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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Pump for an inflatable

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/14/2012 : 06:37:50

I have an 11' dinghie that I just need to paint the reg. no's on, then I can take it down to the boat for when the tide is too low to sail (and, of course, for towing behind us on our adventures). After I bought it, I brought it home and inflated it using a compressor I have at home. The compressor is a pancake type, and doesn't output a lot of air as a continuous stream, so inflation was a 30-45 minute process. It was CERTAINLY easier than using the foot pump that came with the boat, but it was still a long process. The boat holds air fairly well, but as with any inflatible, it does lose pressure over time, so I expect to need to "top it off" every so often, which means I'll need to keep something at the boat.

I've considered a 12v inflator, since it would let me top off using the boat battery, but I'm not sure that's really a necessity since I'll be at a dock with shore power, and a 110v pump will probably make even quicker work of the task than the 12v.

So, for those with inflatables - dinghies, tubes, etc. - what do you use? Do you like it? How long does it take to fill the inflatable?

- Jim
Formerly of 1984 C25 named Dragon Wing

NOTE: In my case, PLEASE don't confuse stars/number of posts with actual knowledge. On any topic.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 08:20:22

Jim,
I took one of the battery operated pumps that came with my inflatable mattress and matched up some PVC connectors to allow me to use it to inflate my dinghy. I usually top it off with the foot pump as it is set for the proper pounds PSI the dinghy is rated for. I would think a 12V pump would be a good choice as well as long as you can match up the pump to the dinghy air inlet.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 08:48:59

I keep one of these in the dinghy. Sometimes I like to add air when I'm not next to the sailboat. Walmart 6 bucks.

Edited by - Davy J on 05/14/2012 08:49:53

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 12:59:00

A pump like Davy's came with our Zodiac Zoom 8'. I can pump up the whole boat in well under 10 minutes, it should be easy to use it to top it off too. I thought I'd want an electric pump, but after using this I don't think that I need one.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 13:05:08

Alex, you are clearly in better shape, and more patient, than I am.

Edited by - JimGo on 05/14/2012 13:24:56

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 13:10:39

I use the foot pump to pump up the boat too. Maybe yours has larger air tubes being that it's an 11'er? I think my air compressor would fill mine in about 6 minutes, but I've never tried it.

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 13:26:46

I'm not sure of the diameter of the tubes, but they are fairly large. I'll admit that I gave up quickly on the foot pump in part because I had the compressor. I can see using the foot pump to top off the tubes; that shouldn't be a big deal. But the initial inflation would likely be a heck of a work out for my lazy legs.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 13:48:50

[url="http://shop.inflatableboatparts.com/product.php?productid=22&cat=32&page=1"]This is what I had for my inflatable[/url]. Quick, fairly easy.

Edited by - DaveR on 05/14/2012 13:52:49

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 13:48:57

Our Avon 314 (10'+ probably 14" tubes?) came with a similarly shaped foot pump, but somewhat bigger and heavier duty (it's made by Avon as well). I can easily inflate all three tubes with it in less than 10 minutes. You can also fairly easily use it while you're in the boat and if necessary can even use your arms ("we must, we must, we must..."). I don't recommend one of the bicycle pump style because you can't easily use it while in the boat whereas the foot pump you can put right under your seat and pump and row at the same time if necessary. I've never had to do that, but I did try it once just to see.

You should be careful with your pancake compressor, it's designed to run at much higher pressures than the boat is intended to take. You want high volume at low pressure. It took so long because you were getting the opposite, high pressure at low volume (if your compressor is anything like mine anyway).

It might be handy to have a Coleman style battery driven "compressor", but I honestly don't think you'll need it. A good foot pump and you're good to go.

A couple of other handy things the Avon pump has, is the ability to pump both LP & HP air, and deflate. We have an inflatable keel, so you use the HP side to inflate it (takes about 3-4 pumps and it's done), and with the deflate port, so you can suck all the air out of your boat when you go to pack it up. This is a great feature, you can flatten your boat right out with it.

Edited by - delliottg on 05/14/2012 14:18:07

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 14:01:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I'll admit that I gave up quickly on the foot pump in part because I had the compressor.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
One thing I notice about filling the inflatable, with the foot pump, is that it seems like not much air is being pumped in until you get to a certain point. Then all of sudden it fills in. Then a few more pumps and the pressure is there.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 14:04:03

Thanks for the reminder regarding the compressor. You are correct, it is intended for high pressure, low volume. I almost wonder if I couldn't use my portable shop-vac, or the 12V vacuum I got at Christmas. Hmmm...more to consider.

My inflatable has some funky valves that allow you to twist the top and open the valve for deflation. I was able to deflate the boat pretty quickly that way when I bought it, though I know I didn't get all of the air out and using a vacuum/suction pump might have made it easier to handle the boat. I really wish (though I realize it isn't all that practical) that the transom came off the boat. That would allow it to be squished into an even smaller volume. With the transom it is tough to get it truly flat and down to a smaller size.

In the end, it may not be a big deal. I hope to only transport it twice a season (to/from), and aside from periodic re-inflation, which could probably happen with a foot pump, I hope not to be breaking it down too often. Of course, if it could be quickly inflated/deflated, I'd be tempted to put a rail-mount engine holder on the C25, put the dinghy's 9.9 on there for storage purposes, and bring the inflatable aboard the C25 for storage.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 14:05:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 One thing I notice about filling the inflatable, with the foot pump, is that it seems like not much air is being pumped in until you get to a certain point. Then all of sudden it fills in. Then a few more pumps and the pressure is there.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ah! Very interesting. Perhaps I did give up too early then. I pumped for probably 2-3 minutes and it didn't seem like I was putting much of a dent in it. I kind of had the impression that it was going to be a 30-45 minute task, not a 10 minute.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 15:14:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 [url="http://shop.inflatableboatparts.com/product.php?productid=22&cat=32&page=1"]This is what I had for my inflatable[/url]. Quick, fairly easy.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We use our 12v Walmart Inflator (cost around $20) to inflate 'Little Decision' then top it off using the same hand pump DaveR shows.

The electric pump is primarily used to blow the ballast before we pull JD up the ramp. So it's nice to multi-purpose it for the dinghy.

We keep the electric pump in a heavy duty freezer zip lock stowed under the lower step next to the ballast valve.

Paul

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5376 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 18:00:16

One thing to think about if you try to suck all the air out of your inflatable boats: you can create a tight crease which, over time, could harden up and begin to crack. You wouldn't want to encourage that to happen, so perhaps when you deflate, leave just a wee bit ofir in the boat to prevent creasing. Your boat may not care, but you never know.....

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2012 : 20:10:22

Good point, thanks Bruce!

Paul, I had wondered whether [url="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Ozark-Trail-120V-Electric-Powered-Pump/17215254"]a pump like this one[/url] would be sufficient. Seems like it would need a lot more air than that little thing could pump out. Is that the style you used?

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2012 : 03:11:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimGo
 Good point, thanks Bruce!

Paul, I had wondered whether [url="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Ozark-Trail-120V-Electric-Powered-Pump/17215254"]a pump like this one[/url] would be sufficient. Seems like it would need a lot more air than that little thing could pump out. Is that the style you used?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep! It is a low pressure thing. it does not even bring the tubes up to 1.5psi, so no risk of blowing out a tube. The hand pump on the other hand easily gets the tubes up to desired pressure in just a few pumps, I'm always wary of getting the right psi.

Paul

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2012 : 03:23:26

Here's the model we have http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-12V-QuickPump-Air-Pump/9870593?findingMethod=rr

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3465 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2012 : 03:58:02

I have a Sevylor Tahiti Classic Canoe which we infrequently use for camping trips (and have never used it with my Catalina. The foot pump that came with it or was separately purchased (many, many years ago) took too long to pump it up and so we bought a 12 volt blower from a large sporting good store and plug it in to our car's 12 volt accessory plug. I would say it takes no 5-10 minutes to inflate. The blower also can suck all the air out of the canoe which is great since we always deflate it after using it. I forget the name of the blower. It was purchased at a large sporting good store.

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