Inflatable dinghies, pressure.

[doug748]

I let some pressure out of my old Avon today because it was hot and in strong direct sunlight. Well pretty hot for May in the UK, not much compared to the tropics.

I always do this, am I wasting my time? Has anyone had a dinghy damaged by over pressuring in this way?

 

[neil_s]

I do it, too. Perhaps it's just an expression of your care for your boat, but as the custodian of an old Avon also - it seems like a good idea!

 

[NormanS]

Huh! What's this warm weather of which you speak? ? (From an unseasonably cold Scotland).

 

[FairweatherDave]

Hmmm. An extremely good idea I think. I am currently repairing my repairs on my SUP that all failed at Easter after storing inflated in a suntrap. PVC not hypalon but anything vulnerable needs love and care, and both my SUP and my Avon are vulnerable (despite the age gap )

 

[Moodysailor]

If they are in the water then I don't bother as there is enough cooling effect in the UK. If storing out of the water (inflatable or iSUP) then I blow off a little pressure.
TBH I think it's only an issue if you are pumping them up close to the max pressure and then a big raise in temp comes, otherwise there is more than enough scope already. But as mentioned, it sit's within "good practice for longevity" in my mind so I do it anyway.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I let some pressure out of my old Avon today because it was hot and in strong direct sunlight. Well pretty hot for May in the UK, not much compared to the tropics.

I always do this, am I wasting my time? Has anyone had a dinghy damaged by over pressuring in this way?

A very long time ago (late 60s) we had a Metzler Inka. We had it ashore, alongside a caravan we were using, and one hot summer day, we heard a loud bang, and on investigation found that the Inka had split all down one tube. Metzler, to their credit, replaced the dinghy. So, yes, they can get over-pressured and burst in summer heat, but it is clear that the manufacturer regarded it as a fault for it to do so.

 

[Blueboatman]

Dunno
But I had a s/h Redstart that ‘sailed’ through many years of tropical daily use without popping..

But thinking about it, I didn’t inflate it on a chilly February UK day and then take it in inflated state directly to 7 deg north or thereabouts

Eventually the floor seams gave out before the tubes