In this article we will go over the topic of tuning inflatable boats, or rather about various improvements to the boat that increase the convenience of fishing and safety.
Let's start with the fact that most attachments are glued to the boat with a special PVC glue. For better adhesion, you need to rub the gluing area a little with coarse sandpaper, remove dust and degrease, and then glue the tuned element.
PVC boat awning
One of the most visible and useful devices for inflatable boats is an awning, which can shelter the fisherman from both the sun and the wind. There are even completely sealed awnings that turn the boat into a tent. This is very cool, because in such a tent it is much warmer and there are no mosquitoes, so you can comfortably stay in such a boat overnight.
Spinning rod holders
For a large number of spinning rods, boat tuning is done in the form of installing various holders. They can be connected to the ship’s hull using elements such as:
- bolts;
- screws;
- clamps;
- glue.
For boats made of PVC material, a targa equipped with several glasses or a holder with a clamp is suitable.
The process of making a boat targa:
- You need to take a plastic or metal tube, the diameter of which will exceed the diameter of the rod by 0.7-1 cm. You need to bend an arc from it along the width of the swimming device.
- The pipe should be flattened at both ends and holes drilled for the mounting bolts.
- Part of the pipe must be cut into glasses, on one side of which plugs must be welded.
- Glasses are welded onto the arc.
- At the end, the entire structure is sanded and coated with waterproof paint.
Making a holder in the form of a clamp:
- You need to make a clamp from an old meat grinder by cutting off the top part of it.
- Then you need to drill several holes in the meat grinder body, which will be used as holder stands.
- 3 holes should be made in the pipe. The third should be located at the top.
- The made rack from a flattened pipe and a clamp should be connected using bolts and washers.
- You need to attach a plumbing clamp to the top hole.
Read: DIY spinning stand
Swivel chair in a boat
Another very useful element of a fishing boat will be a swivel chair, which will be especially important for spinners who make several hundred casts per fishing trip.
Such a chair is attached to a bench in a boat, and is fixed with two plates on wing bolts. There are also models with fastening to a solid bottom.
Aluminum boat tuning
These boats, like PVC, are in great demand among people, and this is due to the strength of the hull; now no snag can interrupt the entire fishing trip.
You can supplement this with:
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- Seats (if you already have them, re-tighten them);
- Windshields;
- Additional body cladding in the form of chrome;
- Tenom (canopy);
- Remote control, etc.
Tuning an aluminum boat with your own hands is very similar to the previous ones.
Racks and holders for rods
The stands allow you to vertically place many fishing rods, landing nets, hooks, etc. The holders hold one or two fishing rods and can be equipped with a rotating mechanism that can be used to adjust the vertical tilt.
There are also models of holders with a flat place for a table, for example, for an echo sounder, as in the photo below.
How to strengthen the transom
Usually, when purchasing a boat with a standard configuration, you will notice that the transom is protected by only a small layer of PVC fabric. This is not very reliable protection. Therefore, you should pay no less attention to strengthening the transom than to other elements.
Many fishermen prefer to completely seal the bottom of the boat with a fender. This is more reliable and there is no hassle with individual elements. This will be the most correct decision, you just need to be extremely careful and select the glue and fender. This approach to tuning can solve a whole bunch of problems and save your boat from wear and tear during long-term use.
Pressure relief valve
This valve increases the safety of the boat, as it cuts into the cylinder and automatically relieves excess pressure that occurs due to heating of the cylinders from the sun.
If you want to purchase various boat accessories for tuning, we recommend visiting a PVC boat tuning store at the link - https://zatar-msk.ru/tyuning-dlya-naduvnyh-lodok/ There you will find all possible boat canopies that will help you be more comfortable and safely engage in fishing and recreation on the water.
Tuning PVC boats
This watercraft is the best-selling and easy to use. This can be due to the fact that:
- the boat is easy to transport, no need to buy any trailers;
- it is easy to repair;
- There are many gadgets for it.
But even taking into account all these positive aspects, it is in its “raw” form, rather impractical. The functionality of such a tool is very small, which means that it needs to be improved.
There are services where you can implement your idea, but it is quite expensive. Tuning a PVC boat with your own hands will be cheaper and more correct.
Of course, this does not mean that all the parts must be made with your own hands; some of them can be purchased in the store.
So, let's look at what can be completed:
Reinforcement of the bottom and cylinders. Experienced fishermen always carry out such tuning, regardless of the conditions. It is proposed to glue an additional layer of rubberized fabric or membrane to the bottom and sides of the cylinders.
Read here - Fishing camera: rating of the best models and tips for building a homemade device (135 photos + video)«>
Initially, with the boat inflated, measurements are taken and the places where the patches will be glued are marked. After this, the boat is deflated, the gluing areas are degreased, and the selected material is glued on top.
If necessary, at the end they are also heated with a hair dryer (construction hair dryer). With such tuning, it is worth considering that the weight of the boat will increase by an average of 5 kg.
Anchor. A very convenient thing when fishing in one place. A special anchor eye is sold in stores; it is installed at the stern.
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Sealing of seams. When buying a cheap boat, you can’t rely on quality. Therefore, many owners additionally seal the seams.
You can also decorate the boat around the perimeter with various stickers, etc. To get inspired, you can look at a photo of such tuning on a boat with your own hands.
Rod holder. It is also an indispensable thing if fishing takes place with several spinning rods at once.
The list of things that can be added to a swimming device is endless. For example, you can install seats, a table, a steering wheel, build wheels and much, much more.
To learn more, we suggest watching a video of tuning boats with your own hands.Photos of PVC boats after tuning
Author of the article: Vitaly Leonidovich Ivanov, 2021.
Installing stringers
A duralumin profile is a mandatory element for a boat with a rigid bottom. The process of friction between hard floors and PVC material while moving across a pond simply cannot be avoided. This friction is caused by subsequent deformation of the fabric during contact with water.
There can be quite a lot of consequences from such a process, ranging from partial damage to the PVC fabric and ending with deformation of the boat itself. Stringers do not need to be installed in the bow of the boat, and they will not interfere with water in places where the bottom is flat.
Before installing the profiles, you must carefully mark the boat and its bottom. Marking and installation is carried out according to the following algorithm:
We increase wear resistance
During operation, the boat is exposed to various influences. It is impossible to foresee all the features and no one is insured against unexpected damage.
Bottom
Perhaps the bottom suffers most often. It can be strengthened as follows:
- Inflate and turn the boat upside down.
- Attach the material and make a pattern. You can strengthen the entire surface or individual areas. To do this, use a PVC profile or other waterproof materials.
- Clean the bottom, wash and wipe dry.
- Release the air.
- Level the surface you will be working on. Degrease with gasoline or white spirit.
- Apply glue and apply a patch. Be careful to remove all air bubbles. The fit of the surfaces must be strong. You can use a roller and press down on the gluing areas while rolling.
- Additional heating may be required using a hair dryer, but this depends on the materials used.
After this procedure, the wear resistance of the bottom increases significantly. But experienced fishermen warn that if the entire bottom is reinforced, the boat will become 8 kilograms heavier, so they advise applying patches only in places that are particularly dangerous for rupture. To strengthen the craft, you can buy a fender or profile. They come in different thicknesses, are sold in specialized stores, and can be matched to a specific model, which makes the choice easier.
Cylinders
Reinforce the cylinders in the same way as the bottoms. The only difference is that when fenders are glued on, the boat does not need to be deflated.
Sealing seams
Expensive branded boat models, if properly cared for, do not require such action. A simpler boat could benefit from additional gluing of the joints, especially if the boat has a motor. You can make a specific upgrade and use decorative strips during sealing, which give the boat individuality and uniqueness.
