Water tourism is experiencing a real renaissance, and more and more often on the rivers you can meet not only kayakers, but also owners of inflatable vessels. Alloy on a PVC motorized boat It allows access to remote fishing grounds and scenic parking lots that can be reached by foot or oar for hours, but an inflatable boat, even with a keel, requires a fundamentally different approach to navigation and piloting techniques than a rigid hull.
The main feature PVC material It's very resilient, it's very powerful, it's very powerful, it absorbs shocks, but only within reasonable limits. Unlike aluminum, which just crumbles when it hits a snag, polyvinyl chloride can get a rupture or a puncture if the angle of attack of sharp objects is too high, and that's why route planning and technical training are more important than the power of the engine installed.
This article aims to systematize knowledge about water trekking on inflatable vessels, and we will discuss the key aspects of equipment selection, the peculiarities of passing complex sections of the river and the nuances of operating an outboard motor in rough terrain.
Selection of craft and preparation for the route
The success of any expedition depends on how well the boat is selected for specific tasks. For rafting on rivers with moderate current and the presence of slopes, models with a low-pressure inflatable floor are ideal (for low-pressure inflatable floors).NDMAThis design provides excellent swelling and extinguishes the impacts on the stones, making the trip a comfortable slide.
However, if your route involves the passage of stormy rapids or frequent landings on the rocky shore, you should pay attention to models with a high-speed coast. hard-bottomedAluminum or plywood sheets (although plywood is best avoided in long alloys due to weight and fear of moisture) provide a rigid platform for setting the motor and standing confidently on your feet.
⚠️ Warning: Be sure to check the condition of the valves and joints before each alloy. Even a microscopic cut left by a stone last season, under fast water load, can turn into an emergency.
The load capacity of the vessel is another critical parameter: Never load the boat "to the end" leaving the sides at the water. There is always a risk of splashing on the river or getting into an unexpected wave from an oncoming vessel. The optimal load is considered to be 70-80% of the passport load capacity.This will ensure a high landing and excellent handling.
Technical equipment: motor and hinged
The choice of an alloy engine is dictated not so much by the desire to develop high speed, but by the need to confidently overcome the oncoming current and transport cargo. For most tasks on medium-width rivers, two-stroke engines with a capacity of 5 to 9.9 hp will be the best choice.
The key element of security is the availability of escape-engine Inflatable oars from the kit are often only used for mooring in calm, for a full stroke, especially against the wind or current if the engine fails, you need rigid oars with plastic or wooden blades, and their presence is not an option, but a requirement of GIMS and common sense.
- 🛡️ Screw protection: On shallow rivers, the propeller is an expendable material, use aluminium alloy screws or install a safety ring if the engine design permits.
- ⛽ Fuel reserve: Calculate the flow rate at a factor of 1.5 in case of strong headwinds or currents. Gasoline is stored only in specialized canisters.
- 🔧 Remake: Bring spare candles, a rummel veneer and a screw removal/installation tool.
The motor's attachment needs to be strengthened. The regular lambs are often not enough for long-term vibration. The experienced boaters use additional rods or safety cables, the engine went to the bottom when it encountered a log. transom step It should be selected so that the anti-cavitation plate is in the same plane with the bottom of the boat or slightly lower.
Navigation and river reading
The river is a living organism that changes every year. What was a deep fairway last season can become a shallower today. The basic rule of navigation on a PVC boat: "see an obstacle, bypass, do not see - discharge the gas." The reaction rate on an inflatable boat is lower than on a glittering Kazanka, so the time margin for maneuver should be greater.
When passing the rolls, you must keep the motor ready for a sharp rise. rumpelae or gaskleAnd your fingers are ready to pull. check Rocks under the water are often not visible because of ripples, so you need to navigate by the color of the water: dark spots — depth, light or white ridges — risk of stranding.
Take offline maps of the area on your phone and a paper satin. GPS-navigators can run out, and communication away from civilization is often absent.
Going against the current requires special tactics. Don't try to head-on when the current is strong. Use the clamps to the shore where the jet is weaker, or move the shuttle using inertia and transom jets. The long shift of the motor on board helps to turn around in place even in strong currents, using the force of the flow.
Load distribution and centre-up
The right weighting is the key to the stability of the boat on the water. The center of gravity should be in the diametric plane and be as low as possible. Heavy loads such as fuel canisters, anchors and spare batteries are placed on the bottom, along the sides or under the seats.
Lightweight but bulky things (sleepers, down jackets) are packed in seals and stacked higher. It is important to ensure symmetry: if the port side is a canister of fuel, the right side should be equivalent to the load. skewed even 10-15 kg on a narrow PVC boat can lead to a dangerous roll when passing the wave.
| Type of cargo | Location | Packaging | Priority of access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor and cable | Nose, under the jar. | net or bag | Medium. |
| Fuel reserve | The boat, by the transom. | Hard canister. | Low. |
| First-aid kit and knife | In your pocket or on your belt. | Hermokeys | Highly |
| Personal items | Downtown, downtown. | germ-o-o-o-o- | Low. |
Use it. slings If you turn abruptly or hit a wave, an unsecured backpack can fly overboard or, worse, cut off access to the engine control. Dry BagEven if it seems like it won’t rain.
☑️ Checking the cargo before leaving
Safety and action in emergency situations
The inflatable boat forgives many mistakes, but it does not forgive carelessness. The basic rule is that everyone should wear a life jacket, regardless of whether they can swim or not. In cold water and heavy clothing, even an experienced swimmer can quickly lose strength. The vest should be buttoned on all the fastexes.
When you hit an underwater obstacle (sink, rock) at full speed, the boat can turn people around or throw people out, in which case you can not try to keep your balance with your legs, you can get entangled in slings or turn the boat over. The right action: grouping and falling "inside" the boat, in the center, on soft cylinders.
⚠️ Warning: Never wrap an anchor tile on your arm or boat hull! If you jerk abruptly on the current, it can cause an injury to your arm or tip over the boat.
If the engine stalls in a strong current, immediately drop anchor so that the boat does not lag to the wave and turn over. First anchor, then fix the engine. safety-checkIt must be worn on the driver’s clothes.
What to do if the boat starts to sink?
If the hole is severe and the boat quickly loses buoyancy, don't try to row to shore. Turn the boat upside down (if the design and condition permits), climb on an inverted cylinder and paddle to shore with your hands or use the paddle as a stop. Air cylinders will keep you on the surface longer than a semi-submerged boat.
Boat maintenance after rafting
Completing the alloy is only half the battle. Aggressive river water, sand, thin and solar ultraviolet rays leave their mark on the materials. Properly preserving the boat after the hike guarantees its long life. PVC is afraid not so much of water as of dirt, which absorbs moisture and crystallizes when dried, damaging the fabric structure.
The first task on return is to thoroughly wash the boat with fresh water, paying attention to the folds and seams. Use a soft sponge and special PVC cleaning products, avoiding aggressive chemicals and solvents. After washing, the boat must completely dry in the shade. Drying in the direct sun or in the battery is unacceptable, as this leads to tissue dissection and deformation of the seams.
- 🧼 Cleanup: Remove all contaminants, silt and algae with a soft brush.
- 🌬️ Drying: Leave the boat in a straightened form in a ventilated room for 24-48 hours.
- 🧴 Processing: Once a season, treat the cylinders with a protective composition with a UV filter.
Keep the boat should be straightened or slightly lowered, in a case, in a dry and dark place. Sharp temperature changes and rodents are the main enemies of the stored vessel. (regular inspection) of the condition of the valves and seams before the next season is mandatory.
Quality drying and cleaning of the boat after each alloy increase its service life by 2-3 times, preventing the decay of fabric and the destruction of adhesive seams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which motor is better to choose for alloying: 2 or 4 strokes?
For river rafting with frequent stops and the need to maneuver, two-stroke engines are more often chosen: they are lighter, cheaper and easier to repair in the field. 4-strokes are more economical and quieter, but they are heavier, afraid of rolling (which is important for narrow PVC boats) and require more space for transportation.
Do I need to register a PVC boat with an engine?
According to the current legislation of the Russian Federation, registration in the GIMS are subject to small vessels weighing more than 200 kg (in running order) OR with an engine capacity of more than 8 kW (about 10.88 hp). If your boat is lighter than 200 kg and the engine is weaker than 10 hp, registration is not required, but the availability of rights and documents for the engine during inspection can be requested.
How to protect the boat from stone punctures?
Use cylinder-protected models (Kevlar tape, reinforced linings). When passing through shallow water, partially inflate the boat so that it is stiffer and less flowing around the stones, but be prepared to pump it afterward. Move slowly, dropping gas in front of invisible areas.
Is it possible to use a PVC boat in winter?
Regular PVC at temperatures below -10°C becomes "oak" and breaks in folds. For winter fishing, there are special freeze-resistant models made of reinforced materials, but they are much more expensive. It is strongly recommended not to use a summer boat in the cold.