Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

[frogseatflies]

I've got a 1995 310 Fastroller Zodiac in pretty good condition considering it's that old. It's never been stored in the sun and has been used for 3 seasons.

It seems that age is the reason that 12 pinholes were needing to be sealed on the top of my inflatable floor. With that many pinholes, my concern is that new pinholes will show up soon. And I can't put a finger on why mainly one section of the floor is where the pinholes are found. Please suggest any ideas on preventative procedures. Perhaps there's a coating I could brush over the whole floor that would reinforce it? See photos of my floor below.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Do you fish ? Are pinholes clean ones, or are of the detereoration fabric type or like tiny bites ? A thick paint coating probably will work, or you could glue 1.2 mm pvc fabric trimmed to size on top air deck. PVC comes in rolls.

Happy Boating

 

[frogseatflies]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

I do fish… that was the primary activity. I can't remember any hooks on the floor. It's hard to think that fish would somehow get their mouths in the right angle to bite it… but, yes, they're like tiny and pretty clean holes. Perhaps it's from a fish's dorsal fins as it flops around in the boat (like red snapper)?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Those small pinholes are fish related, spine back bones will puncture almost anything including your hand, place a plastic box or container and put fish there, your air deck will be most pleased..

Happy Boating

 

[frogseatflies]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Interesting and logical thought. If the pinholes are truly fish-related, then I guess they're a sign of my fishing success.

 

[slate1234]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

I fitted a piece of non slip vinyl on top of my air floor (loose) I can remove it when I finished fishing and wash out the boatseems to work ok I have only been out twice since fitting

 

[frogseatflies]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Well done. Did you put it in there on purpose to protect from punctures?
And where did you acquire a large piece of non-slip vinyl?

 

[Sinistre1]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

See my post on your other thread. The vinyl will help but it will NOT prevent certain fish spines.. especially if they are allowed to flop around. I have had fish spines go through leather boots, fishermans boots and other seemingly "impenetrable" materials. If done right, you can push a fish spine through kevlar... it is physics that favors the spine. The spines are strong enough and if introduced at the correct angle they create incredible amounts of pressure at that needle fine tip... the spine as much slides the material out of the way as it does "force" its way through. It is the same principle as how you can stab someone wearing a bullet proof vest. The floor is a very good second line of defense. The first line should be avoidance. Buckets, circle hooks and nets are your allies.

 

[fbpooler]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

The pressure on the end of an object is measured in pounds per square inch. Now imagine if you take the area of the tip of a fin and apply just one pound of pressure. The penetrating force would be exceedingly high.

 

[frogseatflies]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Sinistre1 and fbpooler. Great thoughts and 'points' well made. Thanks.

 

[slate1234]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

I got mine from work it was a cut off its 3mm (1/4'') thickness used in industrial kitchens, it's a pain to cut though lots of Stanley knife blades

 

[Sinistre1]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

If that's the case, i'd say it "should" prevent all but the worst case scenario spine/ hook point encounters. Should go a very long way indeed. that said.. If you can swing it space/ money wise... the buckets, circle hooks, etc.. should give added piece of mind.. especially in areas like the unprotected outside and top of tubes (the floor is only the most likely recipient... the others see their fare share of action, lol).

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

That's why don't like fishing at all from an inflatable, preffer skin diving, you upload just dead fish as opposed to live ones while fishing, which could be bad music for your tubes if unprotected.....

Happy Boating

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Anyone ever use marine carpet on their floor?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Anyone ever use marine carpet on their floor?

Yes, but you'll need to find a good solution too to protect tubes from fish after beeing uploaded alive and still bouncing near or against tubes. Generally U don't fish dead fishes. LOL!!

Happy Boating

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Yes, but you'll need to find a good solution too to protect tubes from fish after beeing uploaded alive and still bouncing near or against tubes. Generally U don't fish dead fishes. LOL!!

Happy Boating

May not be a popular reply, but I do not fish. Just want to cruise the river with the wife and dog.

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

May not be a popular reply, but I do not fish. Just want to cruise the river with the wife and dog.

As long as your dogs nails are trimmed you will be ok

 

[Sinistre1]

Re: Preventative maintenance for inflatable floor? No more pinholes. Help.

Hey chopperbill. .. nothing unpopular about just cruising! !! Getting out on the water is what it's all about regardless the ensuing activities!