Questions about the Avon 310 Rover?

[We2Sail12113]

Subject: Questions about the Avon 310 Rover?

I bought a used 2004 Avon 310 Rover, and all the PO told me was to use the manual foot pump, that it had a low pressure valve for the tubes (two inlets) and a high pressure valve to top them off. And to be careful not to overfill the keel.

He also provided to me an Avon Pressure gauge, with both a Normal pressure and a high pressure indicators. However, it appears the pressure gauge does not work. Is it likely that I don't get a pressure reading because although the tubes feel firm and "give' to a strong touch, that the tubes are still underinflated?

I noticed that as I pumped up the air deck floor, that it began to look more like a blimp than a floor, so I let out some air until it looked more like a floor.

The keel seemed to inflate OK, but still, I do not know to what pressure it should have been filled.

I need to know: Can the Avon be overfilled with this Avon foot pump? I read someplace (data plate with weights capacity and serial number) that it would be 3 psi.

I read in another place that some footpumps have a pressure by-pass in them. Is the Avon one of them?

How do I know if is filled to 3 psi?

On my old Achilles, I just filled it till it was 'firm'.

"Firm" seems to work for this Avon, but I noticed with 4 adults it felt a little "squishy" underfoot (about 750 pounds of human flesh with clothing plus the two oars). And the rowing 1/4 mile to shore wasn't too bad.

Speaking of oars, is there a quick way to remove them when approaching another object from the side? It seems very awkward getting the oar out while negotiating the dingbhy dock or the mother ship. (I miss the Achilles "bolted in place system" for the oars.)

I read elsewhere that without a lot of care, the Avon Airdeck floor only lasts about 3 years.?
(Protect from suns rays.)

Anything else a new used Avon 310 owner should know about these otherwise exceptional boats?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Avon 310

I have had my Avon 310 for 6 seasons and the only problem with it has been leaking from the valves on the tubes. I put some teflon tape on the threads and it stopped.

The original foot pump has two locations to input the flexible air tube - a high pressure and a low pressure. I am going off memory, but I believe the floor is to be inflated to 11 psi and the tubes and keel to 3 psi. There is a bypass valve on my pump that will spill air when the max is reached. There is also a separate air guage that I have never used, but could be screwed into a fitting to see the air pressure.

I store my unit on the bow, typically tubes up. In the winter, I have deflated and stored in my enclosed cockpit, deflated and stored under cover on the bow, inflated and stored upside down on the bow. You name it and I have done it. No problem and I see plenty of use still in the unit. I am in southern Kentucky, not Florida, so take that into consideration about the life.

 

[We2Sail12113]

Re: Avon 310

Thank You! Exactly what I needed to know!

Have youy had any issues with the air deck floor (if that is what you have?) I suspect mine is broken, as it tends to ballon up in the middle which is significabtly higher than the edges along the tubes. But, with a replacment aird deck in the order of $1500 - $1700USD, it is not going to get replaced any time soon, unless it is still under warranty.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

No problem with Air floor.

My air floor is still flat and not bulging like yours. Sounds like you may have some problem with it.

 

[We2Sail12113]

Avon Air Deck leaks, patched now

Thank You! Exactly what I needed to know!

Have you had any issues with the air deck floor (if that is what you have?) I suspect mine is broken, as it tends to ballon up in the middle which is significabtly higher than the edges along the tubes.

Bob

I was wrong. The floor was bulging up because it cold not be inflated properly. I had the leaks fixed and now all works as it is supposed to. The center air chamber pushed up on the partially deflated floor, causing the bulge.