How to properly handle a boat
1. Regular cleaning – after sailing, clean the surface of the boat from fish oil, grains of sand and algae. Adhered particles and harsh chemicals contribute to tissue breakdown. Thoroughly clean seams where debris often gets stuck.
2. Not only the boat needs to be cleaned, but also the components - the pump, oars and other elements also need care.
3. Drying – Don’t leave a wet boat in the garage. It can become covered with mold, and in cold weather – with an ice crust. As a result, the material will begin to deteriorate.
4. To make the surface dry faster, the boat should be placed on its side. If desired, you can wipe it with a cloth.
5. Washing with Soap - Never scrub the boat with steel wool or abrasive cleaners. Before long-term storage, clean the watercraft with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water.
6. Handle with care - use fishing tackle boxes. Do not place knives or hooks on the bottom, which could tear through the PVC.
7. Inspect the shore - before launching into the water, remove sharp snags and stones from the road.
Take care, boat, in the cold winter
At temperatures below 10 degrees below zero, PVC is destroyed. Unlike rubber watercraft, boats made of polyvinyl chloride are not recommended to be sprinkled with talcum powder or lubricated with oils, gasoline, silicone and other aggressive materials. Before storing the PVC product, it must be specially prepared. To do this you need:
It is unacceptable to place any items on a boat folded for storage, including boat accessories and related materials. The shelf on which the cover with the boat lies should be smooth, without protrusions or corners.
When leaving the product for storage in an unheated room, you must not only unroll it, but also not touch the material. This is due to the fact that in the cold PVC becomes brittle and the slightest bend is enough for the watercraft to begin to crack.
In the spring, before leaving, the boat is taken out of an unheated room and waited until the temperature of the material is equal to the temperature of the outside air. And only then can you take the product out of the case. Then, out of the blue, the boat carefully turns around and slightly inflates. It is left in this state for a couple of hours. And after boarding, you can deflate and put the boat in a case for transportation to a reservoir.
And further. To protect PVC from rodents, special baits, poisonous drugs and ultrasonic devices are used. Chemical poison is placed around the cover. It is unacceptable to put toxic substances into a bag - it is unknown how the material will react to such a proximity.
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Please note that storing a PVC boat (even in a cover) under the bed is not recommended. But in the pantry, basement, on an insulated loggia or balcony - as much as you like. Experts strongly recommend not to ignore the rules for winter and summer storage of PVC small watercraft. And then they will serve you for many years.
- turn out the spark plug;
- spray a little preservative directly into the fuel combustion chamber;
- pull the engine a couple of times to distribute the preservative and remove water from the cooling system;
- the engine is left in a vertical position, the spark plug is screwed into place.
Boat inspection and repair
Damage during operation does not always appear immediately. The canvas usually breaks through not the first time, but after prolonged use. The bottom is rubbed, creases and cracks form, which sooner or later make themselves felt. Therefore, after each trip it is necessary to inspect the boat.
If a puncture cannot be avoided, a repair kit will come in handy. It is usually included with the boat. You can repair a hole or abrasion in the field. The PVC material can be repaired and you can go fishing the same day. The damaged area and patch must be degreased with acetone in advance. The cleaned surfaces are glued together with polyurethane glue.
Storage conditions
- Such a boat does not have a large list of storage requirements, but they do exist. So the storage place should be quite spacious, this will ensure it is ventilated, and therefore avoid drying out;
- In winter, do not leave it near heating devices or possible places where hot air accumulates to avoid damage to the casing;
- Do not place or lean heavy objects on it under any circumstances. It is desirable that there is nothing on top of it at all;
- In the stated storage conditions, most manufacturers say that the best temperatures for storage are from +6 to +16 degrees. And sub-zero temperatures are undesirable;
- The most suitable place in the apartment, based on all the conditions, is the storage room.
- After long-term storage, you need to carefully inspect the boat; it may need repairs.
Is conservation necessary?
If you do not have the opportunity to store it in optimal conditions. Then you should preserve it. It’s good that, unlike inflatable rubber boats, this procedure will take much less time and effort.
So the process of re-preservation will not be so labor-intensive. In general, in good conditions you can avoid this action, but if they are bad, then it is obligatory!
Storing a boat in winter
It is advisable to allocate a separate room where the boat will wait for the next season. The product should not come into contact with other things. It is advisable not to roll the watercraft into a tight bundle. Otherwise, the likelihood of cracking of the material will increase. The boat should be loosely coiled or partially filled with air.
Do not allow water to come into contact with the surface of the material. You should choose a non-flooded room with normal humidity levels for storage. Otherwise, the accumulated moisture will turn into ice and destroy the PVC. You can install the boat on a pedestal or a flat surface.
You can store the boat in a garage or in a city apartment. However, sub-zero temperatures will not do any good. It is extremely undesirable to leave an inflatable boat near heating devices, and especially near an open fire. Do not place heavy objects on the bottom, even if you keep the boat warm at home.
Summer period
How to store a watercraft in summer? The most important thing is to protect it from sunlight.
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In order to ensure proper storage of equipment, you need to:
Advice! The equipment should not be stored in a fully inflated state. Otherwise, the material gradually deforms.
Is it possible to keep a boat in the yard? The main enemies of PVC are the sun and extreme heat. Therefore, it is best to “hide” it indoors or cover it with an awning.
Tips for storing a rubber boat in the cold:
Difficulties in caring for a model with a motor
The engine gearbox suffers the most. When the motor is running, it is subject to a large load. During long-term storage, condensation and various deposits may form on the engine. Whereas during operation this usually does not happen. Therefore, do not forget to periodically inspect the engine, especially if it is stored in a cold room.
Failure to follow the maintenance rules reduces the life of the boat by 2-3 times. A properly stored boat will serve you for many years. If you store it in a dry garage, where there are no rodents or corrosive liquids, then it will last until next season without damage.
The material of such boats is fabric coated with high-quality polyvinyl chloride. Moreover, there are several layers of such fabric. Such a craft can overcome many water obstacles and last a long time if handled carefully.
How to fold a PVC boat correctly?
Special attention should be paid to the moment of folding itself. Professionals recommend doing this outside the premises: in the fresh air, in conditions of sufficient space. In general, folding a boat made of polyvinyl chloride can take quite a long time, since it is advisable to carry out the entire operation slowly. Be sure to use the following tips:
After you have rolled the model, you need to tighten it with slings. They are usually not included in the kit, so they must be purchased separately.
How to properly fold a PVC boat with a transom?
In our case, the transom is a fairly dense part, around which it is very convenient to fold matter. However, storing a boat with such a part requires observing the following nuances:
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Remember that under almost no circumstances can the cylinder protrude beyond the transom. If all conditions are met correctly, you can proceed to closing the valves. One of the last steps is to straighten the fabric in the area of the folds, since with the boat folded you will no longer have the opportunity to do this. The remaining air must be pumped out using pumps.
As for those fishermen who have neither garages nor a warm utility room, and storing an inflated boat at home, hanging it from the ceiling, is fraught with family squabbles, then they choose the second option - store it folded either on the balcony or under the bed, depending on who convenient.
Is it possible to store a PVC boat in a garage in winter?
There are many nuances in this issue. So, for example, whether your garage is heated or not. In the first case, this will be a good place for wintering the boat, but in the second, preservation will be necessary. Also, various pests such as mice and rats often appear in garages; they chew through the skin.
If you know about the presence of such rodents in your garage, then either remove them or place the boat in another place. The presence of various caustic liquids also plays a role, if they are located next to the watercraft.
If all requirements are met, follow the tips below:
- Try to position the boat more freely to avoid damage to the hull;
- You can even hang the boat by the bow, so it will take up less space on the ground and be more ventilated;
- Set up rodent traps. Just because they weren’t there before doesn’t mean they won’t appear. Better to be safe;
- If the temperature in the garage is below zero, you do not need to touch or move your model.
Advice from experienced fishermen
My model has already wintered for the third time. And every time in the spring when I unpacked it, it was in very good condition. This is all due to the fact that I hang it in the garage from the ceiling in a semi-inflated state. My garage is heated, and the warm air just collects under the ceiling. Thanks to this, the optimal temperature is there all the time and the craft feels very good; Grade:
Novel
Since there is not much space in my small apartment, I have to store my workhorse in a cold garage. And you know what, she’s been wintering normally for the second year now. The most important thing in such a situation is to try not to touch it at all, since in cold weather it is most susceptible to damage. In principle, such boats survive even severe frost; you just need to adhere to this rule; Grade:
Dmitriy
After the first winter, I discovered traces of rodents on my boat. I had to go to a repair center. After an unpleasant spring, I was already thoroughly prepared for the second winter. And guess what? Properly placed traps for these small pests are the key to the integrity of the craft. You will also need to periodically update the bait in the traps and, if mice are caught, throw them out. Special substances that repel rodents also helped; Grade:
Andrey
I never had enough space in my garage to put my watercraft there for the winter, so I had to find a place at home in the apartment. I packed it tightly with talcum powder and put it in the pantry. Of course, it’s better to store it in a loosely assembled state, but this is how the boat has been living for four years now, and every spring I don’t have any particular complaints about its condition. So there won't be a big tragedy if you pack it tightly; Grade:
Leonid
Never place other objects on the boat. A friend of mine, for example, once did this; limited space forced him to do this. And although he placed a relatively small object, the damage was done. The boat bent more at the bend, resulting in damage to the skin and a hole. I had to put a patch on it, and it’s clear that this has already become a weakened zone;
Grade:
Nikolai
I would like to say a few words about pre-washing the watercraft. I tried various detergents, as well as soap and plain water. So, the best, from my point of view, is a simple car shampoo. It has an affordable price, and the result is the same in comparison with special liquids. But you shouldn’t wash with plain water, it doesn’t effectively wash away various river deposits; Grade:
Alexander
I would like to point out the importance of checking the engine. When canning, it must be double-checked for serviceability, then dried and carefully packaged. Be careful with rubber compounds. Also check it every two weeks, and if you find condensation, wipe it. Grade:
Bogdan
Even when purchasing a PVC boat, you should think about the future location of its storage, because this plays an important role on its condition. In addition to the location, it is worth paying attention to the conditions in which it will be located. The most important thing is that during breaks between operations the boat is perfectly preserved and does not deteriorate its characteristics. By following the rules and advice described above, you can maximize the life of your watercraft.
