Need help, advice !

[theteacher]

Air pressure gauge, which 1 do you guys suggest? 2009 Avon Rover 310 LITE.
I NEED A GAUGE !!!!!!!
I have NO idea how much 2.5 PSI is or what it feels like in hypolon.
Thanks.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

Buy a pressure gauge that fits your air valves, most gauges you will find fits Halkey Roberts Air valves, not compatible with Avon. If you have never inflated a sib/rib with a gauge to a determined pressure and test it with finger gauge, you will never know if it has reached that pressure.

Without a gauge, inflate side tubes untill you can flex slightly end cones to sides. This is supposed to be a universal pressure gauge, the right hole is to attch a pump and read pressure while inflating. If current pump doesn't fit can close hole with a lid, will work perfect. Just insert tube extreme and read. Check Defender for them, but before you buy ask if will fit Avon valves.

Happy Boating

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need help, advice !

I use this one http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1722 for my old Odyssey hypalon raft. Works fine with my old school military valves. I'm not sure what kind your Avon has, but chances are it will work with them too. As to what 2.5 psi feels like on a hypo boat? Pretty darned stiff. When I started using a gauge I was amazed at how much I had been underinflating.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Need help, advice !

When I got my first RIB I went to a inflatable boat dealer to look for a pressure gauge. I told the guy what I was looking for and he said that I didn't need it. He said "Just pump up the tubes 'til they're hard." That advice seems to have worked so far. I pump my tubes up until there is just a little give if pushed with the heal of my hand.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need help, advice !

When I got my first RIB I went to a inflatable boat dealer to look for a pressure gauge. I told the guy what I was looking for and he said that I didn't need it. He said "Just pump up the tubes 'til they're hard." That advice seems to have worked so far. I pump my tubes up until there is just a little give if pushed with the heal of my hand.

That's what I thought too. Then I tried a pressure gauge and discovered I was inflating different tubes to different PSIs, all of which were significantly less than the recommended 2.5. While it can cause aggravation, especially if you're doing multi-day floats in cold Ozark rivers, this is not that big a deal. However, what is a big deal is overinflating, which can lead to blown baffles. IMO a good pressure gauge is worth the thirty bucks or so it costs. YMMV.

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

I'm buying 1 for sure. We've only had it out once, yesterday, and I'm sure it was under inflated. Now they're forcasting rain for a LONG time. I will probably have a gauge ordered and at my house by the time I can splash it again.

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

Just ordered it, thanks.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

That's what I thought too. Then I tried a pressure gauge and discovered I was inflating different tubes to different PSIs, all of which were significantly less than the recommended 2.5. While it can cause aggravation, especially if you're doing multi-day floats in cold Ozark rivers, this is not that big a deal. However, what is a big deal is overinflating, which can lead to blown baffles. IMO a good pressure gauge is worth the thirty bucks or so it costs. YMMV.

I'll plainly second that, seems we are the only ones in this forum using pressure gauges, be pro, stop guessing tube pressures by finger touch, bending rear end cones, pushing with hand heel if inflating sibs, on ribs no big issue as hull floats itself alone and tubes rests less on water than a sib does. Theteacher, you have invested wisely; neat riding satisfaction guaranteed.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

Went out today with another couple on my little 310 Lite. Couldn't get on plane, which didn't surprise me at all, I didn't think it would. But after our 2 hour ride around the lake and after letting them take it for a spin by themselves, I went out on it solo with GPS in hand to check top speed......I hit 22.6 mph. I was a little surprised about that, and that was with the 9.9 Merc on the lowest trim setting that keeps the bow in the water the most. Next time I'm going to move the trim setting and see how many mph I can add to 22.6 !!!
This little RIB is a lot of fun. I'm seriously considering selling my 22' Stingray to buy a bigger RIB. We just don't have too many to chose from here in the states. like they do in the UK. Tho' the 65 mph Stingray will be hard to sell.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

Float your rib, stand on water next to engine, move trim hole to a hole that will give a perpendicular engine to sea level, move yourself a bit towards bow, if you preffer for the test sit in middle deck at that position, full wot and check if any difference with respect to first trim hole. Pretty good speed for that size rib and engine. My 420 mt rib with a 18 horse does 22 knots with me solo, no wind and flat calm waters.

Those fancy ribs seen in UK cost both eyes and some teeth as well. Better is to stay simple, roomy and affordable.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

Sea Rider,
Where do you boat, the South Pacific?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

Sea Rider,
Where do you boat, the South Pacific?

Yes Lima, and the sea is very Pacific. Forgot to mention yesterday that once you have set trim at correct hole (usually 2-3 hole out) you could check water flow at plane passing by the tail to fine tune engine height if needed to give that rib/engine it's max rated power.

By the way, if you have a 2 stroke 9.9 Merc why don't you pass it to 15 for peanuts assuming it's a disguissed Tohatsu 9.9, mod is simple and reliable, that way will move more pasengers at more speed. That 310 rib will handle a 15 nicely. Imagine we use a 18 on a 320 rib.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

My 9.9 Merc is a 4 stroke, not a 2. Can it be passed to 15 easily?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

Seems not, 9.9 is a 210 cc engine compared to 350 cc for the 15, different blocks, different animals.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

I use this one http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1722 for my old Odyssey hypalon raft. Works fine with my old school military valves. I'm not sure what kind your Avon has, but chances are it will work with them too. As to what 2.5 psi feels like on a hypo boat? Pretty darned stiff. When I started using a gauge I was amazed at how much I had been underinflating.

The gauge arrived yesterday, of course I had to inflate the rib in the garage, just to see what different psi's felt like....as I assumed, I was under inflating it before, but no more, it'll always be at or near 2.5 psi !!!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

Is that inflatable rated for max 2.5 psi ? Seems low. Normally rated for 3.0-3.5 psi to perform best. If so, reinflate and top sib once floating after a while, time for tube's temperature to set.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

The manual said to keep it between 2 and 3, to target 2.5.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need help, advice !

The manual said to keep it between 2 and 3, to target 2.5.

One thing is to keep it, other, factory recommended working pressure, it those stated pressures are working ones, top to 3 psi once floating, nothing will happen, just better water performance, remember you have a folding transom and rib needs the best tube/transom rigidity you can inflate it to.

Happy Boating

 

[theteacher]

Re: Need help, advice !

One thing is to keep it, other, factory recommended working pressure, it those stated pressures are working ones, top to 3 psi once floating, nothing will happen, just better water performance, remember you have a folding transom and rib needs the best tube/transom rigidity you can inflate it to.

Happy Boating

I like the idea of 3 psi better, so it's good to hear it's safe ! The pressure gauge I ordered got here and I look forward to hitting the water again at the correct pressure, but it's raining.
I also bought a small trailer. It's NOT ok to trailer it with the 9.9 Mercury on it, correct?

 

[CapeAnn]

Re: Need help, advice !

I like the idea of 3 psi better, so it's good to hear it's safe ! The pressure gauge I ordered got here and I look forward to hitting the water again at the correct pressure, but it's raining.
I also bought a small trailer. It's NOT ok to trailer it with the 9.9 Mercury on it, correct?

I trailer my SIB with a 15 HP engine on it for short distances, slower speeds and known routes. For longer distances I feel more comfortable with the engine in the trunk (correct side down) and just the empty SIB bouncing in the back. The 9.9 is something like 80 lbs so it's a little easier to move around vs. the the 15 HP which is something like 115 pounds! Sometimes when I lift the 115 engine I wonder if I am going to bust a gut or something!