Zodiac/Inflatable Flexing Question????

[entropyak]

I have a 15.5ft zodiac (1975) with wooden floorboards. This weekend I took it out, and about 20 secs up on step, the floor braces broke and the floor boards buckled. Granted, they were old, so I replaced them with aluminum ones. The braces hold three of the four floor boards rigid. (not including the little triangle piece up front!) The front full board seems to flex and I get creases in the pontoons. I have the boat pumped up as rigid as I can get it, but I can still feel the flex. Is this normal???<br />Thank you!<br />Carrie

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Zodiac/Inflatable Flexing Question????

Hi entropy. What kind of pump are you using to fill the tubes? It takes a heavy duty pump to get enough pressure in the tubes (not the cheapie pumps you can buy at wal mart) and even then, it's good to top them off with a hand pump. The tubes are going to flex some, but they shouldn't flex enough to displace your floorboards. Good luck and welcome to iboats!

 

[danie]

Re: Zodiac/Inflatable Flexing Question????

From years of experience with inflatable boats I would like to suggest that you do not pump the pontoons too hard as it will drastically shorten the life of the joints and the material, especially if exposed to the sun.<br />A very small amount of flex is normal on a full inflatable but it should never crease the pontoons. A semi-rigid iboat should not flex at all.<br />Depending on the way you store the boat (folded or on trailer), I suggest that you obtain one solid floorboard that covers the whole floor and which is properly/permanently fixed in place.<br />Alternatively I suggest that you replace the boat with a semi-rigid which is a much stronger construction and will give better enjoyment for your money.

 

[entropyak]

Re: Zodiac/Inflatable Flexing Question????

Thanks for the info! I have been using the zodiac foot pump to inflate before I take to water and then I inflate again after we have put in water. (water is very cold and pontoons shrink!!) I talked with someone last night that suggested the change in prop size (which I did last weekend) could have caused the boat to push the bow through the water, thus causing undo stress on old boards which responded by breaking. I am running a 30 hp 2 stroke yamaha.<br />Boat is stored loosely inflated, on trailer, covered with a tarp. Sun kills everything up here!<br />Carrie