How to choose an inflatable boat?
Fishermen begin to take care of buying a boat even in winter or at the beginning of summer. The boat is an important purchase that should last for a long time. Therefore, the attitude to this issue should be responsible, especially since a lot of money needs to be allocated for such a purchase. Getting rid of a craft that turned out to be unsuitable for you is difficult enough - this product is not so popular. But a properly selected boat will last a long time if you follow the necessary operating rules.
Today, for the manufacture of inflatable boats, the most common materials are PVC and hipalon, respectively, and boats are divided into two types according to the material of manufacture.
Hipalon boats
Hipalon boats are durable and reliable. Hipalon is a type of artificial rubber that has good waterproofing characteristics. This material is very resistant to various environmental influences. The inner surface of the hipalon boat is lined with neoprene, which is separated by a fabric layer from the main material. This increases the strength of the boat.
PVC boats
PVC boatsFor the manufacture of these boats, a fabric covered with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used. These boats are very lightweight, PVC lends itself well to vulcanization, which is very good for sealing seams. The disadvantages of such boats include certain difficulties in their repair.
If there is a choice - to buy a boat made of PVC or metal, most anglers prefer the first option. With approximately the same seaworthiness, they are much more convenient to transport.
PVC is an elastic and durable material that is virtually unaffected by humid environments. These boats do not need to be thoroughly dried after every fishing trip. True, this material is sensitive to sunlight. The longer the boat is exposed to sunlight, the more PVC will be destroyed. Of course, this process is quite lengthy, and the negative impact will manifest itself gradually. True, in recent years, the production of materials has made significant progress, although it is difficult to say when to expect the appearance of PVC with 100% resistance to sunlight. Therefore, when choosing a PVC boat, it is advisable to give preference to light shades, up to almost white. This color is more resistant to ultraviolet radiation, reflecting most of it.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a boat?
PVC boats are made by a large number of manufacturers, so the wide variety of models and price ranges can be confusing at first. Of course, the ideal option would be to purchase a boat made by a well-known manufacturer. Quality boats are produced by both foreign and domestic companies. Quite good products can be made in China and Korea, if the model is licensed. True, the title will be inappropriate, but the copy can be of very high quality. As for the price, you should focus on the average cost of noteworthy models. If you buy a cheaper boat, the principle will work: "A little cheaper - a little worse." Moreover, the difference in "a little" in price can result in a completely unusable boat, which will serve you for a very short time.
Inflatable or hard floor
Inflatable floorWhat do you need to pay attention to if the store offers you several models of PVC boats that are in an acceptable price range and are about the same cost? First of all, inspect the structure of the deck (floor) of the boat. Usually this will be one of two options - an inflatable bottom (air-deck) or a hard floor. The latter option involves the use of plywood, aluminum or plastic. Each of the options has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on which side they are viewed from. If you usually catch one and only sometimes together, a low-power motor (2-10 hp) is installed on the boat, then the airdeck will be more convenient. Such a boat is easy to assemble (especially alone), while its weight is significantly lower than that of counterparts with a hard floor. A boat with an inflatable bottom is compactly packed in one bag, which makes it easy to transport.
The purchase of a boat with a hard floor is all the more justified, the greater the weight of the cargo and passengers in the boat, and also if it is planned to travel long distances (which provides for the installation of a much more powerful motor). In this case, assembling the boat will not present any great difficulties - after all, you will have a partner with you. On the water, a boat with a hard bottom keeps directional stability better. Unlike a boat with a soft floor, it shakes less. As for the service life, it is higher for boats with a hard floor. In the case of an airdek, there is always a danger that it can be scratched by a stone stuck in the tread of the boot, or burned with an accidentally fallen coal from a cigarette. Airdek is also unsuitable for the planing mode, that is, the boat sliding along the surface of the water. While this problem remains relevant, although the airdek is being developed,
Having opted for a hard floor, the question arises - aluminum, plywood or plastic? The answer to this question has more to do with your taste than with practical differences. With proper exploitation, plywood will also serve for a long time. True, such a floor needs periodic drying, it is also advisable to tint it from time to time with a waterproof varnish.
Inflatable or hard floorOften, fishermen use linoleum, which covers the bottom of the boat. This allows you to solve several issues at once. Firstly, linoleum reliably protects the floor. Secondly, washing the boat after fishing is much easier, because the dirt remains on the linoleum, and not on the bottom. In general, caring for a PVC boat suggests that it must be washed frequently with fresh water using detergents (ordinary household chemicals are fine). A particularly thorough rinsing is necessary before the boat goes into winter storage. Fish slime that gets on the bottom and sides of the boat during fishing attracts rodents with its smell. Mice and rats are very sensitive to such odors, these animals can gnaw large holes in the boat. Often their size is such that the boat is no longer subject to repair. So thorough flushing before wintering is essential. In addition, it is advisable to keep the boat out of the reach of rodents.
Choosing the length of the boat
The next question that arises when choosing a boat is the length of the boat. With approximately the same other characteristics, it is better to take a longer boat. The length increases not only the carrying capacity, but also has a positive effect on the characteristics of planing. So if there is a choice: 300 or 280 cm, then no doubt we choose the first option. True, along with the length, as a rule, the price of the boat also grows, so it will not be possible to accelerate much.
An important point is the ability to glide and how quickly the boat enters this mode. Depending on the model of the boat, the speed of entering the glider will differ with the same parameters of weight and length. You can clarify the details with the consultants in the store, it is also worth asking on the forums on the Internet or from the friends of the fishermen. The aerodynamic performance is particularly influenced by the shape of the inflatable keel.
Having found a suitable model, ask the shop assistants to pump it up and carry out a complete assembly. Inspect the surface - there should be no scuffs or wrinkles on the cylinders, check the quality of the glues. You also need to carefully examine the transom.
It is to the transom that the motor is attached, so it is a very important element in the boat. It is not recommended to take a boat to which the transom is glued with pieces of PVC. A better option is when special rubber pads are glued to the transom, which are directly glued to the cylinders. These pads are capable of dampening vibration that occurs when the motor is running, so this transom will last longer. Most manufacturers use this transom mounting system.
PVC boat operation
It is quite difficult to pump up the boat with a regular "frog" pump up to the passport pressure. You need to pump with such a pump as long as it is physically possible. This pumping is sufficient to drive without any problems on a medium power motor. If you decide to hang the motor more powerful, exceeding the one laid down by the instructions, then even a slight under-pumping will lead to excessive vibration during movement on the water surface, as well as bending of stringers (floor fasteners). Therefore, it is better to immediately purchase a two-way pump, if possible, with a pressure gauge. With its help, it is easy to inflate the cylinders to the desired pressure. Without a pressure gauge, the pressure can be checked by pressing on the cylinder with your thumb - this should practically not bend. On a hot sunny day, the air in the cylinders can heat up, so it is better to under-pump them a little.
Registration and license plates
Before going out on the water, it is imperative to register the boat with the State Inspection Service. There you will be given numbers that need to be applied on the sides of the boat, as well as in some hidden place. A number in a hidden place is protection from thieves, not a whim of the GIMS. As a rule, the hidden number is applied to the bottom under the floorboard. The height of the numbers and letters of the numbers on the sides must be at least 10 cm. You can use plastic stickers, waterproof paints for this. You can add a little PVC glue to the paint - if you need to sell the boat in the future, the number can be easily erased. You can also use a black marker. The GIMS rules stipulate that the boat will always have a set of equipment prescribed in the passport of the floating craft.
findings
Summarizing the above, we can conclude that the best option for a boat with an airdeck would be 280-330 cm in length. In order to carry a boat of this length with 1-2 fishermen, a 4-10 hp engine is enough. If you expect to carry more than 2 passengers and cargo, then the length of the boat should be 330-390 cm. Longer length (360-390 cm) is preferable, then the boat will glide even at low speed.
For a large boat, it is better to immediately purchase a normal power motor. There are many cases when, having decided to save money now, fishermen bought a motor of only 6-8 hp. Planning to replace it with a more powerful one when funds become available. As a result, after 1-2 years, such a motor was sold for only 60-70% of the initial cost, and a new powerful motor remained unavailable, since the price increased significantly as a result of inflation. Therefore, a powerful motor is much more expensive, here, as they say, you have to pay twice for stinginess.
Have a nice shopping!