Removing leakage: what to do if the valve on the inflatable boat misses

The situation when flyboat It starts to lose pressure, it always takes you by surprise, especially if you're already on the water or just arrived at a pond. valve-systemUnderstanding the design of this unit and the reasons for its depressurization is the key to quickly returning the craft to service without an expensive visit to the service.

The valve is a complex mechanism consisting of a body, a spring, a guide and a sealing element. The leakage can be caused by the entry of fine debris, the deformation of rubber or the displacement of internal parts. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of diagnosis and repair.

Before you start to act, you need to localize the problem, make sure that the air is coming out through the valve, not through microcracks in the PVC tissue near the landing site, and use a soap solution that will instantly show the exit of the air bubbles.

The main cause of leakage is pollution, sand, silt or small pebbles that have fallen into the adjacent area. sealerIt also causes problems with sticking in the moving parts of the mechanism due to oxidation or prolonged storage of the boat in a deflated state.

In some cases, the problem lies in factory defects or wear of the material. Rubber seals lose their elasticity over time and harden, no longer performing their function. If the boat is several years old, replacement of valve consumables may be required as planned.

The first step in diagnosis is to take a careful visual examination and listen. Hold your ear to an open valve in a quiet place. A characteristic whistle will point to the leak. If there is no whistle but the pressure is dropping, apply soap foam to the open valve and cover it with your finger to create pressure.

Pay attention to the behavior. petal-valve (If it is designed by your model, for example, Bravo or Air MatIt should open freely when inflated and close tightly under the influence of a spring or back pressure, and jamming the mechanism is a sure sign of the need to clean.

Check the integrity of the thread on the valve lid. If the thread is broken or damaged, the lid will not be able to provide the necessary pressing force for sealing. In such cases, the lid must be replaced, since it is impossible to restore the thread on the plastic elements.

⚠️ Attention: Never attempt to inflate the boat with a compressor over 250mbar if the valve is suspected of malfunctioning. This can cause the tissue around the valve opening to rupture dramatically or the internal parts of the mechanism to eject.

Use for accurate diagnosis soap-solution Add a small amount of dishwashing, lubricate the valve area profusely, and watch for bubbles, and growing bubbles will indicate microcracks in the valve body or loose fit of the seal.

If the diagnostics confirm that the valve is the problem, you need to maintain it. Start with dismantling. Most modern PVC boats use a standard key that comes with the kit, or a universal key for valves like this. Bravo, Bost, Valmex.

Turn the valve counterclockwise. Be careful that there may be a spring inside that, if unwinded, can fire. After extraction, carefully examine all the parts for mechanical damage, cracks, or corrosion (if there are metal elements).

Wash all valve components thoroughly in warm water. Use a soft brush to remove sand and silt from threaded joints and sealing grooves. Do not use aggressive solvents, gasoline or acetone, as they can destroy the structure of rubber and plastic.

Once cleaned, lubricate the rubbing parts with silicone lubrication, which will ensure smooth running of the moving parts and protect the rubber seals from drying out, collect the valve in reverse order and check its operation with a finger pressing on the center stem.

Pay special attention to the state sealing-ringIf it shows deep scratches, cuts, or has become stiff and brittle, it must be replaced. Using a damaged ring will cause air leakage again in a short time.

In some boats, for example, with valves of the type ValmexThe design includes an additional dust cap, make sure it's clean and doesn't interfere with the closure of the main mechanism, and the dirt under the cap can gradually get in.

If the valve continues to poison after cleaning and lubricating, try to tighten it slightly with a key, sometimes with a minimal effort to eliminate the gap, but do not overdo it: excessive force can break the thread in the fabric or deform the landing place.

There are times when simple cleaning is not possible, if the valve body is cracked or deformed, it must be changed completely, and valve replacement is a more complex procedure, requiring accuracy and compliance with temperature regimes when working with glue.

First, you need to cut out the air and cut out the old valve, and you need to do this with a sharp knife, trying not to damage the tissue of the balloon, then the surface is degreased and cleaned for better adhesion of the glue. Use a specialized glue for PVC, for example. Texacoll or Urgent.

Apply the glue to the fabric and the landing flange of the new valve. Let the first layer dry to the stick (usually 10-15 minutes), then apply the second layer and connect the parts. It is important to ensure uniform pressure when glued, using a load or a special press.

⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to use the boat immediately after the valve is glued, the complete polymerization of the glue takes up to 72 hours, and trying to inflate the boat ahead of time will lead to the valve breaking off under pressure.

When you install a new valve, it's critical to position it properly relative to the tissue, so the valve should sit tightly, without skewing, and if the valve gets crooked, folds of tissue will form, which will become channels for air leakage and points of concentration of voltage, which will lead to rupture.

Use it. temperature At lower temperatures, the glue may not catch, and at higher temperatures, it may boil or dry too quickly without providing a monolithic connection.

Once the new valve is installed, be sure to do a test, pump the boat up and leave it warm for a few hours, and if the pressure is stable, the repairs are successful and the boat is ready to be operated on the water.

To prevent the problem of leaking the valve from catching you by surprise, it is recommended to follow a number of preventive measures: Regular care of the inflatable boat prolongs its life and ensures safety on the water.

Always cover the valves with safety caps after use, which will prevent dust, sand and insects from entering the mechanism, even a small grain of sand caught between the seal and the body can cause leakage.

Keep the boat half-blown or with the valves fully open, which relieves constant stress from springs and rubber seals, and prolonged pressure storage leads to fatigue of materials and loss of elasticity.

Check the valves periodically before each season, inspect them for cracks, check the ease of movement of the moving parts, and prophylactic grease with silicone once a year will help to avoid jamming the mechanism.

If you use a boat in salt water, be sure to wash the valves with fresh water after each fishing. The salt crystallizes and can jam the mechanism or damage the rubber seals, making them tough and brittle.

Valve system repair is a task that any boat owner can do with a minimum set of tools and understanding of the design, the main thing is to take your time and perform all the operations carefully. A well-maintained valve ensures that your boat will keep the pressure all season.

Remember that the tightness of the boat is a matter of your safety. Don't neglect small leaks, as they can quickly escalate into a serious problem at depth. Regular maintenance and proper operation is the key to the long service life of your boat.

In conclusion, knowing how to build your boat and how to maintain its main components is a must-have skill for every boating, not only saving money on repairs, but also giving you confidence in the reliability of equipment during the launch.