Inflating Inflatable

[lehighsail]

I recently posted about whether to tow or bring the inflatable on board and I thank you and appreciate all the responses.

One more question, what is the preferred way to inflate a 10ft. dinghy when not at the dock? They come with a foot pump but this seems too much work. What type of compressor works well on 12VDC.

Thanks again.

 

[kloudie1]

I use something like this http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-12V-QuickPump-Air-Pump/9870593#Item+Description
It cannot quite get to a high enough pressure so ya have to use the foot pump to get the correct pressure.. but MUCH faster than going with only the foot pump.

 

[Squidd]

I've tried a couple 12v air pumps and the ones from China wouldn't pump air in a paper bag... the colman is OK but overpriced, but this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Air-Pump-12...667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab4f008c3 seemed well made with a heavy 10' power cord and max air pressure to fill quickly and completely...Just holding it in your hand it has some weight (=magnets in motor)...

Doesn't look like much, but of the three I can guarentee it will fill your inflateable boat to readiness...

 

[Ron20324]

Doesn't look like much, but of the three I can guarentee it will fill your inflateable boat to readiness...

I've always wondered what the PSI is needed to inflate a dinghy. Any ideas?

 

[Steve Dion]

Ron:

Each mfg is slightly different but somewhere around 3 psi is about right. The inflatable floors are MUCH higher.

You really need to check the owners manuals for your model.

 

[Squidd]

Don't think I've ever seen a psi rating on an inflator or inflateable...

They are more a "turbine" fan rather than a compression pump, so they depend on volume and velocity of air movement to develop "pressure"...they need tight tolerances between fan and housing to prevent "stalling" airflow and a decent motor to keep fan speed up...

 

[robertsapp]

There are a variety of dinghy air pumps available from the chandlery on this site. If you look on the marine supply sites like Defender, you'll find a choice of electric pumps that can handle the 11psi that air floors and inflatable kayaks and paddle boards require.

 

[Steve W]

I use a 12v inflatable which can output up to about 14 psi and is adjustable. So if you set it for 4 psi, it shuts off after reaching that. I forget the brand (it's on the boat and I'm not) but I originally bought it when I had an inflatable floor dingy. The floor needed about 9-10 psi to get rigid.

I now have an RIB but still use that pump for the tubes. In general, I'd say most dingy side tubes (and keel tube if it's a slat floor or sectional floor) take between 3 and 4 psi.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Because we have a good inverter, we bought a 120V pump. Works great, but the air floor still needs the foot pump to finish it off.

 

[Bob S]

I use the foot pump, I can do it on the bow with no problem. Once inflated it usually stays inflated so it's not often I need to do it. I like busting my wife's butt and asking her to take over but that rarely happens. Only once I wished I had a 12v pump, the temps were in the mid 90's.

 

[DougM]

Zodiacs specify four pounds in the tubes and the inflatible floor type takes ten pounds in the floor. i have a 120v pump that came from Boaters World back when. It does the tubes in a minute or two, but doesn't have the power to get the air floor done. The foot pump is a pain.

 

[Benny17441]

If we know we are going to be using the Inflatable we fill it up at the dock using a smalll wet/dry vacum cleaner by reversing the hose to the discharge port. It provides ample volume with adequate pressure. I could do it on the boat by pluggin it to the inverter but somehow it does not bother me to use the foot pump. Anyway I like to re-pressurize it in the mornings and I sue the foot pump for that.

 

[31seahorse]

"Foot Pump Dance"

Hello Members,
I'm shocked that very few of you (or us) enjoy doing the one leg foot pump dance! After tireing of the small puffs from that type of pump we looked for other manual pumps. At many of the sporting goods stores or camping sections hand operated pumps are sold at pretty cheap prices.
The one we have is called Double Quick III by Intex. It's cylinder is about 3 3/4 inches in diameter and 16 inches tall. The really amazing trick is that it pumps air on both the up and the down stroke! It fills the dinghy tubes pretty quickly and provides adequate pressure.
I made a fitting for the end of the pumps fill tube by using a piece of garden hose that was cut to fit over the bars in the fill cap of the dinghy valve.
Refreshment is often welcome after that pumping exertion, but that refreshment might be refused if all one did was plug in an electric pump.
Respectfully, Phil

 

[Sumner]

We have used one of these....

http://www.boatersland.com/kwkahp12h.html

...on the Zodiac for the past couple years. It says that it goes to .9 psi, but it seems a lot higher than that as I usually don't use the foot pump to top it off. I do normally use the foot pump every few days to add a little air. I've soaped the dinghy down and can't find a leak but it will require a few pumps every couple days.

The dinghy has a hard floor and not a high pressure one. We use the same pump on a couple blow-up beds we have. It puts out a lot of air and is quick and reversing it empties the dinghy very quickly and really compacts it in.

I have two extension cords I made from cheap hardware store outdoor ext. cord. One has clamps on the one end and we clamp it onto the Suburban's battery to fill the dinghy at the ramp with a female on the other. The other cord has a male 12 volt plug on one end and female on the other. It will plug into any of the 12 volt outlets we have on the boat.

Sum

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