Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 30 October 2015, 09:00   #1
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: San Diego/Calgary
Boat name: FC530
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 65hp Etec, Durajet
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 40
Mirada Valves

Click image for larger version

Name:	image.jpg
Views:	237
Size:	96.5 KB
ID:	109483
Hi, does anybody have any insight as to why some of the FC line of Mil Spec Zodiacs e.g. FC530 have the Mirada valves. I was under the impression that the I/C Valves used to inflate the craft had an overpressure relief feature. If that is the case why the need for another 4 or 5 OPV's?
Thanks
__________________
Freediver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 October 2015, 14:05   #2
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: S. Carolina
Boat name: D560
Make: Avon
Length: 5m +
Engine: 2016 Merc 115hp CT
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,277
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freediver View Post
Attachment 109483
Hi, does anybody have any insight as to why some of the FC line of Mil Spec Zodiacs e.g. FC530 have the Mirada valves. I was under the impression that the I/C Valves used to inflate the craft had an overpressure relief feature. If that is the case why the need for another 4 or 5 OPV's?
Thanks
The IC valves are very imprecise as OPVs... the OPV feature is moreso for short durations of overpressure, say, when two vessels collide at speed or after launching the boat over a wave and smacking in to the water.

The Mirada OPVs are finely adjusted and have a tolerance of about +/- 0.5 psi. They usually start to lift at about 3.1 psi or so if they're old. They're designed to be trusted as "when they start letting air out, the boat is at the proper pressure".
__________________
Richard
Gluing geek since 2007
Opinions and intepretations expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer
office888 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 October 2015, 18:46   #3
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: San Diego/Calgary
Boat name: FC530
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 65hp Etec, Durajet
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 40
Mirada

Thanks for the response, this helps. The FC 530 I have has a few of these Mirada valves. Do you know if they are factory set?
Thanks
FD
__________________
Freediver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 October 2015, 19:00   #4
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: S. Carolina
Boat name: D560
Make: Avon
Length: 5m +
Engine: 2016 Merc 115hp CT
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,277
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freediver View Post
Thanks for the response, this helps. The FC 530 I have has a few of these Mirada valves. Do you know if they are factory set?
Thanks
FD
The valves are set at the factory at Mirada, then sold to Zodiac. The spring tension may decrease with age though, requiring replacement of the valve assembly.

The only way to know for sure is to inflate your boat with a gauge and see if the OPV opens early. If it does, replace the OPV.
__________________
Richard
Gluing geek since 2007
Opinions and intepretations expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer
office888 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2015, 01:53   #5
Member
 
cgoing's Avatar
 
Country: USA
Town: Connecticut
Make: Zodiac
Length: 6m +
Engine: Undecided
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 777
The Mirada valves are manufactured in many different pressure setting which are much more refined as "office" pointed out. I do no have my manual handy but the ones in your boat are probably the 3.5-4 psi setting. It may say right on them.
__________________
Chris Going
DinghyPro
dinghyproct@gmail.com
www.DinghyPro.net
cgoing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2015, 03:04   #6
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: San Diego/Calgary
Boat name: FC530
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 65hp Etec, Durajet
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 40
Mirada Valve

Thank you, cgoing, I will check it out. And yes, you are correct, I contacted Mirada and noticed there were many different settings for the valves. Since the boat is to be inflated to 3.4mb I thought the Mirada might be a good way to adjust the springs in the I/C valves as I noticed they were releasing air around 2.9 mb. Might have to tighten the springs a little. Thanks for all the info.
FD
__________________
Freediver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 October 2015, 03:05   #7
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: San Diego/Calgary
Boat name: FC530
Make: Zodiac
Length: 4m +
Engine: 65hp Etec, Durajet
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 40
Thanks office, good info.
FD
__________________
Freediver is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 21:14.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.