Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

[Telecaster]

Hi all...first post. I have a MKIIC and yesterday a wake from a large boat caused my front end to dip under and rise into my dock. It pulled part of a patch away and now it's leaking. Not only is the front tube losing air, but the main side tube are also going down (though much slower). None of this was happening until yesterday's incident. My question is in the subject. Would the losing air from the front tube also cause the main side tubes to deflate? I thought they were independent totally, but perhaps I'm wrong. Thanks for any advice.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

The tubes are connected with a baffle between each section. Chances are the force caused a rupture along common section of the seam. How old is the boat?

 

[Telecaster]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

It's a 1996 model. I had the two side tubes fully inflated, so the pressure forward when the front tube deflated probably pushed through the baffle? Is the baffle primarily a safety feature to keep the boat afloat in case of a leak? Fixing the patch should allow me to inflate and use the boat? Or need I repair the baffles?

 

[likalar]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Actually, the tubes are independent and dependent at the same time. When the frontal tube lost its air, that allowed the next section's baffle to bulge forward (expand), thereby reducing the pressure in that good section. The result is that it feels like the boat has lost air in the good sections, though, in reality, they have lost no air at all; they have just lost pressure. Do this test: Add more air (pressure) to the good sections so that they are fairly firm (but not hard). Check back in a few hours. I'm guessing the only repair to make is to that front tube damaged by the dock. Good luck. Of course, if the next section actually looses air over a few hours, then the info above will be no help at all. Let us know how it turns out.

Larry

 

[Telecaster]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Actually, the tubes are independent and dependent at the same time. When the frontal tube lost its air, that allowed the next section's baffle to bulge forward (expand), thereby reducing the pressure in that good section. The result is that it feels like the boat has lost air in the good sections, though, in reality, they have lost no air at all; they have just lost pressure. Do this test: Add more air (pressure) to the good sections so that they are fairly firm (but not hard). Check back in a few hours. I'm guessing the only repair to make is to that front tube damaged by the dock. Good luck. Of course, if the next section actually looses air over a few hours, then the info above will be no help at all. Let us know how it turns out.

Larry

Thanks Larry...this helps me visualize it much better. The only concern I have is that one side is much lower than the other (like maybe one side's baffle is leaking). Tomorrow morning if the front tube and the one side is totally flat...that will confirm. Either way, if I fix the faulty patch, will I still be able to use the boat okay? Thanks again.

 

[likalar]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Either way, if I fix the faulty patch, will I still be able to use the boat okay? Thanks again.

Yes, if by fixing the old patch the boat holds good air, then you are good to go. But if you do somehow conclude that a baffle has a leak, just keep that in mind when using the boat. If it's a small baffle leak, no problem. But if the baffle leak (if there is one) turns out to be a fast leak, then you have to remember that the reason for the baffles is mostly for safety's sake. Keep us posted; I'm curious if replacing the patch does the trick. Also, once in a while, use soapy water to see if your fill valve caps are leaking. Sometimes the o-rings get tired and need a bit of cleaning, lubing or replacing. And make sure you do a top job replacing that patch. Good luck with the project. That MKll is a great boat; I have lots of good memories of ours (long ago).
Larry

 

[ssobol]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

I have a Zodiac Pro II 470 with new tubes (tubes received in Jan '11). I have also noticed what seems to be interconnection between the tube chambers.

My set should have 4 chambers. It has 4 valves. I have noticed that when I release air pressure in one compartment an adjacent section also seems to lose pressure. I realize that there is some mechanical cross talk between the tubes that can show up as a pressure loss (i.e. if one section loses pressure the baffle can expand into the low compartment which will lower the pressure in the pressurized portion). However, recently I released the pressure in one section to do some work on the boat (provide clearance to drill into the console). I noticed that the entire side of the boat which had the section which I released pressure was down. The entire side was at the same pressure (by feel). The other side of the boat was still firm.

When I was done with the console, I just had to pump up one of the two tube sections on that side of the boat to get the entire side back up to normal pressure.

The tubes are new and there are no external patches, so it appears that the internal tube bulkhead between the chambers is blown.

Earlier I deflated the tubes of the boat to look at the slot where they attach to the boat. When I inflated the right side of the boat there was a noticeable bulge in the tube near the internal baffle. There was also a feeling in that vicinity that part of the tube was thicker than other portions. It felt like something with an irregular shape was inside the tube pushing out. I let the air out and pumped up the that side of the boat again and everything seemed normal (no bulge, nothing pushing out).

When I pump up the boat I use a foot pump and try to pump up the sections evenly (except for the last time mentioned above). I don't know what the shop I got the boat from use to pump them up. but they probably have some sort of power driven pump. I wonder if they blew the baffle between these tube chambers.

Since the boat holds air fine, I don't know if this is worth making an issue of this with the boat shop. It is and hour and a half away.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Check each baffle/tube independently, inflate under shade, garage each tube to at least 2.0 psi with pressure gauge, leave for some hours, re check with gauge if has lost pressure, deflate, leave air valve open, continue with next chamber test and so on...

Happy Boating

 

[Telecaster]

Update!

Update!

This morning when I got up, the front tube was extremely low...also both side tubes were low to the point the transom was depressing the tube quite a bit. I pumped up the front tube using a Bravo 10 (low pressure outlet) and noticed that when I got the front tube tightened up, the two side tubes were equally as tight (I do not have a gauge). I don't know if that means my baffles are leaking, but common sense tells me they are and the air just passes through each tube. I still have to deflate to patch, so I'll know more when I do that.

As a side note, according to the dealer, he said an easy way to inflate is to use a shop vac which won't over inflate the tubes, and then top off with the Bravo 10. I lost a transom reglue in 2 years because I was running under inflated.

 

[Telecaster]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Also, once in a while, use soapy water to see if your fill valve caps are leaking. Sometimes the o-rings get tired and need a bit of cleaning, lubing or replacing.Larry

I do this at the beginning and end of each season. A couple years ago I found a speed tube leak that way. What a bugger that was. I ended up finding a set a guy had special ordered for a customer who never came to get them He let me have them for $250. Best money I ever spent because I could never get them to stop leaking.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

If the tubes all have 3.5 psi and one ruptures.....The rest do NOT become soft. The baffle does not move much, so you should see only the smallest decrease in adjacent tube pressure. You might have a seam failure, you might have a baffle failure, you might have...Any kind of failure. But, baffle movement is not the problem. Also, keep in mind your boat is a 15 year old PVC model. It's at the end of it's life cycle ( you must have taken care of it to last this long) and seam adhesion failure is something that you need to get used to.

 

[Telecaster]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Do this test: Add more air (pressure) to the good sections so that they are fairly firm (but not hard). Check back in a few hours.
Larry

I took the boat out today, deflated the front tube, and then firmed up the side tubes. The left side is losing air through the baffle, the right tube is holding all air. The baffle moves much further than I though it would, you can feel it through the deflated front tube. Thanks for the advice. I should get my glue by courier tomorrow and will patch the tube over the weekend. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Another member said my boat is at the end of it's life...is that really true. I was expecting it to last much longer.

 

[likalar]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

Another member said my boat is at the end of it's life...is that really true. I was expecting it to last much longer.

There are so many factors in the lifespan of any inflatable. Did it spend its life in the sun, tethered to a sailboat in the Caribbean? Was it kept indoors, cleaned often, and treated with the correct protectant? I sold a white Zodiac Pro RIB that was over 12 years old and looked as good as the day I bought it. It was well cared for, stored in a garage, etc...I used it only 15-20 times per year. The fabric was treated with 303 every third outing. No tears, bubbles, splits. It's still in use in San Jose area, and should last quite awhile, with care. I'm not bragging, but just saying that the lifespan depends on many factors. Good luck with the repair.

Larry

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

According to my inflatable experience I'll second what Likalar states, seems there are people out there that have stronge issues with passed years, the end of it's life cycle doesn't mean the end of that particular inflatable if cared for.

Happy Boating

 

[Telecaster]

Re: Zodiac Tubes totally Independent?

I patched yesterday and followed directions the best I could. I let the boat sit 24 hours and just filled it with air. I checked for leaks...all seems good, looks good, holds air. I'll let it sit for a couple hours and then put it back in the lake.