How hard is yours?

muchy_

muchy_

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How hard should I inflate my dinghy? I like it to keep its shape when sat on but I dont wanna burst it. Is there a rule of thumb for this kinda thing or do you just pump it up to what you want within reason?

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If you pump it up by hand or foot with a pump hose that just pushes on (or in), i.e. not screwed or locked on to the air inlet, you pump until the hose is blown out by the pressure. You cannot rupture a good quality dinghy by doing this. This information came from Zodiac. A fully inflated dinghy is safer and tracks better than a soft dinghy.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter
 
I agree with alanporter and the same principle applies if you use an electric pump they generaly change 'note' when the optimum air pressure is reached generaly around 4-6 psi. Remember that air inside an inflatable will expand in warm sunshine and contract in cold weather so do'nt inflate to hard in summer and more air in winter.

Jim

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I have a Zodic, They have non return valves so how will it blow the hose nozzle back out?



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Petrol Rules..
 
Re:NON return valve

I just bought a used avon inflatable and noticed your note re the "non-return" valve. How does this work? I believe the
AVON I bought has one, but I don't know how to keep the air from coming back out? (and also adjusting it so
I can deflate it.) Any info would be appreciated.
thank you...Andrew

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Re:NON return valve

Avon have a valve thingy. Look down the hole. You turn the valve thingy and it pops out a bit. Now it's in the none return position and you can blow it up. When you want it down. Press and turn valve.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
You first loosen the non-return ring by a quarter to half turn while you are pumping. When the hose blows out you quickly tighten it again. Or is yours a different design ? However, you must have some way of deflating it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter
 
If you have a zodiac, then the new zodiac fastroller dinghies have a pressure guage as the inflatable floor needs considerably more pressure than the rest of the boat. Dont forget that the pressure in the boat will change during the day - boat out of water on beech or davits willl expand in the heat of the day - if pumped to full pressure early in the day, the pressure during a hot day can actually damage the joints in the boat. Conversley if you pump up at midafternoon, and then go ashore and dont return until after chucking out time, your dinghy may well be underinflated.

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Pump it up hard on a warm sunny day. When temperature drops it will go softer but if over inflated when cold may do some damage when it gets warmer and the air expands. Not such an issue during the winter.

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