SIB storage, does it matter?

[SIBer]

Is there any detriment to keeping a sib in its bag most of the time?
Would I get longer life it was inflated to 80% or 100% in storage.

Or does it not matter?

[Pete7]

I would have thought the opposite, its the sun and weather that kills stuff. Just make sure it goes away dry.

Pete

[sinner]

just make sure it is warm when you unfold it. If is cold it can cause problems, as I've been told.

[Max...]

If you have the space to store it inflated (in a garage or covered place open to air but out of the sun and weather) then this will be the best solution I would have thought.

But as long as it is packed away fully dry and clean (ie no salt or sand deposits) and carefully folded then that should not be an issue.

[Fenlander]

Agree with Max. Stored inflated until it is just slightly tight to shape but not up to pressure is best. Also needs to be under a cover and ideally supported so the air keel isn't taking the weight (particularly with air floors or they seem to adopt a permanent hump in the middle). Covering is important because it's really surprising just how much airborne dust etc builds up over the months in a garage or workshop, particularly on some of the light grey/white modern boats... also as it's important to keep PVC boats out of the light.

Next best to that is storing washed, dryed and carefully folded away into the bag. I owned a Hypalon Zodiac that had been stored almost without use in its bag for 35yrs and it had stayed absolutely A1.

[S4Simon]

Keep it off the ground if you're going to store it in the bag. Mice for some reason find inflatables very yummy. Every year people would bring their inflatables in for repair with what looke like shotgun blasts thru the fabric. Can be very annoying when trying your upmost to look after the craft by storing it neatly away over winter.

[m chappelow]

Make sure its been washed down with fresh water and allowed to fully dry then before you roll it up and into the bag dust it all over lightly with talc or french chalk,

best way i find is if you have the space is to keep it inflated or suspend it from say the rafters of a garage over winter ,

but if it is rolled up in any way as was said earlier watch out for rodents, mice /rats,i stored an old Dclass rolled up at the bottom of my garden and found out that squirrells had been living in the folds over winter lucky they had not made or gnawed any holes ,,just left loads of shit.

[Fenlander]

Good point about the mice.. but be warned English mice can climb! Oddly they seem to like very specific grades of rubber and plastic, our local mice like the harder plastic of handles and fittings more than the tube fabric.

[SIBer]

Thanks for the advice all.