Polyvinyl chloride swimming aids have long ceased to be just a budget replacement for classic wooden or metal housing. flyboatAnd the key to this is that it's very much as good as the hard-core, seaworthy, and powerful as the power of the system. outboardThis greatly expands the geography of fishing and recreation on the water.
The market offers a lot of options, and it is easy for a beginner to get confused in acronyms like HPEX, SL or NDNDUnderstanding design and materials is not just a theory, it's a guarantee of your safety and durability, and we'll look at why PVC has become the standard, and how to find the right boat for your specific tasks.
It is worth noting that Maximum motor power depends on the length and design of the transomIgnoring this rule can lead to dangerous situations on the water, so you should carefully analyze your needs and operating conditions before buying.
Design features and materials
The basis of any high-quality boat is reinforced PVCIt's not just a glue, it's a complex multilayered structure where synthetic tissue (usually a cord) is flooded with polyvinyl chloride on both sides. tensilePVC protects against water, ultraviolet light and mechanical damage.
For motorboats, the density of the fabric is critical, and typically the density of the material is between 750 and 1150 g/m2. The denser material is heavier, but more resistant to puncture and abrasion against the ground. glue-quality And seam technology is more important than the thickness of the fabric itself.
⚠️ Attention: Cheap boats made of awning fabric without reinforcement quickly lose their tightness at the seams under the load of the engine. Always check the certificate of quality of the material.
There are two main types of elements compounds: stitched (and the stains are stained and stained) glued For motorboats, glued technology is preferred, as it provides better sealability and no places where the thread can be rubbed by vibration.
Bottom types: from sleigh to NDNDM
The choice of the type of bottom determines not only the speed of the boat, but also the ease of its transportation. seaworthiness And plane stability, and you can stand and fish with confidence on a boat like this, even on the wave.
However, low-pressure (NDND) has gained immense popularity in recent years, with an inflatable floor with longitudinal and transom stringer cylinders, which allows you to get a hard surface without the use of heavy plywood sheets.
The benefits of NDND are obvious: the boat is assembled faster, weighs less and takes up significantly less space in the trunk when assembled, but there are also nuances: the inflatable floor is sensitive to punctures, and more precise load balancing is required to go into plane.
The secret to a quick exit to planing
For inflatable floor boats, it is critical to distribute the weight correctly. Shifting the cargo (passenger, anchor, battery) closer to the transom helps the boat to ski faster, reducing the load on the engine.
Plywood slate, in turn, is divided into sheets that connect with profiles. This adds weight, but gives a sense of monolithicity. Aluminum profiles are lighter and do not rot, but they are more expensive. The choice here depends on whether you are willing to put up with extra pounds for the sake of rigidity of the floor.
Tran and engine installation
The trawler is the heart of a motor boat, the point of application of traction, and it's a rigid plate embedded in the aft. The quality of the transom is directly related to the quality of the transom. security A weak transom may not withstand the vibrations of a powerful motor or may deform when hit by a wave.
The tranza board is usually made of multi-layered water-resistant plywood coated with special enamel or plastic. It is important that the tilt of the transom meets the recommendations of the manufacturer of the motor (usually 10-15 degrees), the wrong angle will lead to the boat either burrowing with its nose or, conversely, picking it up, losing speed.
When choosing a boat, pay attention to strengthening the transom. There should be additional pads or profiles in the engine attachment areas. transom-wheel complete or the possibility of installing them - this will greatly facilitate the descent of a heavy boat into the water.
| Type of boat | Transcent material | Max power (hp) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling with a hinged | Plywood (thin) | 2-3.5 | Only for quiet water, a small resource |
| Motor (330 cm) | Plywood 18-24 mm | 9.9 - 15 | Best for fishing together. |
| Motor (360+ cm) | Reinforced plywood/aluminum | 18 - 30+ | For long wave and long-distance crossings |
☑️ Checking the transom before buying
Assembly and descent preparation
Proper assembly is half the success. Many beginners make the mistake of pumping cylinders "by eye" or, conversely, pumping them. The pressure must be according to the instructions, usually it's the same. 0.2 - 0.25 bar cylinder-to-cylinder 0.6 - 0.8 bar The use of a pressure gauge is mandatory, especially in hot weather when the pressure inside is increasing.
It takes time to build a sludge boat, and you fold PVC, then you put plywood in the profiles, and then you inflate it, and you make sure that there's no gap between the sheets and the profiles are flat, and you get skewed, and you get a lot of wear on the material.
After assembly, be sure to check the tightness of the valves. petal valves They're convenient, but they need to be clean -- a grain of sand that gets under a petal can cause slow etching of air, and if you hear a whistle, use a soap solution to look for a leak.
Don't forget the accessories. anchor-ring If you're on your nose, properly secured, you'll be able to anchor safely against the current, and you'll also need to think about the fastening beforehand. sonar and rod holders so as not to drill the sides on the water.
Operation and care of PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a persistent material, but it's not permanent. PVC's main enemies are ultraviolet, sharp objects and improper storage. Leaving a boat in the sun without a tent for a long time, you accelerate the aging process of the material, it becomes fragile. UV protection The fabric works for a limited time.
After every fishing trip, especially on salt water or in polluted water, the boat must be rinsed with fresh water. Salt and silt are aggressive on the seams and material. Drying before packaging is a must. When folded wet, the boat will quickly become covered with mold, which is almost impossible to remove.
⚠️ Warning: Never dry a fully inflated product in direct sunlight in the heat. The pressure inside may exceed critical pressure and the seams will burst. Dry in the shade or in a semi-assembled state.
Keep the boat straightened or at least not tightly compressed, in a warm room. The extreme temperature changes in winter can have a negative impact on the plasticity of the material. kit immediately, without delay until next season.
Use talc to treat the inside of the case and the outside of the boat before long-term storage, which will prevent PVC layers from sticking together and make spring assembly easier.
Safety at sea
An inflatable boat for an outboard motor requires increased attention to safety, and the absence of a rigid keel makes it more vulnerable to lateral wind and wave. Centre of gravity Do not stand up to full height on the move, especially at high speed or in high winds.
There's a life jacket for every passenger, and it's not a formality, it's a necessity, and if you roll over, the inflatable boat can flip upside down, and it's very difficult to get out of under it without the vest. anchor with a supply of rope.
Follow the rules of GIMS. Even a small PVC boat with a power above 5 hp (or 10 hp depending on the year of the rules and the type of engine), registration and rights may be required. Ignoring these rules leads to fines and confiscation of property.
Always carry a water pumping device, and even a sealed boat can draw water from splashes, rain, or the fisherman's careless actions. cerpak or hand pump should be on hand, and not packed in a sealer at the bottom of the trunk.
Safety consists of small things: a serviceable transom, the correct pressure in the cylinders, the presence of vests and a sober captain is a mandatory minimum for getting on the water.
What pressure should be in the cylinders of the PVC boat?
The optimum operating pressure for most boat cylinders is 0.2.0.25 atmospheres For the inflatable floor (BND), the pressure is higher. 0.6. 0.8 atmospheresExcess pressure is dangerous to rupture seams in the heat, and insufficient pressure will lead to deformation of the body and loss of driving performance.
Is it possible to use a PVC boat in winter?
Yes, modern materials retain elasticity at low temperatures, but PVC becomes tougher and more sensitive to impacts, in winter you can't knock on the sides, drop heavy objects and bend material sharply, and the pressure drops in the cold, so you need to pump the boat out on the water.
How to keep a boat in the winter?
The boat must be thoroughly washed, dried and treated with talc. It is better to store it in straightened form (suspended) or freely rolled up in a large case. The storage temperature should not fall below -30 ° C, although short-term frosts of high-quality PVC withstand. Avoid neighborhoods with heating appliances.
Which is better: a laminated or sewn boat?
The technology is definitely better for a motorboat, and stitches (where the fabric is pierced with a needle) are places of potential leakage and destruction under constant motor vibration. Glued seams are sealed and durable, although repairing them in the field can be more difficult.