Operating an inflatable vessel often involves balancing comfort, safety and functionality. Inflatable liner in PVC boat It's a key element that can do a lot of things, from buoyancy to puncture protection, and unlike hard floorboards, it's a soft floor that provides a lot of suppleness and extra unsinkability, which is critical for long-distance waterways.
Modern boat models are often designed with the use of air flooring in mind, however, many owners of old or budget versions are looking to upgrade their boats. Trans boats Hard bottoms also benefit from additional inflatable sections, especially when it comes to fishing in rocky waters. floor It is able to turn an ordinary rowing boat into a full-fledged boat for rest.
The main challenge for any owner is to understand what type of bottom is necessary for its use scenario: will it be high-speed planing or calm fishing with caccoloration? The choice of design and material depends on it. The air floor is always lighter than the hard analogue, which is critical for single boats.
Advantages of inflatable floor over rigid
Using a soft floor instead of plywood or aluminum has some undeniable benefits, especially weight and transportability, taking significantly less time to assemble and disassemble a vessel, and carrying a boat is reduced by many times. For those who often travel with a boat on public transport or carry it alone, this is a crucial factor.
- 🎈 Significant reduction in the total weight of the kit, which facilitates transportation to the water.
- 🛡️ Increased resistance to mechanical damage: puncturing a balloon is more difficult than breaking plywood.
- 🌡️ Comfortable temperature: Inflatable elements are not as cooled by water as metal or wood.
Besides, boat-floor It provides additional insulation. When you're on the water for a few hours, you're less likely to feel the cold coming from the water, and this is especially true in the off-season, when the water hasn't warmed up, and hard materials take away body heat quickly, whereas the air layer works like a great thermal insulator.
⚠️ Warning: When using inflatable floors on glides, make sure they are securely fixed. A shift in the center of gravity can cause unstable behavior of the vessel at high speeds.
Another important aspect is depreciation, which is that the soft bottom extinguishes the impacts on small waves, making the course smoother, which reduces passenger fatigue and reduces the load on the design of the boat itself. PVC materialsThe slabs used in modern liners have high elasticity even at low temperatures, which allows the boat to operate in a wide range of weather conditions.
Types of constructions: from simple inserts to H-floor
The water-powered accessories market offers a variety of inflatable flooring options, the simplest models being a single cylinder that fits inside the cockpit. H-floor or AirDeckThey have an internal structure of slings, which allows to keep the shape under load and withstand the pressure necessary for planing.
Type design High Pressure (high pressure) allows you to get a hard surface, comparable to plywood, but retaining all the advantages of an inflatable element, which is often used in premium boats. They are pumped to a pressure of 6-8 PSI, making them hard to touch. This is ideal for those who appreciate speed and dynamics, but do not want to sacrifice compactness.
When choosing a design, it is important to consider compatibility with your boat model. Universal liners may not perfectly replicate the geometry of the board, leaving gaps that can get water or debris. PVCThey sit like a squirrel and do not require additional fitting.
Materials and production technologies
The quality of the inflatable liner depends on the materials used. The basis is a reinforced PVC fabric, which consists of a polyester cord enclosed between layers of polyvinyl chloride. The density of the fabric is measured in grams per square meter (g / m2). For floors, usually use a material with a density of 750 to 1100 g / m2, which ensures the necessary strength and wear resistance.
Modern technology allows us to create fabrics that are protected from ultraviolet light, salts and fuels, which extends the life of the product. Five-layer fabrics Teflon coateds are considered the industry's durability benchmark, and they're less susceptible to contamination and easier to clean after use.
| Type of material | Density (g/m2) | Application | Resistance to abrasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford (Oxford) | 800-900 | Budgetary inserts | Medium |
| PVC reinforced | 900-1100 | Standard boats | High. |
| Drop-stitch (Aerodeck) | 1100+ | High pressure floors | Very high. |
Seams are the most vulnerable place in any inflatable structure. High-quality products use hot vulcanization, which turns the joint of parts into a monolith. Adhesives, although cheaper, can eventually dry up, especially at frequent temperature changes. So you should pay attention to the technology of assembly of seams when buying.
Installation and pumping instructions
The proper installation of the inflatable liner is the key to the safety and durability of your boat, and the process begins with the preparation of the cockpit: remove sharp objects, stones and debris that may have been left behind from the previous fishing trip, and even a small knot can cause damage to the new floor.
☑️ Preparation for floor installation
After the cylinder or floor sections are laid, they should be evenly distributed over the bottom area. If the design involves attachment to the sides (for example, through slings or Velcro straps), fix them according to the manufacturer's instructions. Uneven tension can lead to deformation of the side during pumping.
Pumping should be done gradually, alternating between different compartments, if there are several, to ensure an even distribution of pressure. Use a pump with a pressure gauge to keep up with the recommended values. Pumped floor in the sun can burst, and underpumped floor can deform and interfere with the control.
Recommended pressure: 0.2 - 0.25 Bar (for standard floors)
Recommended pressure: 0.4 - 0.6 Bar (high pressure floors)
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a fully pumped boat in direct sunlight unattended. Heating the air inside the cylinders leads to increased pressure and the risk of rupture.
Inflatable floor maintenance and maintenance
The maintenance of the inflatable liner does not require complex manipulation, but regularity plays a key role. After each release, the floor must be thoroughly washed with fresh water, especially if operated in salt water or contaminated water bodies. The remaining dirt and salts can destroy the structure of the PVC material.
Drying is a must before packaging; wet material folded into a case will quickly be covered with mold, which not only smells bad, but also corrodes the fabric, and dry the product in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight, which can make the material brittle. Storage It must be carried out in straightened or freely rolled at room temperature.
Use talc or a special powder for PVC before long-term storage, this will prevent the layers of material from sticking together and maintain the elasticity of the surface.
Check the valves and joints regularly. Even a microscopic crack can become a serious problem over time. You can use a soap solution to diagnose it: apply it to the surface and watch for bubbles. It takes 15 minutes to repair a small puncture in a timely manner, whereas repairing a large gap will require professional intervention.
Repair and restoration of leakage
Despite the high strength, no one is immune to punctures. Inflatable floor repair in the field is possible using a remix, which usually comes with a boat. For more serious damage or major repair, it is better to contact a specialized service that has equipment for hot vulcanization.
The self-repair process is as follows: the damaged area is degreased, cleaned and covered with glue. Then a patch of the same material is applied. It is important to let the glue dry ("grab") before gluing, and then press the patch hard, driving the air out from under it. The quality of the glue is crucial - use only specialized PVC formulations.
How do you glue PVC properly?
For a reliable connection, use two-component polyurethane adhesives. Single-component adhesives (based on solvents) are only suitable for temporary repair or gluing of irresponsible nodes. The temperature during gluing should not be below +15 ° C, and the humidity should be moderate.
If the damage has affected the internal structure (for example, broken slings in the floor high pressure), self-repair may be ineffective, in such cases, the geometry of the floor is disturbed, and it ceases to perform its functions. Replacement of internal elements requires dismantling of the product, which at home is almost impossible to perform without loss of tightness.
Proper care and timely minor repairs increase the life of the inflatable floor by 2-3 times, making its purchase a cost-effective investment.
Can I use a scaling floor for scaling?
Yes, but only if the floor is made using high pressure technology and designed to withstand the load from the engine, the usual low pressure liners can be deformed by hydrodynamic forces, which will lead to loss of speed and controllability.
How to keep a boat with an inflatable floor in winter?
The boat must be washed, dried and folded in a free (not tightly rolled) state, the optimal storage temperature is from -10 to +30 degrees, avoiding the proximity of heating appliances and piercing objects.
What is the difference between an inflatable floor and a floorboard?
floorboard is a rigid removable bottom (plywood, aluminum) that ensures the rigidity of the body. Inflatable floor is a soft balloon that increases comfort and buoyancy, but can yield in stiffness when cruising, if not of the High Pressure type.