The process of assembling a boat after fishing often raises more questions than the water itself. flyboat It refuses to take shape in the transom compartment, creating a cumbersome and uncomfortable lump, and it's not just a matter of aesthetics, it's the need to preserve the integrity of the material and extend the life of the product, and the right stacking technology avoids the formation of rigid clamps that eventually turn into microcracks.
There are several proven methods to minimize the volume of the assembled product without compromising its performance. The key here is the sequence of actions and understanding the physics of the behavior of polyvinyl chloride under pressure. If you learn how to properly manage the air flow inside the cylinders, the assembly will take no more than 15-20 minutes, even for an inexperienced user. In this article, we will examine all the nuances, from the choice of location to the final fixation with the belts.
Workplace preparation and method choice
Before you start dismantling and laying, you need to ensure a clean and smooth surface, grass, sand or small stones can become an abrasive that will damage. PVC If you press your knee or foot when you twist, the ideal option is a wooden flooring, a concrete pad or a pre-spread awning. Ignoring the purity of the surface is a direct route to scratching, which in the future may require serious damage. boat-repair.
There are two basic approaches to packaging: rolling and harmonica folding. The first is more traditional and suitable for medium-sized models where uniformity of layering is important. The second is often used for large boats with a hard floor, because it allows better control of position. coatboard The choice of the particular method depends on the design of your model and your personal preferences.
It's also important to consider the temperature of the environment: in the cold, the material becomes stiffer, and sudden movements can lead to crumples; in hot weather, PVC becomes too plastic, and there is a high risk of stretching the seams if you handle it sloppy, and the optimal temperature is between +10 and +25 degrees Celsius.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to fold a wet boat into a sealed bag for long-term storage without first drying. The remaining moisture will cause mold to appear and the adhesive seams to break down.
Air descent and valve operation
You need to start the deflation process from the nose compartment, gradually moving to the stern, which allows you to squeeze the bulk of the air through the open valves as you move. Use a special pump or just press your hands to control the rate of release of air masses. A sharp depressure can lead to the absorption of dust into the balloon through the air. pass-valve.
Special attention should be paid to the "extrusion" technology. Walk through the cylinders from the stern to the nose, driving the residue of air to the open valve. After that, quickly twist the lid, but not to the point, to allow the residual pressure to escape when the temperature changes. Completely sealed valves should be only after the final placement in the bag.
If your model is installed quiltThey need to be blown away last or at the same time as the main cylinder to avoid distortions in the structure, and uneven pressure can create unstressed areas that will be difficult to straighten out the next pump.
What if the valve poisons?
If you hear a hissing when you're blowing, check the integrity of the sealing ring. Often the problem is solved by simply cleaning the thread and grease with silicone, and in extreme cases, you can use a temporary plug from a piece of rubber.
Inflatable flooring and floorboard
Gender is the most time-consuming stage, especially if the system is used. NDMA This floor requires careful alignment before descent, otherwise folds are difficult to remove, and after deflating, the NDND is folded into a separate roll or placed along the side, depending on the dimensions of the bag.
For boats with slate or aluminum floors (floorboards), it is important to follow the dismantling order. First, the central sections are removed, then the side sections. Aluminum profiles should not be thrown or bent, because the deformation will violate the tightness of the docking. Each section is wiped dry before packaging.
When you put floorboards in a bag, try to place them along the walls, creating a kind of frame, which will prevent soft elements from being squeezed by hard metal or wooden parts. Proper weight distribution within the package makes it easier to carry.
☑️ Check before packing the floor
Compact twisting technique
Now, the big question is how to fold the boat compactly. Once the sides are blown away and flat, start twisting from the bow to the transom. The movements should be smooth, without jerking. Try to make the turns as dense as possible, driving the air from under each new layer.
If you use the harmonica method, first fold the boat in half along the diametric plane, combining the cylinders, then start folding the resulting strip across, forming a rectangle, which is good because it allows you to easily fit into the cans and other equipment.
The key is to work with the ears, which you can't just push them in, or they form bumps, and the ends are gently turned inside the main body of the boat before the final twist, and this ensures that the folded product is smoothly cylindrical.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid sharp corners of the transom board or floorboard on the surface of the cylinders when twisting. Use soft fabric or a special lining to insulate sharp edges.
To make it easier to twist in cold weather, you can slightly warm the material with a hair dryer (not a building hair dryer, but a normal hair hair dryer) at a minimum temperature, which will make PVC more elastic.
Set-up and packing in a bag
Once a tight roll or rectangle is formed, the structure must be fixed, using regular fastex belts or conventional slings, tightening it hard, but without fanaticism, so as not to damage the valves, a properly tightened boat does not have to turn itself around.
Laying in sack It's done by pushing and then aligning, and you put the heavy elements in the corners (the anchor, the pump), then the bulk of the boat, and you need to spread the weight so that the center of gravity is shifted to the back when you're wearing a backpack.
Don't fill the bag. If the lightning is hard to disperse, then the volume is exceeded, and you need to regroup the contents. The stretched fabric of the bag will quickly become unusable, and the lightning can burst at the most inopportune moment.
| Element of the boat | Recommended provision | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| inflatable tubes | In the center of the bundle | Protect against punctures |
| transom board | Back of the backpack. | Isolate sharp edges |
| Aluminum floorboards | Along the side walls | Don't bend profiles |
| Pump and refill | In the pockets or on top | Protect from moisture |
Beginners’ mistakes and storage tips
One of the most common mistakes is keeping the boat compressed all year round, and prolonged pressure on the same parts of the material leads to loss of elasticity and the appearance of a memory effect, and periodically, at least once a month, the boat must be laid out and allowed to rest in a straightened form.
Also often ignored is the need to clean the valves of sand and dirt before packaging. Entering abrasive particles on the next pump can damage the sealing gums, which will lead to etching air. silicone lubricant for processing of movable parts of valves.
Keep the assembled boat in suspension or on a shelf, avoiding direct contact with the cold floor of the garage. Temperature changes and humidity are the main enemies of PVC materials. If possible, keep the boat at room temperature.
The main secret of boat durability is not only the correct assembly, but also regular ventilation and storage in the straightened state in the off-season.
Can I dry the boat in the sun?
Short-term drying is acceptable, but prolonged exposure to UV light destroys the structure of PVC and fades the fabric.
How do you remove the stains that have already been formed?
Small crevices often open themselves when pumped and heated in the sun, and you can try to warm the deep deformities with a hair dryer and straighten your hands, but there are no guarantees.
Do I need to lubricate the valves before storage?
Yes, it is recommended to wipe the thread and seal with silicone lubricant so that the rubber does not dry out and the valve opens easily next season.