Any experienced angler or lover of outdoor activities on the water sooner or later faces the problem of organizing space in an inflatable vessel. PVC It rarely provides a full working surface, which creates significant inconvenience during long exits. Decomposed gear, food, navigator and thermos are often scattered on cylinders or wet paiola, interfering with freedom of movement.
The solution to this problem is specialized. PVC boat-bedIt's a sleek, sleek, sleek way of turning a normal vessel into a comfortable floating office or a full-fledged fishing mill. Modern models allow you not only to place objects, but also to securely fix them even in a strong wave or a sharp maneuver. In this article, we will discuss in detail what designs are, how to install them correctly and what to look for when choosing.
Installation of additional equipment requires a balanced approach, since inflatable sides have a certain flexibility and can not always withstand rigid structures without proper load distribution. It's important to understandIt is believed that an improperly fixed table can damage the fabric of the cylinder or disturb the centering of the boat, so before buying it, you need to study the features of your boat and the available options for attachments.
Types and designs of tables for inflatable boats
The boating accessories market offers many options for organizing space. boat-board You can divide it into several main types, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of a particular model depends on the tasks you set yourself while fishing or relaxing.
The most common option is the sling boards, which are mounted directly on the stern, taking up minimal space in the cockpit, ideal for sonars, GPS navigators and a minimum set of gear. outboard Access to the transom may be limited.
More complex systems are tables mounted on side cylinders with special brackets, which can be located in the center of the boat or with a shift, providing access to the work area from either side. Some models are equipped with adjustable legs, which allows them to be used even on uneven surfaces of paiola or inflatable floor.
- 🎣 Transche tables are mounted on the stern, ideal for navigation and sonar.
- ⚓ Onboard consoles – mounted on cylinders, provide access from anywhere in the boat.
- 🛶 Universal racks - have a flexible mount and can be installed at any point of the cockpit.
- 🔧 Modular systems - allow you to combine a countertop with rod holders and drawers.
⚠️ Attention! When choosing a table, pay attention to the weight of the structure. A table that is too heavy on one side can create a dangerous roll, especially in small boats up to 3 meters long.
And folding structures are particularly noteworthy, because they allow for compact folding of transportation and storage equipment, and when unfolded, they provide a hard surface, but they require a strong fixation to keep them from spontaneously folding during movement, and folding mechanisms are usually made of stainless steel or anodized aluminum.
Materials of manufacture and their impact on the operation
Durability and functionality PVC boat accessories The water, sun, salt spray and mechanical stresses are very demanding in terms of quality of execution, and the wrong choice of material can lead to rapid corrosion or collapse of the structure.
The most popular material for frames is aluminum, often anode coated, which combines lightness and sufficient strength. Stainless steel It is used for fasteners and responsible components, as it is practically free from corrosion, but has a greater weight. For budget models, sometimes a conventional steel profile with painting is used, but such products require careful care.
Countertops are made of various composites, moisture-resistant plywood or durable plastic. Plywood, even moisture-resistant, can swell over time if the ends are not protected properly. Plastic is light and not afraid of water, but in bright sun can become brittle or burn out. Composite materials are considered optimal because they are strong, light and inert to water.
When choosing, pay attention to the quality of the fittings. Bolts, nuts and hinges should be made of materials resistant to seawater. Conventional ferrous metal will quickly rust, and rust can stain your clothes or rust. gearThe ideal option is to use fasteners made of AISI 316 or titanium, although the cost of such products will be higher.
Methods of fastening and installation of equipment
The right installation is the key to safety and comfort. There are several basic ways to fix it. boat-tableThe choice depends on the design of your vessel, and installation errors can result in damage to cylinders or loss of equipment overboard.
Fixing to squirrel boards is the easiest and most reliable method for stern tables. Usually, rods or through bolts are used. If you choose the squirt option, make sure they have soft rubber pads so as not to damage wood or plastic of the squirt board. Through mounting requires drilling, which is not always acceptable for owners.
The mounting is done with special brackets that cover the balloon, and these systems often use the principle of reproofing or belts with buckles, and it is important that the points of contact are protected with soft material, otherwise when the boat is rolled on the wave, the hard metal can rub the fabric. PVC or Hypalon.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Central tables often have systems that rest on the floor of the boat and rest on the sides or special stops, in which case it is critical to distribute the pressure on the floorboard, the use of wide support areas reduces the risk of pressing the inflatable floor or displacement of the hard floor.
| Type of attachment | Difficulty of installation | Risk of damage to the boat | Universality |
|---|---|---|---|
| transom (strubcines) | Low. | Minimum | Medium |
| Onboard (brackets) | Medium | Medium. | High. |
| Central (centered) | High. | Highly | Low. |
| Inflatable supports | Low. | Missing. | Medium |
Organization of the fishing workplace
Having a table is a huge change in how you go fishing from a boat, not just a mug stand, but a full-fledged work area, and a well-equipped place can respond more quickly to bites and spend less time finding the right bait.
First of all, you need to think about the placement of navigation devices. echoer and GPS-navigator The table allows you to raise the screens to a comfortable level, eliminating the need to constantly bend over, and the cables from the devices should be carefully fixed so that they do not hang around and get confused under your feet.
It's also convenient to have a bait and bait area on the table, so you can have trays or a flat surface that you can keep everything on hand, and for spinners, the important thing is that you have rod holders that are integrated into the design of the table or placed next to you, and that frees your hands to work with the coil or the phone.
And the little things that you need to remember are there's always space for passages, yawners, extractors and scissors on the table, and many anglers use magnetic strips or small organizers attached to the side of the table, which prevents tools from falling into the water or into the bottom of the boat, where they're hard to get out.
Safety and sustainability on water
Safety when installing additional equipment on an inflatable vessel comes first, with soft sides and a movable bottom, which creates specific operating conditions, and any additional design changes the center of gravity and sailing of the vessel.
The rule is that the table should not have sharp corners or faces facing towards the cylinders. When you roll or get excited, a rocking boat can damage itself against a rigid element of the interior. All corners should be rounded, and fasteners should be sunk or closed with plugs. Security It also implies the reliability of fixation: the table should not be displaced by a sharp jerk.
Pay special attention to wind load. A high table, especially with a sonar screen or awning mounted on it, works like a sail. On planing or in high side winds, this can lead to the boat tipping over, so the dimensions of the table must match the size of the vessel.
⚠️ Never attach heavy loads (such as an anchor or a spare fuel tank) directly to the design of the table unless designed to handle such loads by the boat manufacturer.
You should do a stability check on the shore, try to lean on the table with all your weight, imitating the roll of the boat, the structure should not creak, stagger or deform, if you feel insecure about the reliability of the anchorages, you should avoid using such a table in long exits.
Do it yourself: should you make a table yourself?
Many owners of gold-handed boats prefer to make accessories themselves, which saves their budget and makes it possible to create a product that fits perfectly for a particular boat model. But is the game worth the effort? Let's take a look at the pros and cons.
You can make a homemade table with materials you can make -- aluminum corners, pipes, plywood -- you can choose the configuration, the height, the layout of the elements, and this is especially true for boats that are not standard sizes or old models that no longer have factory accessories, and the creative process is fun, and the result is pleasing to the eye.
On the other hand, factory products are tested for strength and corrosion resistance, it is difficult to replicate anodizing or high-quality argon welding technologies at home, and the time spent finding materials and manufacturing can cost more than buying a finished solution.
If you're making your own, use only quality materials: aluminum profile, stainless fasteners, PVF-grade moisture-resistant plywood. Be sure to process all cuts and joints to eliminate burrs. Remember that your life and the life of your companions depends on the reliability of every detail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use a regular plastic picnic table in a PVC boat?
In theory, it is possible, but it is highly recommended that plastic tables do not have special attachments to fix on the soft side or transom; on water, such a table will become unstable and can easily tip over by dropping equipment or gear into the water. In addition, the legs of such tables often have no protection and can damage the fabric of the boat.
How to protect an aluminum table from corrosion in salt water?
For use in salt water, it is best to choose products made of anodized aluminum or stainless steel AISI 316. If the table is already made of ordinary aluminum, it can be covered with special yacht varnishes or epoxy soils. After each outing, the structure must be thoroughly washed with fresh water.
Will the table withstand the installation of a powerful sonar with a large screen?
Most specialised PVC boat tables are designed for standard navigation equipment, but when installing large displays (from 7 inches) and heavy batteries, you need to check the load capacity of the structure, in such cases it is recommended to use reinforced brackets and additional support points.
Do I need to rent a table when transporting a boat in assembled form?
Yes, in most cases, the table needs to be dismantled or folded, the inflatable sides change geometry when blown off, and a rigidly fixed table can create points of overpressure, which will lead to tissue damage, and the removed table takes up less space in the bag or trunk of the car.