Inflating

[Tommy c]

My sib came with a foot pump only. On the plate maximum pressure stated at 3.4psi.
Do I just stop as it starts to sound pressurised

[Max...]

No, use a gauge.

[GuyC]

You can get gauges that are either built in to the pump or fit in line.

For example

https://www.force4.co.uk/bravo-7m-fo...auge-5ltr.html

[GuyC]

Just to add to this.

If a boat is under inflated there are at least couple of potential issues:

The lack of rigidity will mean that the seakeeping and performance will be compromised.

If an outboard is being used, the tubes hold the transom in place and if they are under inflated, the transom may move about causing damage to the connections to the tubes and bottom.

I spent a few years sailing and often used a small SIB with an outboard to get from the boat to dry land aka the pub and never once did I check the tube pressures. The tubes would be blown up until they were "pressurised". Overloading with drunk crew was also taken in the SIB's stride. Whilst I doubt whether this approach could be condoned nowadays I'd say if you were just pottering around, then inflating it until it was pressurised would be fine. If you are attempting to explore the performance envelope of your SIB, getting the pressures correct is a good starting point.

Over-inflating also causes issues, primarily that you may overstress the seams that hold the SIB together.

Things are further complicated by the cooling / warming effects of the water and sunshine although living in Lancaster that possibly should be cooling / cooling.

[Tommy c]

Thanks guys

[Tommy c]

I've just looked through the force 4 website. The separate gauge looks like it has a push fit at one end and the other is a bayonet type fitting. My foot pump just pushes into the valve on my sib (Boston valve?). What adapter do I need?
Thanks

[jeffstevens763@g]

Worth every penny

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/electric...d_8387582.html

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Worth every penny

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/electric...d_8387582.html

Other pumps are available

TBH I hadn't considered the ins and outs of fitting a gauge to an existing pump.

I suspect your best bet would be to buy a pump, either electric or manual, with a gauge and save your existing pump as a spare / to go on the boat.

Discussion on electric pumps quickly descends into a commons like slanging match. I can't comment on the pro's and con's of each brand as I only own one brand but I would agree with jeffstevens in that they are worth every penny.

[Max...]

An old topic now but the ones I made here are still working fine eight years on:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/adaptin...sib-42375.html

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Other pumps are available


.......Discussion on electric pumps quickly descends into a commons like slanging match......

Surely not[emoji6]

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Surely not[emoji6]

Yep.....Folk get all pumped up about this.

[jeffstevens763@g]

as GuyC says there are others. only my experience sevylor pump £59 burnt out pumping my 6m rib up first time, bought a bravo pump lasted a year £115 secondary motor stopped working, now have the itwit lasted a year still going. so i can have nearly three itwits for the price of the bravo.OMO


i only get deflated when they dont work

[Tommy c]

So on my plate it states 3.4psi. Is this just for the tubes.?
I'm guessing the keel and floor can just be pumped till 'firm'?

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Tommy c

So on my plate it states 3.4psi. Is this just for the tubes.?
I'm guessing the keel and floor can just be pumped till 'firm'?

your floor is a high pressure floor Tom i guess around 11psi but since your max hp is 4hp if not sure i would blow up nice and stiff you're not going to be getting on the plane so not critical if you have a hand book it should tell you. if the floor bends a bit just put a tad more air in

[Tommy c]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

your floor is a high pressure floor Tom i guess around 11psi but since your max hp is 4hp if not sure i would blow up nice and stiff you're not going to be getting on the plane so not critical if you have a hand book it should tell you. if the floor bends a bit just put a tad more air in

That would explain why the floor has got a metal valve instead of the plastic ones on the tubes and keel
11psi seems a lot though

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Tommy c

That would explain why the floor has got a metal valve instead of the plastic ones on the tubes and keel
11psi seems a lot though

found this, also the pumps are rated to 14.2 psi which kind of ties in 3.4 x 4= 13.6psi
https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating...nflatable.html

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by Tommy c

That would explain why the floor has got a metal valve instead of the plastic ones on the tubes and keel
11psi seems a lot though

My Zodiac has an air floor and it is basically a drop stitch slab, a bit like an inflatable SUP. It should be inflated to 11psi and it also has a metal valve so yours requiring 11psi isn't out of the ordinary.

[Tommy c]

Just came across this whilst searching

[Tommy c]

It also says the boats supplied foot pump can't over inflate the inflatable. What do you think?

[Bucksribster]

I have a question. How can a gague on a pump work if the valve shuts off the air when you stop pumping?