WM RU-260 question

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May 23, 2007
1,306
Catalina Capri 22 Albany, Oregon
Picked up a used RU-260 inflatable dinghy today. A bit different than what's in the WM catalog but in pretty good shape. I've got a couple questions for anyone who has one:

How do you know when it's pumped up enough? Should the tubes be hard or should there be a bit of flex? I don't want to blow out a seam but I don't want it to fold in half on me when I rev up the motor either.

It only has a single D-ring on the bow - can I use the oar pins if I want to make a bridle?

any thoughts on how I can secure a battery for a trolling motor? I don't see anything inside to tie the battery (& battery box) down to.

Thanks,

Chris
 
A

Alex

Hard

If you are using a foot pump, pump until you can't pump any more. You want the tubes as hard as you can get them so the boat does not flex. You could not possibly "pop" the chambers by pumping.
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Pump it to drum hard. The sun will cause expansion of the air. On my inflatable, one is supposed to pump one side partially, switch to the other and pump it fully, and then switch back to the original side to finish up. This is better for the membrane the separates the tubes.
 
May 23, 2007
1,306
Catalina Capri 22 Albany, Oregon
Is that a hard or a soft bottom?
Soft with 5 or 6 slats across the aft half to help firm it up I guess. This one doesn't plane though I'd think it would come close if I put the 4HP from Verboten on it.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
It's not a good idea to pump it up super hard in the cool of the morning. As noted, the heat will expand the air and could put too much pressure in the air chambers. In such case it might be a good idea to let some air out. Best bet is to pump it just when you're goiong to use it.... Most often the bridle should tie at the transom then run through the bow D ring and then to the towing line. Just let the D act as a fairlead, and not take the tension of the dingy being towed. Many a ring has been peeled off that way.... If memory serves me right, there's but 3 pounds of air pressure in the dingy?
 
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