Bravo foot pump

[GAIA]

Hi

New to this forum. I have a new Saturn dinghy with a high pressure floor. Unfortunately the Bravo pump I have will not pump to the required pressure and has air coming out of thee middle Port. It is brand new. Is this a known problem? As I am now in the Rio Dulce I cannot return it or have it fixed but hate to take it apart before I quoting from the community.

Jim sv GAIA

[GuyC]

Welcome to the forum.

Foot pumps won't deliver the pressure you need for the air floor. A foot pump will deliver about 4 psi and the air floor will need 11 psi (depending on flavour of floor). You'll need a stirrup type pump like they use for SUP's or an electric pump.

[GAIA]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Welcome to the forum.

Foot pumps won't deliver the pressure you need for the air floor. A foot pump will deliver about 4 psi and the air floor will need 11 psi (depending on flavour of floor). You'll need a stirrup type pump like they use for SUP's or an electric pump.

Well that would make me look pretty foolish but sorry, not so. I may have asked about the wrong pump. My Bravo 9 foot pump delivers 4.4psi with the central port closed and 14.7psi with the central Port open. Problem is air comes out of the central Port and I believe that is not right.

It is new to me. Normally I would put some soapy water in but hesitate to do that because the little clips on the valves might corrode hence my question to the group.

Jim sv GAIA

[Fenlander]

Air is supposed to bleed from the central port when in the HP mode... as much as it seems against logic that’s how they work. I’ve had six air floor Zodiacs with this style pump.

You pump as much as you can in LP mode until it gets really hard to pump. Then take out the plug and continue with the air bleeding from the port. It makes it easier but I tend to double my speed in the HP mode or it takes ages.

[GAIA]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Air is supposed to bleed from the central port when in the HP mode... as much as it seems against logic that’s how they work. I’ve had six air floor Zodiacs with this style pump.

You pump as much as you can in LP mode until it gets really hard to pump. Then take out the plug and continue with the air bleeding from the port. It makes it easier but I tend to double my speed in the HP mode or it takes ages.

Ahh many TX for the comeback Fenlander. So I need not worry that something got into the flapper valves. It is brand new after all.

Good to know. Puzzled though why but that is not as important. A 4 psi floor is less effective. My reason for joining bore fruit. I will be back.

TX again

Jim sv GAIA

[Fenlander]

As I understand it the pump has two chambers that total 6.5lit per pump stroke. As it gets to around or just over normal tube pressure of 3.5psi most adults can’t pump the pressure much higher at that full capacity. Taking out the plug vents the larger chamber leaving you pumping just 1.5lit per stroke from the smaller chamber which is manageable up to the 15psi or so of a hp floor.

[GAIA]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

As I understand it the pump has two chambers that total 6.5lit per pump stroke. As it gets to around or just over normal tube pressure of 3.5psi most adults can’t pump the pressure much higher at that full capacity. Taking out the plug vents the larger chamber leaving you pumping just 1.5lit per stroke from the smaller chamber which is manageable up to the 15psi or so of a hp floor.

Brilliant! That makes sense and more 'work' of course. TX, I cam stop wondering.

Jimsv GAIA

[jeffstevens763@g]

Get an electric pump bud and have a beer whilst it does the work

[GAIA]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Get an electric pump bud and have a beer whilst it does the work

Nah, I need the exercise 😊

[jeffstevens763@g]

Walk to get the beers nice and steady