Open water season passes unnoticed, and there comes a time when your favorite boat needs to be prepared for winter storage. For inflatable boat owners, this process often turns into real torture, especially for models with rigid rigid water. floor-layer And it's a massive transom panel, and the wrong packaging not only takes up space in the garage, but it also creates critical PVC cavities that can depressurize the seams over time.
Many beginners make the same mistake, trying to force all the elements into the bag, ignoring the temperature regime and the sequence of actions. PVCThe rods that make cylinders become rigid and brittle at low temperatures, and when flexed improperly lose their strength specifications. In this article, we will discuss a proven algorithm of actions that will allow you to lay the boat compactly, maintaining the integrity of the structure for many years of operation.
Well, the watercraft starts to be properly preserved long before you pick up the case, and it's a set of measures that include drying, cleaning, and folding geometry. flyboat It's important to understand the physics of materials and the logic of assembly, not just mechanically repeating the movements.
Preparation for packaging: cleaning and drying
The first and most important step is to completely remove moisture and contaminants, and to leave the boat wet is to ensure that there is mold, bad smell and, worst of all, oxidation of the adhesive seams. reinforced PVCWhen frozen, it expands and can microscopically damage the structure of the tissue, which will become noticeable only next spring.
Particular attention should be paid to the bottom and places of fastening coatboardAnd that's where the most common things that accumulate are sand and fine mud, which act like an abrasive, and if you fold a boat full of sand inside, next time you pump it, these little bits can push through the material or damage the sealed layer.
⚠️ Warning: Never use aggressive chemicals or solvents to clean cylinders. Conventional water and soft soap are your best friends floater.
Drying should take place in the shade, away from direct sunlight. Ultraviolet breaks down the stabilizers in polyvinyl chloride, making the material matte and brittle. The process can take from several hours to a day, depending on the humidity of the air.
Use microfiber to wipe hard-to-reach places between cylinders - it absorbs moisture better than regular rags, and leaves no pile.
Dismantling of hinged elements and transom
Before you start blowing the cylinders, you need to extract all the rigid elements of the structure. plywood The transomb board is inserted into special pockets, and you need to remove it carefully so that you do not scratch the inner surface of the pockets with sharp plywood angles.
If additional accessories are installed on your boat, such as rod holders, sonar or anchor systems, they should also be dismantled. Metal parts can oxidize and stain the fabric, and plastic mounts can crack under the pressure of rolled-up cylinders. transom board It often has a lacquer coating that needs to be protected from chips.
- 🛶 Carefully remove the tanning board from your pockets, supporting it on both sides.
- 🔧 Remove all removable brackets and holders by folding small bolts into a separate package.
- 🧹 Wipe the mounting places with rags to remove any remaining moisture and dirt.
It is better to store rigid elements separately from the cylinders, laying them with a soft cloth. PVC During transportation or storage in a cramped garage.
Air descent and valve operation
Deflation requires consistency, you can't just open all the valves at once, because it can lead to uneven compression and unwanted folds in unpredictable places, starting at the bow, gradually moving to the stern.
It's important to use the right valve mode. flyboat Frog or Bayard valves are often installed, and to release the bulk of the air, you press the central patch, and to remove the residues, you drown it completely in the open position.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use electric pumps in pumping mode for final deflation. High flow rate can damage the inner membrane of the valve or suck dust into the cylinder.
Once the valve is opened, you need to walk through the cylinder with your hands or kneel (the shoes should be clean!) to expel the air. The air left inside can expand when the temperature changes and create excess pressure in the packaged form, which will negatively affect the seams.
Technology of laying floor and transmolina
This is the most critical part of the whole procedure: the hard elements, the floorboards and the transom, should not be in the same plane as the cylinders when they are finished, because they create stress points. There are several schools of stacking, but the most safe is considered the method of sandwiching or separate stacking.
If you use a method where the transom and floor are stacked inside the rolled-up cylinders, make sure that between the hard plywood and the stainless plywood. PVC You have a pad. You usually use the cover, the backpack, or a specially carved piece of fabric, and the sharp edges of the plywood don't have to touch the cylinders.
☑️ Proper installation of rigid elements
Some boat models would require flooring on top of deflated cylinders before the final twist. plywood It should be perfectly smooth, without protruding elements that could push the material when compressed.
Balloon folding algorithm
There are two main ways of folding: harness twisting and accordion folding. For boats with transom and hard flooring, the harmonica method is often preferred, since it allows for a more compact placement of rigid elements inside the structure.
Start with the nose. Turn the nose inward, then fold the right and left cylinders to the center, so that they lie parallel to each other or one on top of the other, depending on the width. Move to the stern, making folds 20 to 30 cm wide.
| Phase | Action. | Important nuance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folding of the nose | Turn inside 10-15 cm |
| 2 | Combination of sides | Cylinders must not be twisted. |
| 3 | Floor laying | Strictly centered, no displacement |
| 4 | Final twisting | The stern part is turned last. |
Every time you fold, try to avoid sharpened cliffs in the same place, if you stack the boat in the same line every season. reinforcement You can get thin in this place, and you can move the fold line by a couple of centimeters on each package.
Why can't you twist the boat tight?
Too tight twisting creates a constant stress in the material of the cylinders, and when stored in a warm room, the air inside can expand, and the pressure will rupture the seams or valve.
Fixing and packing in a bag
Once the boat is formed into a compact roll or rectangle, it needs to be fixed, using regular belts with plastic or metal fasteners, do not tighten the belts "to the point" - just fix the shape so that the boat does not sprawl.
The bag must be free, and if the boat is entering the case with great difficulty, it must be folded incorrectly or there is debris in the bag. The trunk section When assembled, it is the heaviest, so it is better to place it closer to the back if you plan to carry a boat in a backpack.
- 🎒 Unbutton the bag completely so that it does not interfere with the stacking.
- 🧱 Place the rolled-up boat on a flat surface before entering the bag.
- 👐 Push the boat gently, spreading the folds of the bag on the sides.
It is important to check that the bag does not get foreign objects that could pierce. PVC When transporting, zip the zipper carefully, avoiding biting the fabric.
Storage and conservation conditions
The ideal place to store an inflatable boat is a dry, dark room with a temperature of +5 to +20 degrees Celsius. A garage, storage room or insulated balcony will be great, the main thing is to exclude contact with rodents that can chew the fabric, and direct sunlight.
It is not recommended to keep the boat in compressed condition under heavy loads. Prolonged pressure can lead to deformation. polyvinyl chloride And the appearance of a "memory effect" when the material ceases to spread during pumping.
Every 2-3 months, check the condition of the boat, you can slightly open the valve to make sure there is no condensation, and ventilate the product, which will prolong the life of the glue and fabric.
Proper storage at temperatures above +5°C and without direct sunlight increases the life of the PVC boat by 30-40%.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I roll up a PVC boat in the cold?
It is strictly not recommended to manipulate the rolled-up boat at temperatures below -5 ° C. The material becomes brittle, and the risk of microcracks on the folds or damage to the valve increases many times. If necessary, bring the boat into a warm room for at least a few hours.
Do I need to completely blow the boat away before storage?
Yes, for long-term storage, the boat must be completely blown away, the air left behind can contain moisture that is preserved inside, which will lead to mold, and the differences in atmospheric pressure can inflate the cylinders in the heat.
How often should you change the folding position when packing?
It is advisable to change the fold line every 2-3 uses, this will prevent the formation of a persistent fold, which over time can become a place of rupture. reinforcementJust move the cylinders relative to each other by a few centimeters.
Can I keep the boat in a pumped state?
Short term (a week or two) -- you can, if the space permits. But for seasonal storage, it's a bad option. Constant stress on the material causes it to stretch (fatigue) and after a few seasons the boat can lose its geometry and rigidity.