Transporting an inflatable boat is always a balance between convenience and safety. Inflatable boat owners often face a choice: drag a boat on the roof of a car, drag it on the ground in a piece of water or buy a specialized trailer. The latter is becoming increasingly popular due to its reliability and ease of loading. However, the key element here is the load-bearing structure on which the hull rests.
The market offers different solutions, but flat-trailer For a boat, PVC is one of the most gentle options for an inflatable cylinder. Unlike rigid metal keels, pads are supports covered with a soft but durable material, which allows you to distribute the weight of the vessel over a larger area, minimizing point pressure, understanding the principles of the suspension will help avoid expensive repairs of cylinders in the future.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the design features, compare them with alternatives, and give you practical tips for setting up. A well-chosen and adjusted trailer will prolong your life. PVC boat And we'll go back years and years and years and still have a sealed look, and let's look at why this is the type of support that experienced water-engineers often choose for long trips to the water.
Construction and operation of lodgings
The basis of any support system is a metal frame, usually made of a profile pipe, on which the frame is attached the pads themselves - long bars or pipes covered with a special lining. Rubber carpet Or the mat used as a coating, which is highly resistant to ultraviolet, salt water and mechanical damage, and it's this layer that contacts the bottom of the boat, taking on all the loads when you move.
The principle is to create a support that replicates the curves of cylinders. Unlike roller systems, where the boat slides along the guides, here the boat lies flat on soft sleds. This eliminates the friction that inevitably occurs when using metal or rigid plastic rollers. For inflatable structures, where each puncture can be fatal, the absence of friction is a critical safety factor.
It is important to note that quality lozenges have adjustable height and angle of inclination, which allows the trailer to be adapted to a specific model of the boat, whether it is a boat. frigate, hunter or BadgerIncorrect adjustment can cause pressure to be concentrated on the transom or nose, which is unacceptable for long transport.
⚠️ Attention: Never use a flatbed with a torn or completely erased rubber coating. A bare metal or wooden base will instantly damage the balloon when vibrating on the road, even if the boat seems securely anchored.
The system is structurally divided into lateral and keel supports. The side supports the cylinders on the sides, preventing the boat from falling to the side when cornering. The keel (central) takes over the bulk of the vessel at rest. The correct ratio of height of these supports determines the stability of the entire structure in motion.
Comparison with keel and roller systems
When choosing a trailer, water motors often fluctuate between the three main types of suspension. To make an informed choice, you need to clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type in the context of operating inflatable boats. Roller systems are good for descending from steep concrete slips, but they require perfect tuning to avoid pushing the cylinder.
Keel systems, which are long chutes in the center, perfectly resemble the shape of a rigid bottom (HIB) or aluminum boat. However, for purely inflatable models with a low-pressure inflatable keel (LDPH), they can be dangerous. Pressure at one central point when shaking can lead to deformation or damage to the internal structure of the keel. Logs in this regard benefit from load distribution.
Let’s look at a comparison table that will help to systematize the data:
| Characterization | Lodges | Rollers. | Keel system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection of the cylinder | High (soft contact) | Medium (puncture risk) | Low (point pressure) |
| Launching into the water | Requires a smooth slip. | Nice (easy move) | Good. |
| Transportation | Perfect (no vibration) | Okay (needs precise customization) | Bad for PVC |
| Gone. | Minimum | Regular lubrication of axles | Minimum |
Thus, if the priority is the safety of inflatable elements and long road transportation along the highway, lay-system It's unparalleled. It extinguishes vibrations and doesn't require constant lubrication, like rollers that can get clogged with sand and stop spinning, turning into an abrasive.
Criteria for choosing the appropriate model
The choice of a particular set of paddings depends on many parameters, the main of which are the dimensions of the boat and the type of bottom. For boats with a rigid underfloor (plywood, aluminum), the requirements are the same, and for models of BND (low pressure inflatable floor) – completely different. In the latter case, it is critical that the supports do not squeeze the soft bottom, creating a hammock effect.
Pay attention to the material of the base of the pad. Wooden bars, even processed ones, eventually dry out and rot from moisture. The optimal solution is metal profiles with a thick rubber lining or specialized high-strength plastic. Also important is the width of the support pad: narrow beds can crash into cylinders on turns, wide ones provide stability.
When choosing a trailer, be sure to measure the distance between the centers of your boat's cylinders in an inflated state. The distance between the inner edges of the pads should be 5-10 cm less than this value for reliable fixation.
The bolts and nuts must be made of stainless steel or have a high-quality zinc coating. Constant contact with water and reagents on the roads quickly destroys ordinary ferrous metal, which can lead to the loss of support on the go.
Also consider the load capacity of the trailer itself: the total weight of the boat, engine, battery and equipment should not exceed the passport values of the frame. An overloaded trailer with paddles loses stability, and soft supports may not withstand the increased pressure, which will lead to a shift in the center of gravity.
Technology of correct installation and adjustment
Installation of paddings is a process that requires precision and consistency, and a mistake in the installation phase can negate all the advantages of the design, and the first step should always be to fit the boat onto the frame without the attachments to visually assess the geometry.
First, you need to set the central axis of the lodging, which is to run strictly along the diametrical plane of the boat, and if the boat is skewed, the trailer will yaw when it moves, which is dangerous at high speeds, and the side beds are set symmetrically relative to the center.
☑️ Algorithm of Lodges Configuration
The height is adjusted so that in the unladen state (without a boat), the bed is at the same level or the central one is slightly lower. When installing an inflated vessel, the cylinders should gently hug the supports, but not be too laden. The gap between the bottom and the trailer frame should be uniform throughout the length.
Pay special attention to fixing the transom padment or stop. The nose is often lifted by wind flow, so the front stop should gently but confidently hold the forehead without touching the sharp elements of the boat's fittings.
Operation and maintenance of the support system
Even the most reliable system requires regular maintenance. The main enemy of the pawns is sand and small stones that are stuffed between the rubber and the cylinder. When moving, they work like sandpaper. So rule number one: rinse the supports with hose water or rub rub the rags before you install the boat on the trailer.
Rubber mats lose elasticity over time and can crack on the folds. Regularly inspect their condition. If you notice deep cracks through which you can see metal or wood, a replacement has come in. You can change both segments and individual segments, if the design allows.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use aggressive solvents or gasoline to clean the pads; they break the rubber structure, making it sticky or breakable; use only warm water with soapy solution or special PVC care products.
In winter, the trailer is better kept in the garage or under a canopy. Ultraviolet destroys rubber components even faster than water. If this is not possible, cover the bed with a dense cloth or remove rubber linings for storage indoors.
Common mistakes in the use of
One of the most common mistakes is to over-tension the slings, where drivers, fearing the loss of the boat, tighten their belts "to the point." On soft paddings, this causes the boat to flatten and the cylinders to bend in the slings' attachments, experiencing extreme loads. The boat must lie tightly but not be squeezed.
The second mistake is ignoring the pressure in the cylinders when transported. In the sun, the air in the boat expands. If you leave the boat in the heat with a pressure designed for cool water, the excess pressure combined with the pressure of the lodgings can cause the seams to rupture. Always blow the air a little before a long stay in the sun.
The Secret to the Perfect Landing
Many people forget that the bed should be set with a slight blockage inwards (the upper edge is closer to the center of the boat than the lower one), which creates a “self-centered” effect and prevents the boat from slipping sideways during sharp maneuvers.
And there's also a common mistake of using inappropriate lining materials, and some people try to save money by using pieces of linoleum or carpet, and these materials quickly gain water, rot, and lose shape, and they don't do their shock-absorbing function.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you build it yourself from materials?
Theoretically, you can use the beam and rubber from the conveyor belt, but it's risky. Industrial lodgings are load-based and have special channels for water runoff. A homemade can have sharp edges or behave unpredictably under load, which will damage an expensive boat.
How often should you change the rubber linings on the pads?
The service life depends on the intensity of operation and storage conditions. On average, with active use (20-30 trips per season) and storage on the street, the resource is 3-5 years. If cracks deeper than 2-3 mm or the rubber is detached from the base, you need to replace immediately.
Will the lodgings be suitable for a boat with a hard transom and inflatable sides?
Yes, it's one of the best options. The hard transom is well-fitted, and the soft sides are securely fixed with padding, and the main thing is to set the rear stop height correctly so that it supports the transom, but does not press on the mounting places of the cans or stringers.
What to do if the bed is wiped to metal?
You can't use a trailer like this, the metal will wipe the cylinder instantly, you have to either replace the rubber mats with new ones (if the structure is removable), or you have to completely refit the supports, a temporary solution like insulating tape or tape is inefficient and dangerous.
A lounge trailer is an investment in the durability of your PVC boat. Properly configured and cared for soft supports eliminates the risk of punctures during transportation, making them the preferred choice for inflatable boat owners.