question about tube pressure

[Rakumi]

Ok, so i have my boat in my basement inflated because i was seeing how my upgrades looked. I left it inflated for a few weeks. The inner wall was extra inflated because maybe it got hot in the basement. But the outer tube felt soft even though i pulled out the intex measuring clear strip and it said it was exactly where it needed to be.

Do others go by the clear strip if you own an intex or do you pump it till its kind of tight? It feels funny when the boat feels soft. Like as if this will effect the motor when i put it on, which i have yet to use for a first time do to cold weather.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: question about tube pressure

Pressure varies while sib is at storage, not an issue, no way you'll be boating at a basement. Intex are low pressure sibs, if wanting to get the near best of them while using a motor, re inflate sib to it's max rated clear strip gauge pressure once on water and after several minutes rest for overall pressure to stabilize. If that sib has pleated seams don't over inflate it, could bust fabric side of seams with exceesive sun, or if a wave crashes on top sib.

Happy Boating

 

[Loop_Dad]

Re: question about tube pressure

Ok, so i have my boat in my basement inflated because i was seeing how my upgrades looked. I left it inflated for a few weeks. The inner wall was extra inflated because maybe it got hot in the basement. But the outer tube felt soft even though i pulled out the intex measuring clear strip and it said it was exactly where it needed to be.

Do others go by the clear strip if you own an intex or do you pump it till its kind of tight? It feels funny when the boat feels soft. Like as if this will effect the motor when i put it on, which i have yet to use for a first time do to cold weather.

What do you mean by inner wall and outer tube? You can't exactly feel what's inside, can you?

Anyhow, I had my Mariner-4 for two seasons. I never trusted the tape thingy because while tape says it is inflated, the hardness can be very different each time. I bought a low pressure gauge from West Marine. I couldn't trust this thing either as Mariner's pressure is too low for the gauge. There are probably better (and more expensive) gauge.

Now I just go by how I feel. I start out a bit low side in the summer and adjust on the water. In winter I just inflate to where it should be from the start and boat stays about the same pressure all day.

However if your set up is like mine, electric motor only, I don't see much performance loss by a bit under inflated since we are not planing or anything anyways.Only time performance is effected is when the pressure is too low so that tubes holding the transom digs in the back of the boat and motor goes under. Then you need to pump some air in for sure.

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: question about tube pressure

I totally agree with loop on this one....I don't think the mariner is made to have enough pressure on it that it makes a big difference. I lost that little gauge before I ever took mine out and it's never been an issue.

I'd imagine that if you have a small gas motor it may be more of an issue.

 

[Rakumi]

Re: question about tube pressure

Hey loop, well the inner and outer wall part is specific to the other intex boats not including the mariner, mrdrh99 knows what i mean because he has the excursion also. But you do get my point about how when you are inflated to the suggested amount and it feels short on air. I am guessing maybe the measuring strip does not account for low pressure due to cold because all the air is still there? I dont know.
One of my air cbambers (the outer cbamber) gained air pressure when i had it blow up and it felt perfect to me and when i checked and saw it was way over inflated, i aired it out to normal and it felt too little afterwards. So will a little over the measured amount not cause an issue?