bombard aerotec 380 owners

[uny1965]

hi all, i did it. i went and bought the bombard aerotec 380 and 18hp tohatsu 2 stroke. very pleased with my purchase but i have a couple of questions you may be able to help me with. not been out on the sea yet only tootled down the thames (6mph) so don't know its true potential. anyway here goes with the queries. 1 :- is there any way i can connect rowlocks and oars to the bombard as i dont like the idea of those telescopic paddle things you get, (what happens if you're quite away out and the engine dies and you have to row back. 2:- i have aquired with the boat a bravo 12v pump, but have read on previous threads that these pumps do not like to inflate against closed valves. do i need or is there any valve attachment i can purchase to hold the valve open when inflating/deflating (my old honwave was a dream to inflate/deflate as the pump attachment held the valves open. 3:- this is a general question to all inflatable boaters, i always attach my engines lanyard/kill cord to my wrist which obviously stops the engine if you take an early bath, but what happens if you are on your own and theres a strong wind, theres no way once your in the water that you'll ever get back to your boat, i know this cos when there were 3 of us onboard in a relatively mild wind and i jumped overboard for a quick dip i couldn't get back to the boat (they had to circle back for me). do any of you out there tether yourself to the boat with a short rope if you' re on your own and if so is this safe to do . many thanks. paul.

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by uny1965

hi all, i did it. i went and bought the bombard aerotec 380 and 18hp tohatsu 2 stroke. very pleased with my purchase but i have a couple of questions you may be able to help me with. not been out on the sea yet only tootled down the thames (6mph) so don't know its true potential. anyway here goes with the queries. 1 :- is there any way i can connect rowlocks and oars to the bombard as i dont like the idea of those telescopic paddle things you get, (what happens if you're quite away out and the engine dies and you have to row back. 2:- i have aquired with the boat a bravo 12v pump, but have read on previous threads that these pumps do not like to inflate against closed valves. do i need or is there any valve attachment i can purchase to hold the valve open when inflating/deflating (my old honwave was a dream to inflate/deflate as the pump attachment held the valves open. 3:- this is a general question to all inflatable boaters, i always attach my engines lanyard/kill cord to my wrist which obviously stops the engine if you take an early bath, but what happens if you are on your own and theres a strong wind, theres no way once your in the water that you'll ever get back to your boat, i know this cos when there were 3 of us onboard in a relatively mild wind and i jumped overboard for a quick dip i couldn't get back to the boat (they had to circle back for me). do any of you out there tether yourself to the boat with a short rope if you' re on your own and if so is this safe to do . many thanks. paul.

Hello

1-You can buy a kit that includes spare oars, oar locks, oar holders and glue them on tubes, better to have them. Will need a seat.

2-Try to get a valve connecor that maintains valve open, and change the one delivered with actual Bravo pump.

3-Never sib alone as a rule specially in windy areas, if need to have a bath tie a rope, sib to wrist, bath with fins if available, will help climb back to sib like flipper.

Happy Sibbing

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by uny1965

2:- i have aquired with the boat a bravo 12v pump, but have read on previous threads that these pumps do not like to inflate against closed valves. do i need or is there any valve attachment i can purchase to hold the valve open when inflating/deflating (my old honwave was a dream to inflate/deflate as the pump attachment held the valves open.

I drilled the adaptor across its diameter, took a piece of 1/8" stainless wire and inserted the wire across the adaptor; that hits the valve stem and opens it (H-R valves.) If you look at the adaptor (and if it's the same as as mine), there's a rubber sealing grommet. Remove the grommet, and drill just about where the shoulder is on the hard plastic. Should be about right.

3:- this is a general question to all inflatable boaters, i always attach my engines lanyard/kill cord to my wrist which obviously stops the engine if you take an early bath, but what happens if you are on your own and theres a strong wind, theres no way once your in the water that you'll ever get back to your boat, i know this cos when there were 3 of us onboard in a relatively mild wind and i jumped overboard for a quick dip i couldn't get back to the boat (they had to circle back for me). do any of you out there tether yourself to the boat with a short rope if you' re on your own and if so is this safe to do . many thanks. paul.

Blow boater do this fairly regularly while on the open ocean. Ensures that the boat won't get away from you, or vice versa (wind will drive a RIB/SIB surprisingly fast. A sailboat will essentially be still under power.) Don't know about power boaters.

You would be better off, however, to clip the lanyard to yourself rather than looping it around your wrist. They've been known to slip off without activating the kill switch.

jky