Best way to inflate?

[dopherman]

I currently have a small PVC SIB, that I pump by hand. It's recommended pressure is stated as ".9 PSI". I understand the performance drop of under inflation, and the dangers of over inflation, but how in the heck am I supposed to hit such a low pressure so accurately, when most pressure gauges would barely even register anything this low? How can I guarantee a quality pump every time rather than just kicking it and saying "this seems about right"?

-Doph

 

[Guest]

Re: Best way to inflate?

I currently have a small PVC SIB, that I pump by hand. It's recommended pressure is stated as ".9 PSI". I understand the performance drop of under inflation, and the dangers of over inflation, but how in the heck am I supposed to hit such a low pressure so accurately, when most pressure gauges would barely even register anything this low? How can I guarantee a quality pump every time rather than just kicking it and saying "this seems about right"?

-Doph

Bravo pump off amazon will let you choose your desired psi and will turn off when you reach it

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best way to inflate?

Or just kick it until it seems about right.

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Best way to inflate?

I just get mine nice and tight and let it go....I don't think my manual pump will let me over for it

 

[SolingSailor]

Re: Best way to inflate?

Yeah, it's not so easy, or critical. It the dink doesn't have a built-in guage, just do the best you can, without blowing out the seams.
You'll get it right on the second dink you own.

 

[Guest]

Re: Best way to inflate?

Or just kick it until it seems about right.

I personally would not kick it (kicking is for your tires and I prefer a gauge and not how soft my foot bounces off it. I wouldn't kick something that's going to carry you over a body of water) buy the bravo pump or buy a universal gauge.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Best way to inflate?

When I got my first RIB I went looking for a gauge to measure the pressure when I pumped it up. I went to an inflatable boat dealer and asked for a gauge. The guy just said "pump it up until it is hard". The correct measure is "firm" not hard, but I've been doing that ever since. Never needed a gauge.

I pump it up until it feels firm and the tube gives a little when pressed by the heel of my hand. I've had three boats (2 ribs, 1 sib) and this method has worked fine.

With a SIB you want it in the firmer side especially if you have a motor and a soft floor.

The pressure in the tubes is going to be changing all the time to some degree based on the temperature inside the tube so you are not going to be able to keep the pressure precisely at .9 for more than about 1 minute (when you are using the boat) anyway.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Best way to inflate?

The only down issue about inflating any sib with finger, palm touch is that's mission impossible to know if all chambers are inflated to near same pressure. Any tube having less than 2 psi will feel firm to touch, but that's not the correct working pressure. Need a minimum of 3.0 psi to achieve correct transom rigidity at all boating water conditions.

If you sib frequently all year round at speed with under inflated rear tubes and max engine HP tramsom rated for, will end stressing transom specially the asian ones that don't use superb quality glues compared to higher cost sibs. Repairing a unglued transom is time demanding and costly if needed to be sent to a repair shop. Pressure gauges are cheap in comparisson to other boating goods, use them.

Happy Boating

 

[tinasdude]

Re: Best way to inflate?

Reading this and appreciate the great advice for an air pressure gauge. Not to mention getting optimal performance from my RIB

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Best way to inflate?

Reading this and appreciate the great advice for an air pressure gauge. Not to mention getting optimal performance from my RIB

You are right about top optimal water sib/rib performance, assuming you have a well trimmed, height seated engine and boat well ballanced to go along. It's as simple as to compare a byc ride with under inflated tubes and fully inflated tubes...

Happy Boating

 

[Elkhornsun]

Re: Best way to inflate?

The air pressure will increase as the boat sits in the sun so it is best to have it not fully inflatted, i.e. hard, to allow for that expansion. With my multi-compartment boat I would partially inflate the side chambers then full inflate the bow chamber and the keep chamber and then finish by adding air to the side tube chambers. This kept the side chambers from distorting the separating wall between them and the bow chamber.