Cardo
Well-Known Member
We have a Plastimo dinghy with an inflatable keel/floor (in two halves). Over time I've discovered one of the keel bladders (?) can lose air. It's taken me some time to track it down, but I've finally discovered where the air is going! When someone puts weight on the valve (i.e., their foot), this lets out air. It seems when the bottom of the valve is pressed up against the material on the other side of the bladder, it causes the valve to open slightly and let out air. The valve on the other keel bladder doesn't do this.
Any thoughts on what could be causing this? And how to resolve it?
I'll admit I don't inflate the bladders to the pressure it says in the manual, but being out in the Med I don't want to overdo it, and I'm not fussed about the dinghy being 100% efficient going through the water. Though I would prefer it if the air didn't escape!
I believe the valve is a fairly standard one, looks like this:
Any thoughts on what could be causing this? And how to resolve it?
I'll admit I don't inflate the bladders to the pressure it says in the manual, but being out in the Med I don't want to overdo it, and I'm not fussed about the dinghy being 100% efficient going through the water. Though I would prefer it if the air didn't escape!
I believe the valve is a fairly standard one, looks like this:
