Storing my Honwave, to inflate or not to inflate!

sergeant · 03 August 2013, 11:26

I just picked up a new T38 Airdeck Honwave and in reality I won't be using it every week (due to our embarrassing UK weather), therefore to transport it to and from the water I'll have to inflate/deflate it to get it into the car - sadly for most of its life it will be sat in my garage. I am wondering what is healthiest for the boat, to be stored deflated and folded within its bag, to be partially inflated and sat on a piece of carpet in the garage, or to be fully inflated?

Which has the least strain on the boat, surely being folded for uncertain lengths of time could cause stress on the seams or the material itself?

kerny · 03 August 2013, 11:39

I keep mine fully inflated sat on the floor in the garage.

sergeant · 03 August 2013, 11:58

Unfortunately I have to inflate/deflate on each use to be able to transport it, so I'm wondering whether I should reinflate it once home?

Max... · 03 August 2013, 12:14

Fully inflate it, keep it like that in the summer or however long you are using it and transport it on the roof inflated or on a simple trailer. You'll *very* quickly get fed up with the:

...(a)pack in car/inflate/use/deflate/pack in car/inflate (to wash all the sand, stone and crap out!)/deflate/pack away in garage...go to (a)...

sergeant · 03 August 2013, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max...

Fully inflate it, keep it like that in the summer or however long you are using it and transport it on the roof inflated or on a simple trailer. You'll *very* quickly get fed up with the:

...(a)pack in car/inflate/use/deflate/pack in car/inflate (to wash all the sand, stone and crap out!)/deflate/pack away in garage...go to (a)...

Thanks Max, I have considered the roof idea, but this 3.8m boat is longer than my 3 series BMW, so transporting it on the roof seems almost impossible without it swamping the front and rear windows!

The Gurnard · 03 August 2013, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergeant

Which has the least strain on the boat, surely being folded for uncertain lengths of time could cause stress on the seams or the material itself?

I cant honestly give you the correct answer sergeant, as I dont know.. but none of my inflatables have ever suffered crease problems to find out.

I have an Avon Roundtail made of Hypalon ..must be 15 years or more old ? .. and it still doesnt have a leak. Its rolled up and flung in a bag at the end of the day. The only time its washed is when its got too much fish gut on it. Its stored in a garden shed when not used

I also have a cheap Chinese made PVC Seago inflatable and it too is rolled up after every use. It must be approaching 10 years old ? Not one patch or leak..although its bottom is pretty scuffed dragging it up stony shores. It too is stored in the garden shed rolled up in a bag.

The largest is stored on a trailer fully inflated..although its very soft to avoid atmospheric pressure changes bursting it.

Only thing to watch if storing rolled up for long periods of time.. make sure no mice are around to make nests in the boat.. they will chew it to pieces ..as has happened to some friends.

My thoughts are..go what suits you.

sergeant · 03 August 2013, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

My thoughts are..go what suits you.

Very interesting, thanks dude - for what we pay for these new, I'd hope they'd stand the test of time, sounds like yours certainly have

Fenlander · 03 August 2013, 13:11

Don't give storing the Honwave packed a second thought... it'll be fine. All the inflatables (PVC & Hypalon) I've owned from brand new to 40yrs old have been stored packed for far more time than they've been inflated... never an issue.

Oh and don't worry about the inflate/deflate... it's a doddle with an air floor. It's just a pet hate of Max's and he has a LWB Land Rover so carrying inflated on the roof is a bit easier than most with our cars!

We've just been on hols with the 3.5m Honwave, 15hp Mariner and all the kit travelled in the back of wife's Citroen C3 with seats folded down. That's the whole beauty of an inflatable... turning up next to the slip in a small car and unfurling a boat that 30mins later is heading out on a lumpy sea with 4 folks in it.

sergeant · 03 August 2013, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Don't give storing the Honwave packed a second thought... it'll be fine. All the inflatables (PVC & Hypalon) I've owned from brand new to 40yrs old have been stored packed for far more time than they've been inflated... never an issue.

Oh and don't worry about the inflate/deflate... it's a doddle with an air floor. It's just a pet hate of Max's and he has a LWB Land Rover so carrying inflated is OK.

We've just been on hols with the 3.5m Honwave, 15hp Mariner and all the kit travelled in the back of wife's Citroen C3 with seats folded down. That's the whole beauty of an inflatable... turning up next to the slip in a small car and unfurling a boat that 30mins later is heading out on a lumpy sea with 4 folks in it.

Haha, definitely, can't wait and love the flexibility of being able to get it all easily into the car, I was surprised at just how small the Honwave T38 packs down to! The Mercury 15HP is just the perfect length as well to fit acrossways in the boot!

Thanks for this everyone, I can sleep easy knowing that my boat doesn't really mind how its stored

but I'll stick some mouse-traps in the garage...just incase

Festinghouse · 03 August 2013, 13:49

it doesnt really matter, but id make sure it is fully dry before packing away for any length of time so as to stop any mold forming.

lightning · 04 August 2013, 19:45

I have a Zodiac 2.85m SIB and I have nowhere to store it inflated at home, so it gets put back in its bag and stored like that after each use.

Although when on holiday we leave it inflated for the time we are there.

The boat is now on the fifth season of use, and it has been used a lot! We've been to Norfolk, to Windermere (going again next weekend), on the River Dee in Chester, on the canal many times, to Scotland twice....basically anywhere there is water! It is still in perfect condition with no signs of distress from the repeated inflation/deflation and storage.

sergeant · 05 August 2013, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightning

I have a Zodiac 2.85m SIB and I have nowhere to store it inflated at home, so it gets put back in its bag and stored like that after each use.

Although when on holiday we leave it inflated for the time we are there.

The boat is now on the fifth season of use, and it has been used a lot! We've been to Norfolk, to Windermere (going again next weekend), on the River Dee in Chester, on the canal many times, to Scotland twice....basically anywhere there is water! It is still in perfect condition with no signs of distress from the repeated inflation/deflation and storage.

Sounds good, nice picture too! - thanks again all!

petethebass · 17 October 2013, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightning

I have a Zodiac 2.85m SIB and I have nowhere to store it inflated at home, so it gets put back in its bag and stored like that after each use.

Although when on holiday we leave it inflated for the time we are there.

The boat is now on the fifth season of use, and it has been used a lot! We've been to Norfolk, to Windermere (going again next weekend), on the River Dee in Chester, on the canal many times, to Scotland twice....basically anywhere there is water! It is still in perfect condition with no signs of distress from the repeated inflation/deflation and storage.

is that picture the menai straits down the lane before plas newydd nr the old slate jetty ?? cheers

sparky666 · 20 October 2013, 00:31

HI
any of you guys get water trapped in the hull under alloy floor when you store it inflated ?