Fast Hand or Foot Pump for a 3.4m Zodiac.

[Ian_Rob]

I am wanting a foot or hand pump that I can use to quickly inflate my tender. It is one of those with an inflatable floor that is pumped to a higher pressure than the tubes. I am not sure whether stirrup pumps or foot pumps are better? My priority is to be able to get it inflated as fast as I can, hopefully more quickly than the supplied foot pump. Any recommendations?

Thankyou.

 

[LiftyK]

Bravo make a dual pressure foot pump. There’s a high volume outlet for the main chamber and a high pressure outlet for the floor. When I purchased my Avon dinghy with inflatable floor it came with one of these.

Here‘s the pump. Just find a U.K. source
Bravo 9M Dual Function High Pressure Inflatable Boat Pump

If you want really quick inflation, Bravo also make self contained rechargeable battery powered pumps that automatically switch between high volume rapid centrifugal inflation and high pressure piston inflation. Not cheap but marvellous.

 

[smert]

We have a dual action stirrup pump. If I am too vigorous with the pump the top will pop off with a huge bang like a gunshot under the pressure. I then have to faff about putting it back together while my heart rate settles again.

 

[Stemar]

I got an electric pump a few years ago as I was finding pumping up my tender too difficult following open heart surgery. I don't think it's necessarily quicker, but it does have the advantage that I can set it pumping then go and get the OB, change sides, get the other stuff, etc.

The one I got, an Italian job, has a built in battery, but I can't recommend it as the electronics seem to have been designed by Alfa Romeo in the 1960s

 

[Ian_Rob]

I have got a Bravo pump that I connect to the battery when I am onboard but I need something I can use to inflate my tender to get out to the boat In the first place - after having driven for 5+ hours. Perhaps a rechargeable electric pump is the way to go but they are quite expensive .

My non-rechargeable Bravo is a bit clumpy and tends to cut-out before it gets to pressure necessitating having to hold the button down - something it has done from new. Perhaps the new Bravo’s are better?

LiftyK’s post got me Googling and I see that Dewalt/Ryobi and others now do rechargeable electric pumps. I haven’t yet checked whether the Dwalt delivers sufficient pressure but it is available in a body only versions which might work, particularly if the Dewalt batteries I already have are compatible.

Thankyou.

 

[V1701]

How about an SUP pump, they're quite large volume and inflate on both up & down stroke, I'd have thought that would do the job more quickly than the foot pump...

 

[Daydream believer]

I prefer the stirrup pumps as they deliver high volume but most importantly do not skate about on a GRP deck when in use. I also find that I actually maintain my balance better than my foot pump. This may seem strange, but is true, if I only use one foot to hold it down; so buy one with a strong base.
Dinghy pressure ( ie Avon) is normally max 3 PSI & I expect that the floor would not be much more.
I have not used a non GRP pattern RIB though.