The operation of the inflatable boat does not end the moment you get to the shore. Proper packaging The inflatable boat is a critical step in the longevity of the material and the safety of the structure on the next trip to the water. PVC boats They make the mistake of trying to shove a wet and dirty vessel into a bag all the time, which leads to the formation of cracks, cracks and mold.
The collection process requires patience and a certain sequence of actions, and unlike assembly, where the main thing is to inflate the cylinders, the key factor here is the need to be a part of the process. dehydration If you want your boat to last for decades, you need to learn the techniques to turn a bulky structure into a neat bundle that fits easily into a regular backpack.
In this article, we'll take a look at all the nuances of preparation, drying and final stowage, why you can't roll the boat into the cold, how to avoid the formation of bubbles of air when you fold, and what tools can facilitate this process. Proper storage is the key to the next time you'll be fishing or resting, not swatting punctures.
Preparation of the boat for packaging: drying and cleaning
Before you think about how to fold a boat compactly, you have to make sure it's fully prepared for this process. The most common mistake is packing wet stuff. water and moisture in the pores of the tissue during prolonged storage provoke the development of fungus and mold, which destroy the structure PVC material Even if the boat seems dry to the touch, moisture can lurk in the seams and folds.
Start by thoroughly cleaning the surface of sand, silt and algae. Abrasive particles trapped inside the folds when folded act like sandpaper, rubbing the cloth with each compression. After washing, let the boat dry completely in the straightened state, preferably in the shade, as direct sunlight can damage. polymer.
⚠️ Warning: Never pack a wet boat in a sealed bag for long-term storage, guaranteed to cause unpleasant odor and break the adhesive seams.
If there is no time for full natural drying, you can use soft absorbent rags or special wipes for care. plastic-carTo remove moisture from the surface, pay special attention to the area around you. valve And the squirrels, where the water stagnates most often.
Dismantling of hinged elements and transom
The next step is to free the structure from all removable elements. The trawl (back wall) is the heaviest and stiffest element, so it must be removed first. In most models, it is fixed in special slots or attached with belts; gently unfasten the locks and remove the locks. plywood.
Once you've extracted the transom, you can take the cans, they can be inflatable or rigid, they can be completely blown away, and the hard ones can be removed from the grooves. stringer If you have a boat model that you want them to be, these elements are inserted into pockets on the bottom and they give the whole structure a stiffness.
- 🛶 Remove the transom by freeing the latching belts or pulling from the grooves.
- 🪑 Remove the cans and remove them separately, having previously blown off if they are inflatable.
- 🔩 Pull the stringers out of your pockets, starting at the center.
- 🧹 Check if there are any foreign objects (hooks, gear) inside the boat.
Wet plywood in a closed bag will quickly wriggle and lose its load-bearingIf the elements are wet, it is better to dry them separately from the boat itself.
Lubricate the wooden elements of the transom and cans with special impregnations for the tree once a season to protect them from moisture and rotting.
Air descent: sequence and technique
The right air descent is half the success of compact packaging, and if you unscrew all the valves in a random way, you'll see the boat become a shapeless pancake, and you can't get the air out of it. sequencewhich manufacturers are recommended to adhere to flyboat.
Start with the bow compartment, then move to the sides, and only at the very end to the keel (if it is inflatable), which allows you to maintain some rigidity of the structure until the last moment, which facilitates the process of extrusion of air. Unscrew the valve lid, but do not remove the mechanism itself, unless it requires replacement.
To quickly remove the bulk of the air, you can gently kneel on the cylinders, moving from the valve to the opposite edge, but you need to do this with or without soft shoes so as not to damage the valve. reinforcement Sharp jumping or the use of sharp objects to squeeze out air is strictly prohibited.
⚠️ Attention: When you descent in the cold season, do not allow a sharp temperature drop inside the cylinder, this can lead to condensation. Act gradually.
Pay special attention to the keel, and if you have a boat with an inflatable keel, it should be lowered last when the sides are already lying, and this will allow you to squeeze the air out of the center as efficiently as possible, making the curling more dense and smooth.
Turning the boat: step-by-step instructions
Now, the most important thing is to roll, and there are several methods, but the most effective way to put it in a bag is to "envelope" or to twist it in sequence, and to put the boat on a flat, clean surface upwards, which will remove the excess water and dirt, and also make it easier to access the valves.
Wrap the sides inwards, towards the central axis of the boat. They should lie flat, without any big folds. If the boat is wide, you can fold the sides overboard. Then start twisting the boat from the bow to the transom (or vice versa, depending on where the valve is to exit the residual air).
☑️ Checklist of winding-up
And as you twist it, you'll notice that there are pockets of air inside, and you'll stop periodically and blow the air through the valves, opening them, and you'll get the maximum density of the convolution. Tightness The packaging directly affects the size of the final convolution.
When the roll is formed, turn the edges (the nose and the transom) to the center so that the length of the convolution corresponds to the dimensions of the bag. Often manufacturers make bags with a margin, but the correct stacking allows you to reduce the volume by one and a half times.
What if the boat doesn’t fit into the bag?
If you've been doing all the manipulations, you can try to change the sequence of the transom and the cans, and sometimes you'd better put them first on the bottom of the bag and put them on top of the boat, or you can spread them out on the sides. Don't use force, it can damage the seams.
Packing in the bag and fixing the cargo
The final step is to put the rolled-up boat in a shipping bag, and it's not just to stuff the PVC product, but to distribute the weight and volume evenly, and the bags tend to be the heaviest and hardest elements, the transom and the cans, which creates a stable base.
Place the rolled-up boat over rigid elements. If the kit has a pump, belts or anchor, they are better placed on the sides of the main bundle or in special pockets of the bag, if they are provided by the design. The main thing is to avoid a situation where the sharp angle of the transom or the leg of the can presses on the side of the main bundle. PVC during transportation.
| Element | Place of laying | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Tranza | At the bottom of the bag or in a separate compartment | The heaviest element requires reliable fixation |
| Inflatable boat | Central part | It should be flat, without any distortion. |
| Banks and stringers | On either side of the boat or on top | Use as struts for the shape of the bag |
| Pump and belts | In the pockets or on top | Do not touch the sharp corners of the transom |
Once you have been laid, fasten the zipper. If the bag has screed belts, be sure to tighten them, which will prevent the load from bolting inside and reduce the total volume of the backpack, which is especially important when carrying long distances. Compactness In this case, it is not just convenience, but also safety during transportation.
Common mistakes in the packaging of the boat
Even experienced anglers sometimes make mistakes that eventually lead to property damage, one of the most common is packing the boat with the sand, and the smallest grains of sand left on the fabric, when folded, act as an abrasive, rubbing it. reinforcement And it breaks the sealing of the seams.
Another common mistake is to be too zealous when folding, and some people try to shove a boat into a smaller bag using force, which creates a constant strain on the material, leading to seam strain and microcracks. PVC It is elastic, but has a limit of strength to break and break.
- 🌡️ Packing a hot boat (immediately after drying in the sun) leads to condensation inside.
- 🐈 Leaving the boat unattended while drying in nature (risk of animal damage).
- 🧼 Use aggressive chemicals to clean before packaging.
- 📦 Storage in a compressed state all year round without periodic straightening.
Also worth mentioning is the mistake of keeping a boat near heating appliances or in the direct sun when packaged, and high temperatures can lead to the "aging" of plasticizers in PVC, making the material brittle. The optimal storage temperature of the folded boat is from +5 to +25 degrees Celsius.
⚠️ Warning: Do not keep the boat rolled up for more than 3-4 months without a layout. Once a season, it is recommended to inflate the boat and keep it in this state for several days to straighten the folds.
Regularly straightening the boat in the off-season prevents the formation of a “memory effect” (the effect of memory of folds), maintaining the elasticity of the material.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I keep a PVC boat in a rolled-up state in winter in an unheated garage?
Yes, but with limitations, the temperature should not fall below -20..-30 degrees (depending on the quality of PVC), before packaging the boat should be completely dry.
How to remove the wreckage on the boat after long storage?
The crevices are the places where the material has deformed. To remove them, the boat needs to be completely inflated and left in a warm room (at room temperature) for 1-2 days. Warm air will help the material to spread. In some cases, careful warm-up with a hairdryer (at least 20 cm) helps, but this requires caution.
Do I need to lubricate the valve before packaging?
No special valve lubrication is required if it is in good working order, but before packaging, make sure that the threads and sealing gums are clean and there is no sand on them, and the mud in the thread can lead to leaky valves in the next operation.
What to do if the boat bag is broken?
You don't want to try to sew the bag with regular threads, because the load is high, you'd better buy a universal PVC boat case or sew a new one of durable fabric like Oxford with water repellent impregnation. It's important to keep the dimensions so that the boat goes in tightly.