Winter is not only a time of rest for water bodies, but also a critical period for owners of boats. flyboat The wintering time determines how easily you can go out next spring, and many owners make the mistake of simply blowing the cylinders away and hiding them in a storage room, without thinking about the chemical processes that continue in the materials at low temperatures.
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVCThe material is strong but sensitive to improper maintenance in the off-season. Residues of moisture, dirt or improper pressure in the cylinders can lead to microcracks that will only appear during the first pumping in May. floaterYou need to strictly observe the conservation technology.
In this article, we will take a look at each stage of preparation, from washing to storage location selection. temperature It is more important than it seems at first glance, and what mistakes can cost you the integrity of the seams.
Stages of preparing the boat for winter storage
The first and most important step is to thoroughly clean the surface: mud, silt, fish mucus and residues of fuel and lubricants contain aggressive chemical compounds that can damage the upper protective layer during the winter. PVCThe sink should be carried out immediately after returning from the reservoir, until the contamination has dried up.
Use warm water and soft sponges. You can use PVC cleaners to remove persistent stains, but you can't use solvents, acetone or gasoline. These substances destroy the structure of the polymer, making it fragile. After washing, you need to leave the boat straightened until it is completely dry.
⚠️ Warning: Never use hard brushes or abrasive powders to clean the bottom. Microscopic scratches will become "gateways" to infiltrate moisture and dirt, which will lead to tissue stratification.
Pay special attention to hard-to-reach places: the joints between the cylinders and the transom, the valves and corners. This is where moisture most often accumulates, which when frozen can damage the structure of the material. Make sure that the boat dries not only outside, but also inside if water could get there.
- 🧼 Wash all contaminants with warm water thoroughly using a mild soapy solution.
- 🌬️ Dry the boat in the straightened form in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight.
- 🔍 Examine the surface for minor punctures or scuffs that require repair.
- 🧴 Treat the valves with silicone lubricant to prevent rubber seals from drying out.
☑️ Checklist for winter preparations
Should I leave my boat inflated in winter?
One of the most common questions among owners: swell The answer depends on the conditions you can provide, and inflated storage (at a pressure of 0.2 to 0.3 atm) is considered optimal for maintaining the geometry of the seams and preventing cloth cloth cloth, but it requires sufficient space and a stable temperature.
If you decide to leave cylinders When you go down, you have to remember physics, and when you go down, the air gets compressed and the pressure drops, and when you get cold, you can create a vacuum effect, which can deform the bulkheads, so it's risky to leave the boat completely inflated in an unheated room.
On the other hand, deflated storage saves space, but it creates the risk of dead clutters on the folds. If PVC is folded and left in this position for several months, microcracks can occur in the folding areas. To minimize the risks, you need to blow the boat out correctly without letting out all the air.
There's a compromise, partial blowing, which is that the boat is kept straight, but without the strong tension of the sides, which keeps the shape, but reduces the load on the seams when the temperature changes, and the main thing is to ensure that nothing is pressed on the boat from above.
Requirements for storage space
The choice of location plays a crucial role in the safety of your property: the ideal option is a dry, dark room with a constant temperature from +5 to +20 degrees Celsius, a garage, shed or storeroom in the apartment is suitable if humidity and light conditions are met.
UV radiation is the main enemy of PVC. Even in winter, the sun's rays passing through windows can trigger the process of destruction of the polymer, making it brittle, so the boat must be safely covered with a light-tight material or stored in a factory case, which, in turn, must also be protected from direct light.
| Type of room | Temperature conditions | Humidity | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment. | Stable (+18...+22°C) | Normal. | Perfect, but it takes a place. |
| garage | Variable (-10...+10°C) | Medium | Insulation or cover is required |
| balcony | Street. | High. | Not recommended (risk of UV and moisture) |
| Basement | Low (+5...+10°C) | High. | Only with good ventilation. |
It is important to avoid proximity to heat sources such as heating batteries, furnaces or heating appliances. Local overheating can cause material to deform or even melt glue in the seams.
Can I keep the boat in the cold?
Storage at subzero temperatures is possible, but undesirable. PVC becomes brittle in the cold. Any mechanical impact (for example, if something falls on the boat) can cause a rupture. If there is no other way out, pack the boat in a tight box or case and do not touch until spring.
Packaging and protection against rodents
Rodents are another serious threat to abandoned boats. Mice and rats often use soft, warm PVC fabric to build nests, gnawing holes in cylinders. Even if the boat is stored in the apartment, the risk of damage exists, especially if there are pets or food stocks in the house.
Use sealed bags or special storage bags to protect you, but before packing, make sure the boat is completely dry, locked inside moisture will create a greenhouse effect that promotes mold and fungus, which corrodes the fabric, and you can put silica gel bags in the bag.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use conventional plastic bags from the supermarket without ventilation holes unless the boat is perfectly dry.
If you keep a boat in a shed or a garage where rodents are found, put the repellents next to you, which can be ultrasonic devices, rags moistened with essential oil mint, or special chemical means. Mechanical protection, such as lifting a boat on a shelf or hanging, is also effective.
- 📦 Pack the boat in a breathable cloth case or a special bag from the kit.
- 🐀 Use rodent repellents if storage takes place in a non-residential room.
- 💧 Add silica gel bags inside the package to control humidity.
- 🚫 Avoid using a sealed film if there is a risk of residual moisture.
Conservation of transmutation and fittings
Tranza boards are often made of water-resistant plywood or plastic, and wood elements are afraid of humidity changes, which can dry out or swell, causing deformation and impaired sealing of the cylinders. Plastic transists are more resistant, but also require maintenance.
Metal accessories -- anchor rings, oar holders, fasteners -- need to be lubricated. Water that gets into threaded joints expands when it freezes and can split metal or plastic around it. Use lithium lubricant or special sprays like WD-40 to protect against corrosion.
If your model has a boat in it. bottom (BND) or keel, they're subject to the same rules as cylinders, but the bottom is more likely to come into contact with water and dirt, so it needs to be cleaned with double scrutiny. Check the valves on the keels, they need to be covered with protective caps.
Remove the squirrel board from the boat before storage, which will reduce the load on the mounts and allow you to evenly dry the docking places of wood and fabric.
Check the condition of the boat regularly, about once a month, even if it is packed, a visual inspection will help you notice condensation, mold or traces of rodent activity. Prevention is always cheaper than repair.
Typical mistakes in wintering PVC boats
Many owners step on the same rake, wasting time and money on rebuilding. wet or wet boat storage in rolled-up formIt's a guaranteed way to get mold all over the surface and the smell of rot that's almost impossible to get rid of.
The second mistake is drying in the cold or in direct sunlight, and the rapid freezing of the remaining water in the pores of the fabric destroys its structure, and the sun, even in winter, burns the paint and makes the plastic brittle, and the boat must dry slowly, at room temperature.
The third mistake is to use the wrong cleaning products, and aggressive chemicals, solvents, gasoline, to remove the oil stains, leave microcracks on the surface, and within a few months, this material will begin to delaminate.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to accelerate drying with a hair dryer or fan heater. Local overheating of PVC above +40 C can lead to irreversible deformation and disruption of adhesive sutures.
Ignoring minor damage is also fatal: A puncture left unattended for winter, exposed to cold and residual pressure, can increase in size; it is better to seal a boat in the fall than to look for a leak site in the spring in a rush before the season.
The main rule of wintering: cleanliness, dryness and lack of direct sunlight guarantee a long service of your boat.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can I keep an inflatable boat on the balcony in winter?
Storage on an open balcony is highly undesirable, and the boat will be exposed to ultraviolet light, temperature changes, moisture and dust, which will lead to rapid aging of PVC and microcracks. If there is no other way out, use a dense, opaque and waterproof case, as well as a protective box.
At what temperature can PVC crack?
High-quality PVC retains elasticity up to -30 ° C, but with a sharp mechanical impact (impact, bending) can burst even at -10 ° C. The danger is not so much the temperature itself, as a combination of cold and physical exertion on the material.
Do I need to get the boat up during the winter?
If the boat is kept in a warm room in an inflated state, the pressure may change slightly due to temperature fluctuations in the room. Just check the pressure once a month. If the boat is stored in the cold, pumping is usually not required, since the air is compressed.
How to remove the smell of mold from the boat after winter?
Use special PVC cleaners or a weak vinegar solution. Rub the surface thoroughly, then rinse with water and dry. Do not use chlorine-containing products, they can damage the material.
How long does a PVC boat last if stored properly?
The average service life of a high-quality boat made of five-layer PVC, subject to all rules of operation and storage, is 10-15 years. Violation of wintering rules can reduce this period by two or more times.