really want to take that much out of your battery the moment you moor up?
Ah the luxury of being able to fit the inflated dinghy on the fore deck!
Cheers,
Try screwfix for the wheels.
 
Well I'm thinking more that I need to inflate the dingy when I get it out of the boot of the car to get over to my swinging mooring, unfortunately there's no room available to store tenders ashore.
 
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A diving bottle is much quicker than those 'orrible noisy inflators. Do you really want to take that much out of your battery the moment you moor up?



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I always have the engine running when using the inflater.
 
Re: Dinhgy Inflators

Woolies do a 12v dinghy inflator . I Have'nt used mine in anger yet so I assume i'll need to top it up with the manual pump . It quickly pumped up one chamber before I ran out of room in the bedroom ( don't ask ).
 
have a look at Towsure

I can recommend Towsure for wheels - excellent value.
They do caravan and dinghy stuff at very reasonable cost.
Think you should also find a dinghy/airbed inflator there too.
 
use a jumpstarter battery with a built in compressor got one from aldi £24 ,17 amps plus flashing lights and a work light + 3sockets +built in jump leads ,think argos do some but twice price, also do a heavy duty trolley,ball bearing wheels holds 90 ks in aldi now,£12.folds up wheels are about 6"
 
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use a jumpstarter battery with a built in compressor

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Aren't these designed for high pressure with low volume and so rather slow for inflating dinghies?
 
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A diving bottle is much quicker than those 'orrible noisy inflators. Do you really want to take that much out of your battery the moment you moor up?



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I always have the engine running when using the inflater.

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Three points:

1. 20A X 3 min = 1 Ah which is unlikely to seriously embarrass the battery.

2. LVM's instructions specifically say not to use it with the engine running since the raised voltage might burn it out.

3. Another cheap alternative: Millet's do an air bed inflator for about £8 which is quite good.
 
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