hi Max, lovely pictures, hey found that info on the tubes
www.zodiacmilpro.com
its the new system called durarib series 2.
or the info on below link at the bottom section
http://www.zodiacmilpro.com/news/new...spring2003.pdf
ref the height, if you were place the rollers wider it should drop down 2-3 inches for you!! hopefully
ref the bolt, it could be trouble trying to remove it, i THINK there is a metal threaded collar inside the fibreglass about a inch long. i removed one once and wasnt that tight, you could have a tiny go at it and fingers crossed.
Zodiac of North America
540 Thompson Creek Road
Stevensville, MD 21666
Tech Talk:
The Scoop on Foam
Sometimes it’s difficult to decide which Zodiac collar
system – foam or air – is best for specific mission
needs. The following information is presented to help
you make informed decisions.
Q: What is the science behind foam-filled buoyancy
tubes?
A: First of all, foam collar boats are extremely tough and
durable. Zodiac’s new DuraRib II foam collar uses either
a tough polyurethane outer coating or neoprene
hypalon, a hollow block of flexible closed-cell foam, and
an inner inflatable bladder. Because of this durable
design, it would be nearly impossible to severely
damage the tubes with punctures or air leaks. However,
in order to have a high-performance boat, the quality of
the foam must be well-adapted to its intended use.
Therefore, Zodiac has designed its foam collar systems
with these characteristics:
• Closed cell
• Non-reticulation foam (i.e., doesn’t shrink, as most
foams do)
• Excellent adhesion qualities
• Maintains its original integrity in extreme cold and
heat (i.e., doesn’t crumble under pressure)
• Excellent tolerance to hydrocarbons, mild acids,
salt water, solvents, and UV spectrum.
There is more than meets the eye in designing a
durable foam tube. Unfortunately, there are many foam
collar boats out there that don’t meet the above
characteristics!
Q: When is foam advantageous?
A: Boats with foam-filled buoyancy tubes are
advantageous under a number of circumstances. The
rugged, durable design of foam collar boats makes
them ideally suited for tougher missions. For example,
foam collar boats can be used as “pushers” for other
boats, and they are also good choices for missions
that frequently involve coming alongside other
boats for boarding. In addition, foam collar boats
better endure extreme cold and hot weather
conditions because the foam does not shrink or
expand in the same manner as air buoyancy tubes.
Furthermore, foam collar boats can be deployed at
a moment’s notice, as they don’t require topping up
the air.
Q: If storage or weight limitations are important
considerations, is foam the right way to go?
A: Unlike fully inflatable boats, foam collar boats
obviously cannot be deflated and folded up for
minimal storage. Therefore, if you have tight
storage restrictions, then a collapsible inflatable
collar system may be a more practical choice.
Another item to consider is your weight limitation.
Foam collar boats, although much lighter than
traditional hard shell boats, are still somewhat
heavier than boats with inflatable collar systems.
However, when compared with traditional hard
shell boats, foam collar boats have many
advantages. They are:
• significantly lighter which means they are easier
on your davits
• more buoyant so they can carry a higher payload
• safer to operate as they do not sink when
swamped with water
• more deck space due to the fact that their tubes
are “half-moon shaped”
Q: Do foam collar systems share most of the
advantages of inflatable collar systems?
A: The short answer – Yes. The inflatable bladder
inside the foam collar serves as a tensioning
element for the collar. Both the inflatable bladder
and the foam collar are designed to produce a
shock-absorbing effect when the boat re-enters the
water in choppy seas. It also provides superb
reserve buoyancy and stability, remains relatively
light and highly portable, and is light enough to
prevent serious injury to persons unlucky enough to
come into violent contact with it. In addition, the
foam collar tubes can be removed for air transport.
interesting reading!!
Just got back with my 4.7m Searider.
Alca Torda
Razorbill
Tystie
Imogen
Sula
