Have I got a problem?

Pecheur Anglais · 29 November 2019, 11:35

I am after a bit of advice from your experience please. Having searched posts and not found anything specific enough, I hope you will indulge me.

Bought my mini rib several weeks ago and she lives in the garage.
Flat calm in the bay this morning so I decided to get out on the water. Sadly, foiled by the council who, in their wisdom, have locked the floodgates on the slipway.
However, I noticed that the tubes have gone decidedly squidgy. I appreciate that temperature will affect the pressure but the temperature today is only about 4 degrees lower than when I bought her less than 2 months ago and there has been no high temperatures in the interim. This seems too small a change in temperature to cause such a drop in pressure.

Should I go back to the supplier or would you consider this level of deflation normal?

Locozodiac · 29 November 2019, 11:58

Need to ask yourself if the tubes were inflated to their working pressure factory recommended when bought the boat to start with. All tubes lose pressure on cold days that's why you need to pump tubes once combo is on water back again to their working pressure. Need a pressure gauge for that..

If suspect there are air leaks spray soappy water on the tubes and air valves to check that out..

Happy Boating

jeffstevens763@g · 29 November 2019, 12:03

id say just temp lower, 0.003 bar / 0.045 psi = 1 degree temp rise of air in boat tubes. you've lost about 6% in volume @ 4 degrees i reckon assuming 3 psi when you pumped it up in all chambers
i would blow them up again to pressure and see assuming you have all the dust caps fitted [secondary seal] of course

Pecheur Anglais · 30 November 2019, 15:21

Thanks Gents. Useful advice for me there. I shall buy a pressure gauge and monitor pressure and temperature regularly.

Locozodiac · 02 December 2019, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pecheur Anglais

Thanks Gents. Useful advice for me there. I shall buy a pressure gauge and monitor pressure and temperature regularly.

Yep, best investment ever, all what's been glued on tubes, transom related will last well glued for years to come including better fuel consumption, boat rigidity and much better water performance on most water conditions.

Happy Boating