Fender Reinflation

[Roger Long]

My well used fenders are getting flat and squishy. They have what look like the little needle valves you see on basketballs and such.

Question: If I track down one of those little hand pumps, are they likely to re-inflate and hold air or are the valves likely to be so stiff with age that they will just go flat quickly again?

The reason I ask is that I'm cruising and can get new fenders just up the street (Why are these things so expensive?) whereas getting to a sporting goods store is a major expedition.

 

[Sailvayu]

Yes you should be able to refill them. You do not need much pressure in them. It is possible the valves are dried out but you never know till you try. Use a bit of lube and it should be fine.

Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com

 

[Rich Stidger]

Roger- I add a bit of air to mine each year - they seem to leak just a little over 12 months. If you have one of those air-powered horns, they come with a small hand pump. You just need a standard inflation needle. Don't push the needle in all the way; just until the air will enter the fender. I think inserting the needle too far will puncture the inside structure of the rubber valve.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Yep, too simple. I keep a hand type bicycle pump in my truck, with associated needle valve, because I end up re-pumping them for customers commonly.

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. Like Rich, I put a little air in every year. I use a little bicycle pump and needle I got at Wally Woild .. I put a smidge of SuperLube in the valve port first and coat the needle and don't push it in too far.. if ya do, it will leak after .. uhhhh yes, I have evidence on that... I also hang mine so the valve is on the bottom so dirt doesn't get into the valves.
Yes, I agree that $35 for $2 worth of plastic is outrageous.

 

[jibes138]

I think taylor made fenders are lifetime warrantied so you may be able to trade them in for new ones at a west marine or other chandlery. Several factors to consider, one is air temp will lower the internal pressure so they will be a lot softer when cold. The valves will leak very slowly, I used to make hermetically sealed sensors and pressure vessels that were DOT rated, and while it may take 15 years for a tank to leak it will still leak at an extremely low rate. So yes you need to add a little air once in a while. If you add air and then they go soft quickly you probably have a bad valve in which case you should be able to exercise the lifetime warranty.

 

[Ron20324]

Jimmy Buffett put Elmer's Glue in his waterbed, so maybe.....

 

[Chris Burti]

Roger, I've had very good luck reinflating old fenders using a manual pump with a sports ball needle and always moistening the valve with a little saliva. I also confiscated a cheap plastic pump that came with a volleyball that our children abandoned...no metal parts other than the needle and it doesn't require a lot of pressure.