Anyone who's ever been in the water for more than two hours knows that your back starts to whine and your legs start to leak. The standard hard bottom or the strained paiola is not designed to sit in one position for a long time. boat-bagIt makes Spartan conditions acceptable for rest or long-term fishing.
This element of tuning is often underestimated, considering it to be secondary, but the quality of the pillow depends not only on your comfort, but also on the safety of equipment. Unlike tourist mats, specialized pillows are created taking into account the specifics of PVC materials and operating conditions on the water, where there is a high probability of contact with moisture and sharp objects.
In this article, we will discuss in detail why you should choose an inflatable option, how to choose the right material to match the color of your boat and what to do if the product has been damaged away from home.
Advantages of inflatable models over foam analogues
At first glance, it may seem that a piece of foam or a ready-made soft seat from a store will cost less and easier to use, but the experience of operating on the water dictates its rules. Inflatable cushion It benefits static fillers in a number of critical parameters that become apparent with prolonged use.
The main advantage is weight and volume. When you build a boat, every liter of space in a bag weighs in gold. A blown-out cushion takes up a minimum of space, whereas a foam-like one will eat up a useful trunk volume all year round. In addition, wet foam dries out forever, which inevitably leads to mold and unpleasant smell in the airbag.
Thermoregulation is also important, because the inflatable structure creates an air layer that prevents the back from sweating in the summer and freezing in the spring from the cold bottom of the boat, and the static filler often freezes or heats up, causing discomfort.
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⚠️ WARNING: Using conventional tourist inflatable mats (especially foiled ones) in the sun inside the boat can cause them to quickly fail. Ultraviolet and water-reflected rays destroy the thin layer in less than a season.
And the versatility is also worth mentioning: By adjusting air pressure, you can change the seat stiffness to your preferences, and for bottom fishing, you need soft support, and for active rowing, you need a harder surface to keep the body stable.
Materials and Construction: What's Inside?
Quality PVC boat-bag It is made of the same materials as the boat itself, or from specialized fabrics with high density weaving, most often used reinforced PVC with a density of 750 to 1100 g / m2, which provides abrasion resistance against the rough bottom of the cockpit and protection from puncture.
The designs are divided into several types: the simplest are a sealed valve bag. The more complex models have an internal structure of vertical threads (drop-stitch technology), which allows them to be pumped to high pressure, maintaining their shape even under the weight of an adult with equipment. bayouIf they are of a rigid shape.
Valves also play a role, and budget models have simple petal valves that are not easy to close and open, and professional solutions are equipped with Bravo valves or their equivalents, which allow easy pressure control and tight closure of the hole.
Oxford's Secrets of Material
Oxford fabric, often used for pillow covers, has a polyurethane or PVC coating. It is important to distinguish between density: for seats, you better choose an oxford 600D with PU 2000 and higher, otherwise the fabric will quickly begin to pass water and lose color.
The color scheme is usually matched to the standard colors of boats: dark green, light gray, camouflage or blue. It's not just aesthetics, but practicality - dark colors get less dirty and less noticeable in the water if the pillow suddenly falls overboard.
How to Choose the Perfect Size and Shape
The size of the boat depends on the width of your boat and your personal preferences. The standard width of inflatable cushions varies from 25 to 35 cm If you have a narrow boat (up to 120 cm in the cockpit), a wide cushion can interfere with rowing, resting on the sides, in which case it is better to choose a smaller model or an oval shape.
The shape of the product also affects comfort. Classic rectangles are versatile, but they can slip. Models with limiter sides or rollers under the hips provide better body fixation. For those who like to sit with their legs in the arm or to be located across the boat, there are square options.
When choosing, pay attention to the presence of anti-slip coating. Smooth PVC on smooth PVC is a slide with every movement of the boat. The presence of a textured surface or special rubber dots on the underside air-seat It's critical to safety.
If you plan to use a pillow not only in the boat, but also on the ground (on the shore), choose models with reinforced bottoms of the Oxford 900D fabric.
Don't forget to check the kit. Some manufacturers sell the valve-free pillows in the kit, offering to buy it separately, which looks like a savings, but you end up losing time and money. Look for turnkey solutions.
Installation and pumping instructions
The right pumping is the key to the long-term service of the product. You don't have to inflate the pillow "to failure", especially if you plan to use it in hot weather. The air expands when heated, and the excess pressure can break the seams or deform the valve.
The optimum pressure should be such that the pillow retains its shape, but when pressed with your hand, you feel a little elasticity. If you pump a product at 20°C at home and 35°C outside, it will become hard as a stone. It is better to under-pump it by 10-15%.
To install in the boat, perform the following actions:
- 🎈 Spread the deflated pillow on a flat surface and make sure there is no debris inside the cockpit.
- 💨 Connect the pump (toe or hand) and pump the pillow to a state of elasticity, avoiding overinflatation.
- 🔒 Close the valve tightly and check it for leakproofness by pressing your ear or applying a soap solution.
- 📍 Place the pillow in the right place, if necessary, fixing it with belts or a cord through the rings of the boat.
☑️ Checking before getting on the water
If your boat is equipped with leer cables, you can put a lace tied to the pillow through them so that it does not shift in choppy conditions, which is especially true for light single boats, where any movement of the passenger affects the course.
specifications comparison table
To make it easier for you to choose, we have prepared a comparison of the main types of inflatable airbags on the market.
The table below will help you quickly navigate the parameters:
| Parameter | Budget model | Middle class | Premium (Seat Bank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top material | PVC 750 g/m2 | PVC 900g/m2/Oxford | PVC reinforced 1100 g/m2 |
| Construction | Simple camera. | Cell-structured chamber | Drop-stitch (high pressure) |
| Sliding coating | Missing. | Point-point | Complete anti-slip |
| Completement | No valve. | Valve + relay kit | Valve, bag, belts, remix |
As can be seen from the table, overpayment for mid- and high-end models is often due not only to the brand, but also to a real increase in service life and comfort. Inflatable cushion from a dense material will last 3-4 times longer than a cheap analogue.
For frequent use (more than 10 trips per season), saving on the material of the pillow is inexpedient - repair or replacement will cost more.
Inflatable seat repair and maintenance
Even the strongest PVC is not immune to damage, a puncture on a hook, a cut on a shell or a burn from a fire spark - things happen differently. The main rule is not to panic. Repairing an inflatable seat is not much different from repairing the boat itself.
First, you need to find the damage, if you can't see the hole, use a soap solution, apply the foam to the surface of the inflated pillow and wait for bubbles to appear, the area around the damage should be cleaned with fine sandpaper and degreased with acetone or alcohol.
The process of installing the patch looks like this:
- ✂️ Cut the patch from the remake of a round or oval shape (the corners of the rectangle may peel off).
- 🧴 Apply the glue (specialized for PVC, such as "Uranus" or "Desmocol") on both surfaces in a thin layer.
- ⏳ Let the glue dry for 10-15 minutes until the stickiness disappears, then apply the second layer.
- 🔥 Press the patch hard and roll with a roller, removing air, so you can warm up the dryer gluing site for better polymerization.
⚠️ Warning: Never use Moment glue classic or superglues (cyanacrylates) to repair PVC! They make the material tough and brittle, which will cause the seam to rupture later. Only polyurethane adhesives.
After repair, the product should dry for at least 24 hours before re-inflating. Store the pillow in a deflated form, in a dry and dark place, away from the heating appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use a regular inflatable cushion for the beach in a boat?
Technically possible, but not recommended. Beach cushions are often made from vinyl or thin PVC, which are not resistant to ultraviolet light and mechanical stress. In boat conditions, where there is a risk of contact with hooks and sand, such a cushion will quickly become unusable. In addition, they often have a slippery surface.
How much weight can a standard inflatable cushion withstand?
Quality boat-bag, made by technology drop-stitch or from dense reinforced PVC, easily withstands the load of up to 120-150 kg Budget models with a simple camera can deform already at 80-90 kg, grinding to the bottom of the boat.
How to pump a pillow so as not to bring dirt inside?
It is best to use pumps with clean pipes. If you are swinging with your mouth (which is not recommended due to moisture), make sure that the valve is dry. There should be no water or sand entering the chamber, as they will act as an abrasive, erasing the inner surface when blown/inflated.
How to remove the cloth on the pillow after storage?
PVC clogs are a deformation of the material structure. They're difficult to remove completely, but they can be minimized. Leave the cushion pumped in the sun (but not in the scorching rays, preferably in the shade) for a few hours. The heat will help the material straighten. Keep the product rolled up, but not folded into tight sharp folds.
Is there a difference between a pillow and a boat jar?
Yes, the difference is substantial. A pillow is a soft comfort element that can be blown off and put under your back. A jar is a rigid structural element, often replacing a slate or a transom jar, having a rigid fixation and supporting the weight of a person in an upright rowing position.