A polyvinyl chloride inflatable boat is not just a means of transportation by water, but a complex engineering product that requires proper maintenance. Many owners make the mistake of believing that PVC is “unkillable” and does not require much attention in the off-season.
However, improper wintering can reduce the service life of the boat several times. MaterialsThe hydraulics that make the cylinders and bottoms are sensitive to temperature, ultraviolet and humidity, and ignoring basic conservation rules often results in tissue dissection, oxidation of the seams and loss of sealing.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of preparation boat You'll learn what temperature is best to keep your inventory at and how to avoid mold or musty smells that are extremely difficult to remove.
Preparing the boat for winter storage
The first and most important step is to thoroughly clean the surface, and the mud, the mucus, the mucus, the algae residue, is an aggressive chemical environment that, when exposed to prolonged contact, destroys the protective layer. PVC fabricYou can't leave a boat dirty for the winter.
Use warm water and a soft sponge for washing, and if the contamination is severe, it is allowed to use special detergents for inflatable boats. Never use gasoline, acetone or chlorine-containing solvents to clean PVCAs they dissolve the polymer base of the material, making it brittle.
After washing, you have to dry the product completely, and even a small amount of moisture left in the folds or under the paiola will be the perfect medium for the fungus to reproduce, and it is best to dry the boat in the shade, in the open air, but not in direct sunlight.
- 🧼 Wash all the dirt and salt thoroughly (if you have swam in the sea).
- 🌬️ Dry the cylinders and bottom completely before packaging.
- 🚫 Do not use aggressive household chemicals for cleaning.
- 🔍 Check the valves for sand and debris.
⚠️ Attention: If you dry the boat at home in the bathroom, make sure the room has good ventilation. Residual humidity in the apartment can cause the boat to "suffocate" before even packing into a bag.
Pay special attention to the bottom. If you have a boat with an inflatable floor of NDND, the drying process can take longer, since water often lingers between the layers of fabric. Carefully straighten all the folds and let the product "breathe" for several hours.
Storage conditions: temperature and humidity
The question of where to store an inflatable boat in the winter is a concern for every owner: the ideal place is a dry, dark room with a stable temperature, the optimal range for storing PVC products is from +5 to +25 degrees Celsius.
Sharp temperature changes can cause condensation inside a packed boat, which is fraught with the appearance of mold. garage Or a shed is great if it's heated or at least it's well insulated, and an unheated metal garage is a risky option because of the frost and condensation that happens when the weather changes.
Storage on the balcony is only possible if it is glazed and the boat is not exposed to the sun directly. Ultraviolet is the main enemy of polyvinyl chloride, it starts the process of destruction of the material, making it yellow and brittle.
If you plan to store the boat at temperatures below -15°C, make sure it is not subjected to mechanical stress. PVC loses its elasticity in severe frost, and any careless movement can lead to microcracks.
- 🌡️ Avoid storage near batteries and heating appliances.
- ☀️ Keep the packaging away from direct sunlight.
- 💧 Control the humidity level in the room.
- 🐀 Provide protection from rodents that like to chew cloth.
⚠️ Attention: Do not keep the boat in close proximity to canisters of gasoline, oil or other chemicals. Petroleum vapors can negatively affect the properties of the adhesive and the PVC fabric itself.
Humidity also plays a role: too dry air (less than 40%) can help plasticizers dry out in tissues, and too wet air (more than 80%) can cause microbial growth.
In what state should I keep: inflated or deflated?
There are two main opinions among water-engineers: keep the boat completely blown away or slightly pumped up. Each method has its supporters and opponents, and the choice depends on your capabilities.
Deflated storage saves space, which is critical for small apartment owners, but in this case, the fabric forms deep cloths, and with prolonged storage (more than 4-5 months), microcracks can appear in the folds, which will become noticeable only when pumped next summer.
The myth of "material memory"
There is a popular belief that PVC has a memory and will straighten itself after wintering in a deflated form. This is not quite true. Cloth clogs can indeed crack under air pressure and in the sun, but the microstructure of the polymer at the fold site has already been broken, which reduces the product's life.
Storage in a semi-inflated state (atmospheric pressure 0.2-0.3) is considered more gentle for the material, in this position, the fabric experiences uniform tension, and no cracks form, but this option requires considerable free space.
If you choose the option of storage in a deflated form, try to periodically (every 1-2 months) take out the boat, straighten the folds and change the folds. This will help minimize the load on specific areas of fabric.
- 🎈 Completely blown away - saving space, risk of clutter.
- 📏 Semi-inflatable - preservation of the structure of the tissue, you need a place.
- 🔄 Periodic straightening reduces the risk of damage.
- 📦 The packaging should be free, without strong compression.
Some experts recommend storing transom boats with a transom installed, but not tightened to the end, to avoid deformation of the aft part of the cylinders.
Packaging and protection from external factors
The right packaging is the key to a successful wintering. The standard backpack bag, which comes with a package, is often made of thin material and does not provide adequate protection from dust and moisture. It is better to use a special cover or a dense bag of breathable fabric.
The plastic wrap is not suitable for packaging, because it does not allow air to pass through. If there is even a little moisture in the bag, the plastic boat will bloom with a guarantee of 100%. The fabric must "breathe."
☑️ Checking packaging before winter
Lay the boat carefully, avoiding getting into the package of foreign objects, pebbles or sand. Even a small grain of sand under pressure can push through the fabric for several months of storage.
If the boat is stored in a garage where drafts or dust are possible, you can additionally wrap the bag in an old sheet or cotton cloth, which will create an additional barrier without disrupting air exchange.
⚠️ Attention: Do not place heavy objects (toolboxes, motors, canisters) on a packed boat. Prolonged pressure can lead to clumping of the inner layers of tissue or deformation of the seams.
To protect against rodents, which often winter in garages and sheds, use repellents or spread strong-smelling substances (mint, special tablets), but do not put them on PVC.
Specifics of storage of boats with NDND and hard bottom
Low-pressure inflatable floor boats (LBBBs) require a more delicate approach, with more complex designs and more contact areas, and cracks on the pyataki (blocks) can be critical.
Hard payload bottoms (aluminum or plywood) also require attention. Aluminum can oxidize when in contact with wet fabric. Before packaging, it is better to wipe the elements of the hard bottom with dry rags and slightly lubricate with protective lubrication.
| Type of boat | Features of storage | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| With sleigh (plywood) | Take off the slate, store it separately, check the lacquer coating. | Plywood swelling, mold. |
| NDNDM (inflatable floor) | It's best to keep it half-inflated. | Valves clumping, joints. |
| With aluminum flooring | Take out the profile, wipe out the moisture. | Metal oxidation, scratches on cylinders. |
| Tranza | Remove the transom or loosen the attachment. | Stern reinforcement deformation. |
Plywood sleighs, if lacquered with sea lacquer, are best kept straightened or vertically so that they do not deform under their own weight. If the lacquer is damaged, the plywood will quickly absorb moisture and swell, spoiling the bottom of the boat.
Tip: Before you put plywood slates in a case, sprinkle them with talc or baby powder, which will absorb the residual moisture and prevent surfaces from sticking together.
Conservation of fittings and accessories
It's not just the fabric that needs maintenance, but the fittings -- valves, handles, liner rings -- are also prone to wear, and the metal elements can rust, and the plastic ones can crack with the cold.
The valves are recommended to be left open (unscrew the spool) to allow air to circulate inside the cylinders during storage, which will prevent the formation of a musty smell.
If the boat has metal elements (such as stainless steel keel protection or aluminum profiles), they should be treated with silicone grease, which will create a protective film that repels water.
- 🔩 Lubricate the threaded connections with silicone.
- 🌬️ Leave the valves open for storage.
- 🧵 Check the condition of the leer cord for rot.
- 🛡️ Treat the metallic linings with anticor.
The remake, which is usually stored with a boat, also needs to be checked. The glue tends to deteriorate. If the glue tube was opened last season, it's likely that by next summer it will have dried or lost its properties.
The main secret of longevity of the boat is not so much the storage place, as the quality of preparation (drying and cleaning) before packaging.
Frequent errors in the storage of PVC boats
Analysis of service center calls shows that 80 percent of spring boat problems are due to winter storage errors, and owners often underestimate the importance of preparation.
One of the most common mistakes is to pack a wet or wet boat in a hurry, and the owner thinks that it will dry out in the bag overnight, but in a confined space, moisture will not disappear, but only create ideal conditions for bacteria.
Another mistake is storage near heat sources: batteries, stoves, heaters overdry PVC, making it brittle, and the material should be stored in conditions close to room temperature, but not in hot sauna mode.
Ignoring rodents is also fatal, and mice and rats can chew through a balloon overnight, and in garages and sheds, this problem is acute, so traps or scarers are a must.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can I keep a PVC boat in the cold?
It is possible to keep the boat at low temperatures, but it is not desirable. PVC becomes fragile at temperatures below -15°C -20°C. If you have to keep the boat in the cold (for example, in an unheated garage), do not touch, bend or shift it until it is fully warmed up to room temperature.
Do I need to lubricate the boat before storage?
Lubricating the entire surface of the boat with special compositions (such as “liquid plastic”) before storage is not necessary, if it is clean. It is enough to treat only metal elements and fittings with silicone lubrication to protect against corrosion.
How often should I check my boat in winter?
Once every 1-2 months, check if there is mold, if the temperature in the room has changed, if there are rodents, if the boat is kept in a deflated state, it is useful to straighten the folds.
What to do if there is a smell of mold?
At the first sign of smell, the boat should be immediately unpacked, thoroughly washed with soap solution, dried and treated with a weak solution of vinegar or special antifungal agents for PVC. After that, completely dry again before packaging.