The navigation season is coming to an end or you are just getting ready for a long parking lot, and you face the inevitable task of canning your swimming aid. Proper assembly And packing a hard-transced PVC boat is not just a matter of compactness in the garage, it's a matter of durability. Many owners make critical mistakes during the drying phase, leading to mold or, worse, microcracks in the folds of polyvinyl chloride.
The process of dismantling the transom and stacking cylinders has its own technical nuances, which directly affect the service life. PVC materialUnlike inflatable mattresses, boat fabric requires delicate handling, especially in the areas of seams and adjoining rigid elements. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to avoid typical beginner mistakes and professionally prepare the vessel for wintering.
Ignoring the rules of drying the inner surface of the floorboards and cylinders can lead to the fact that for a few months of storage, the material loses its elasticity. The air temperature in the storage room should not fall below +5 ° C and rise above +25 ° C.So, to avoid the warping of the adhesive sutures, let's look at how to turn this time-consuming process into a smooth procedure.
Preparation of the boat for conservation and primary cleaning
Before deflating the cylinders, you need to do a lot of preparation, which is often ignored in a hurry. Residues of mud, sand or fish scales that get between the layers of fabric when folded, work like an abrasive, gradually destroying the structure of the material under pressure. The first thing you should do is rinse the boat with fresh water, even if it was operated in the sea to wash away the salt plaque.
Pay special attention to the area coatboard And the thongs are where the moisture and dirt most often accumulate, and use a soft sponge and specialized PVC care products, avoiding the aggressive chemicals that can dissolve the protective layer, and after washing, you have to leave the boat straightened to dry out completely.
⚠️ Warning: Never use open flames, direct-heated heat guns to dry a boat, or leave it under the scorching sun for long periods of time. Local overheating can lead to irreversible stretching of the fabric and weakening of the adhesive seams.
If you keep the boat assembled during the season, regular cleaning becomes even more important. Dust and fine particles can get clogged into the fabric texture, making it rough and susceptible to contamination. Use a soft-nozzle vacuum cleaner to remove dry dust before wet cleaning.
Dismantling of rigid elements: transom and paioles
The most important step is to extract the rigid elements. The transom board, when inflated, is under a lot of pressure from the sides, and you have to remove it in a certain sequence so that the valves or seams are not damaged, and you start by completely blowing the air out of the cylinders to a state where they only slightly hold shape.
Then you need to carefully disconnect the mounts, if they are designed, and tilt the transom inside the cockpit. You can't pull the board out with a sharp movement, which can lead to cloth pickles on uneven edges. pyeol They also need to be removed, starting from the bow, gradually moving to the stern.
Stringers that give stiffness to the floor often have pointed edges. When removing them, be extremely careful not to scratch the inner surface of the cylinders. It is recommended to use protective gloves, as the edges of aluminum or plywood can be sharp.
☑️ Checklist of dismantling
Technology of proper drying of cylinders and bottom
Many people mistakenly believe that it is enough to wipe the boat with a rag from the outside, but moisture remains not only on the surface, but also in the folds of the fabric, and also between the floorboards and the bottom. The ideal option is to dry in a disassembled form in a shady, well-ventilated place. Direct sunlight of the ultraviolet spectrum destroys the polymer bonds in PVC.
If you can't completely decompose the boat, use the pocket method. Inflate the cylinders partially to straighten the folds, and wipe them from the inside and outside with absorbent fabric that absorbs moisture well. Pay special attention to the area. timber This is the place where the bottom and cylinders are connected, where water stagnates most often.
Drying time depends on humidity and temperature. In dry weather at +20°C, it can take a boat 2 to 4 hours to completely evaporate the moisture. Don't rush to pack the vessel if you feel even the slightest dampness - this is guaranteed to lead to fungus.
Use a car vacuum cleaner in blow mode (if there is such a feature) or a low pressure compressor to expel water from hard-to-reach folds and from under the hinge beam before final drying.
The folding algorithm: avoiding clutter
There are two main ways to fold a PVC boat: the classic (along) and the twisting method. For boats with hard trans and paioles, the classic method is the safest, since it minimizes the number of bends. twisting is only permissible for light single boats without a hard bottom.
You start folding from the nose, you move gradually to the stern. The cylinders should be completely deflated, but not clamped. It is important to make sure that the fabric lies flat, without creating sharp folds in the same places for each package. Periodically change the fold lines so that the load is evenly distributed.
When you put it in your bag, try to spread the volume evenly. Don't push the boat by force, it creates excessive internal stress in the material. If the boat doesn't fit, it's not completely deflated or folded incorrectly.
| Phase | Action. | Risk of error | The error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowing | Consecutive opening of valves | Abrupt deflation | Dust absorption into the valve |
| Tranza | Sloping inwards to the cockpit | Pulling up | Breaking the cylinder seam |
| Paiola | Nose extraction | Pulling overboard | Scratches on the fabric |
| Laying | Stacked straight | Strong pressing. | Deformation of the sutures |
Packaging and storage conditions
Once the boat is folded, it needs to be properly packed, and a native PVC or dense cloth bag is the best option, and don't use plastic bags for long-term storage, because they create a greenhouse effect and prevent the material from "breathe", which promotes condensation.
Keep the boat in a horizontal position or suspended to avoid pressure on the seams. The optimal storage temperature is room. The garage should be heated or well insulated, without sudden temperature changes that cause condensation inside the fabric.
Can I keep the boat in the cold?
Storage at subzero temperatures is possible, but not desirable. PVC becomes brittle in the cold. If there is no other way out, make sure the boat is perfectly dry, and don't touch it until it's warmed. A sudden temperature drop can cause microcracks.
Every few months, it is recommended to check the condition of the package and ventilate the boat, even if it is in a preserved form, which will help to identify possible problems in the early stages.
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
One of the most common mistakes is to store the boat with other heavy objects: you can not put toolboxes, fishing gear or canisters of fuel on the bag, pressure from above can lead to the adhesion of the inner surfaces of the cylinders and the formation of indissoluble folds.
Also, there are cases of storing boats near heat sources: batteries, furnaces, heating appliances. High temperature dries plasticizers in PVC, making the material brittle. The distance to the heating appliances should be at least 1 meter.
⚠️ Warning: Do not keep a PVC boat near solvents, gasoline, oils or acids, and these vapors can negatively affect the strength of adhesive sutures and the elasticity of the fabric, even if there was no direct contact.
Ignoring small punctures before packing is another mistake. Even a pressure cut when folded can turn into a serious hole by next season.
The main enemy of PVC-boats during storage is not cold, but residual moisture and incorrect position (squeezing), which lead to the degradation of the material in 3-4 months of downtime.
Recovery of geometry after wintering
When it's time to open navigation, don't rush to pump the boat to working pressure. After a long storage period, the material may be "stagnant." Let the boat lie flat at room temperature for several hours.
Inflate the cylinders gradually, giving the fabric time to straighten and take on its natural shape. A sharp set of pressure can reveal hidden defects that have formed during storage. Check all valves for leakage with soap solution.
If you notice white marks on the folds (cracks), try to carefully warm these places with a hair dryer (not a building, but a regular hair hair hairdryer) and straighten your hands. In most cases, the elasticity of PVC allows you to eliminate visual defects.
How to remove white stripes on the folds after storage?
The white stripes are the drying areas of the plasticizer in the cliff area, and try applying a PVC repair agent or a regular petroleum petroleum petroleum to the damaged area, and leave it for a few hours, then massage the fabric carefully, often returning the original color and elasticity.
Can I dry the boat with a hairdryer?
You can only use a hair dryer in cold or barely warm air, and a hot jet of air can melt the top layer of the protective layer or disrupt the fabric structure, and you can use natural ventilation.
What if the boat freezes while storing in an unheated room?
It is strictly forbidden to try to defrost the boat by impact or force. Bring it into a warm room and wait for natural thawing. You can't inflate or bend a frozen boat - PVC at low temperatures becomes like glass and bursts.
Do I need to lubricate the valves before storage?
Yes, it is recommended to treat rubber valve seals with silicone lubrication, which will prevent them from drying out and cracking during downtime, and will also ensure leakproofness in the next season.
How do you know if the boat is completely dry?
Put your hand on the inside of the balloon in the seams, and if you feel cold or humid, you need to continue drying, and you can also use indicator paper or just a white dry wipe, pressing it against the fabric for a minute.