Question: Avon Rover 310 Rolling up secrets for small package??

[We2Sail12113]

Avon Rover 310 Hypalon, with an Air Deck.

I got a bag to keep my dinghy in when it's not in use. My problem, is that I can't seem to figure out the best way to rollup the Avon Rover 310 (Hypalon) so it will fit back into it's bag.

Avon Rover 310

What I did last winter was just to turn the transom flat, let the tubes flatten out, fold the ends of the tubes behind the transom then just roll up toward the bow.

It appeared as though the tubes should fold inward to make narrower but thicker roll, but darn, then it doesn't fit back into the carry bag.

Or was the carry bag designed to sell the dinghy with, and drive owners crazy, if they think they're going to rebag the dinghy?

It appears as though the two oars (in four parts) and the Air deck should also fit into the carry bag (somehow).

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Rich Stidger]

This is the classic problem of refolding a road map flat like original or trying to put ten pounds of s**t in a five pound bag.

We have a different dinghy- an Achilles with a roll-up air floor. We simply (don't you hate it when you are told it will be simple??) fold the pointy ends of the tubes inward toward each other and with the transom vertical, before taking the first roll toward the bow, we take half of the side tubes and fold them inward so that the rolled dinghy will be narrower.

Our valves are completely removed so no air can be caught in the tubes.

It fits!!! In fact, there is room to spare and the straps around the bag cannot be pulled tight because there is no more adjustment.

Maybe you need a bigger bag? Seriously, it sounds like you are doing it right, and it "should" fit. Then again, I have sat on suitcases to persuade them to close.

Maybe you are right- it's a conspiracy by Avon to drive the owners mad. Sounds like it's working.....

 

[Joe]

I have a cheapo 3 compartment with no hard transom. Larger, more sophisticated models may be a bit more complex. The problem I always had was getting the air completely scavenged from the tubes. Natural air pressure seemed insufficient. I've had success by reversing the pump and sucking the air out to help flatten it completely.

 

[Bob S]

It's a bear! done it twice and felt I was damaging the dinghy by folding it so tight. Do you store it in the bag. I read somewhere it's not a good idea folding the dink for storage. Something to do with mice nesting and eating holes. Since reading that I store mine almost fully inflated so it would take a very large mouse to fit it's mouth around it!

 

[Don12364]

Two Tips

1) Use a dinghy pump to get ALL the air out whilst folding as Rich suggests. Then set the valves closed.

2) Sew a 6" wide sailcloth gusset down each side of the bag using sail-makers thread. This will solve the problem for ever. I did it and was very satisfied. Scrounge a reel end of thread from your friendly local sailmaker. A normal sewing machine will do it if you use a thick needle.