First inflation Elling KB350

Oldman2 · 23 July 2020, 12:03

My new boat is sitting here waiting to be inflated, remember im new to inflatables, I have read the manual mostly in Russian or bad English or just badly explained.
I have a bow tube, 2 side tubes, air floor and a keel tube.

The book is in bar so here is a google psi conversion.

Book says 3 tubes 2.2psi normal, 3.2psi max & seller says 3.5psi normal
Book says air floor 7.3psi normal, 10.2psi max & seller says 12psi normal
Book says Keel sausage 3.2psi no normal or max & seller says 4.5psi normal

I dont want to over inflate, are the sellers suggestions realistic or should I be using the book figures?

So is the inflate procedure Bow then 2 side tubes to 1/3rd pressure then add the floor and seats, inflate to 2/3rds, inflate the floor finish the tubes, then pump up the keel. Or should the side & bow tubes be full before inflating the floor?

Fenlander · 23 July 2020, 15:23

The SIBs I've owned have a correct figure... not a normal and maximum.

I'm puzzled that a seller (dealer) would make his own guess at a figure different to the manual.

Oldman2 · 23 July 2020, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The SIBs I've owned have a correct figure... not a normal and maximum.

I'm puzzled that a seller (dealer) would make his own guess at a figure different to the manual.

Yes I too was concerned so as yet I hadnt unwrapped the boat or floor. On advice I have now checked the transom plate (so I had to unwrap) it says max .2 bar which I make 2.9psi so thats tubes and keel sorted.

Unwrapping the floor I got written on the valve .7 bar or 10.15 psi

The floor valve had stiching coming out through the valve past the rubber diaphram so it was holding the valve open. I got the supplied valve spanner and tried undoing the valve, it went round and round (anticlock) but wasnt coming out! I removed the spanner to find the stiching had vanished inside with the turning, so I tightened the valve back up, it screwed up tight ok so tomorrow it will be leak tested I guess.

Fenlander · 23 July 2020, 16:13

Good that sounds like you have the pressures sorted. Re the floor drop stitching where the valve goes therere are always a few loose ends which sometimes are visible. No worries as long as the floor inflates with no odd bumps.

Richxlt · 24 July 2020, 12:33

Yeah 3 and 10psi on my 430.

Oldman, what engine is that Suzi 8? Sounds heavy!

Oldman2 · 24 July 2020, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richxlt

Yeah 3 and 10psi on my 430.

Oldman, what engine is that Suzi 8? Sounds heavy!

Its 8hp Suzuki DT8 and weighs 28kilo. I can manage it but prefer to let the sack barrow take the strain

Richxlt · 24 July 2020, 12:45

That's nice power to weight actually, like the old Yam 2T's Carry on!

By the way the red bag that the boat comes in, is great. Not too small. I can easily roll mine up and bag it with the airfloor in situ. Cinch straps work a treat. Yours, like mine, should come in at about 35kg bagged with the floor I think.

Oldman2 · 24 July 2020, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richxlt

That's nice power to weight actually, like the old Yam 2T's Carry on!

By the way the red bag that the boat comes in, is great. Not too small. I can easily roll mine up and bag it with the airfloor in situ. Cinch straps work a treat. Yours, like mine, should come in at about 35kg bagged with the floor I think.

Ive not weighed the boat and floor together with the bag, I can just lift it though its bulk makes it feel heavier.

I was a little disappointed with the bag, I was expecting it to unfold to flat on the floor, but its stitched up meaning it is more bag than wrap around.
Stanley knife might have to visit the bag corners, I will see how I get on. It is plenty big enough though and the straps are good.

Grayskull · 24 July 2020, 13:52

Don't cut the bag. It rolls up into it fine. Put the bag under the bow of the boat before you roll it up and it goes straight in.

Oldman2 · 24 July 2020, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grayskull

Don't cut the bag. It rolls up into it fine. Put the bag under the bow of the boat before you roll it up and it goes straight in.

The red bag protection league has arrived

Dont worry I wont rush into it, it was a surprise to find it like that and I found it awkward to get it back into it yesterday.
I will keep practicing and see how it goes. I need some fine days now so I can fit the transom wheels, rod holders etc. Only another month or so and summer will be over. I live 10mins walk from the slipway but the sea seems so far away at the moment. Time just fly's past when your retired.

Oldman2 · 28 July 2020, 15:48

I at last managed to get the time and weather to inflate the boat in my garden with a view to fitting my wheels.
One look at the transom said I was in trouble, for starters there is a 15mm overhang of the black floor sheet further than the back of the transom, secondly the top triangular anti splash? parts may finish just far enough apart (520mm) to allow a pair of wheels to not look too silly close together, but the same triangle parts on the bottom are just 400mm apart which to miss them would mean my wheels would be silly close together.
I am guessing here that cutting a slot 40mm wide in the overhanging sheet to allow my wheels to fit flush to the transom is a no-no?
The alternative is either hardwood or nylon (chopping block?) spacers to space the wheels back 15mm from the transom.

The second idea would be to reduce (trim with a knife) the lower triangular section by 60mm each side on the inside edge where it would foul the wheel leg so top & bottom triangular parts are the same size (520mm apart).

Grayskull · 28 July 2020, 16:48

The overhang on the bottom of yours looks much larger than mine. I did shave a couple of mm off mine to get the wheels to sit flush and trimmed 5mm from the splash guard at the bottom.

Oldman2 · 28 July 2020, 17:02

Its 15mm overhang, I found a 20mm thick large chopping board on Amazon, if I use that to space out the wheel frame then the overhang is cleared.
As to the splash triangles, by spacing +20mm I will be able to go further out without "trimming" but I still think they will get a quick haircut

at least the bottom ones.

Grayskull · 28 July 2020, 17:05

That should do the job. These things are sent to test us.

Fenlander · 28 July 2020, 18:00

>>>That should do the job

Yep always merit in a bit of individual fettling!

davidmichael · 28 July 2020, 20:24

Oldman 2 please keep us posted I am contemplating investing in one of these!!! Happy for you to be the guinea pig

Oldman2 · 28 July 2020, 20:42

Next doors cat was sniffing round it earlier, if its deflated in the morning it will have a cat shaped anchor by the weekend.
I'll put the cover on it tonight ready for chopping board mods tomorrow.

Dydigital · 29 July 2020, 11:54

Can I ask where you got the Elling from? Only company in the UK seams to be boatworld.

Oldman2 · 29 July 2020, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dydigital

Can I ask where you got the Elling from? Only company in the UK seams to be boatworld.

Yup, Boatworld is the only source that I am aware of in the UK. Other than that its a drive to the Ukraine and pick one up cheaper, you can also have other colours then too.

Richxlt · 29 July 2020, 13:27

There are some EU sellers too if you sniff around. Using a credit card or Paypal will afford some protection.

Just noticed that Boatworld have re-stocked on the excellent Borika Fasten fittings though, at Last!