Rating of electric pumps for PVC boats: choosing what to pump the boat with

Electric pump for PVC Marlin boat: characteristics

Pump Marlin GP-80 BD
Marlin GP-80 BD is a compact and powerful pump that is famous for its high reliability.

• Its productivity is 500 l/min.
• The maximum operating time in continuous mode (15 minutes) is enough to inflate a PVC boat (on average, 3-4 minutes are needed).
• During operation, the pump creates a minimum of noise, and a 1.8 m long hose and a 3 m wire allow you to conveniently inflate the boat without any discomfort.
• The pump can operate autonomously or connected to an external source of electricity, a car cigarette lighter.
• The air pressure is 0.8 bar.

Hand pumps for boats

They have not gained much popularity among owners of inflatable boats due to the fact that when inflating cylinders, not only the arms, but also the back are exposed to loads. In addition to their fairly compact dimensions, they have one undeniable advantage - due to the 2-stage inflation process in one stroke of the piston (up and down), they make it possible to ensure a high speed of filling the inflatable shells of the PVC boat hull with air up to a pressure of 1000 mBar.

The basis of the design of all tested boat pumps in this series is a cylinder with a piston ending in a T-shaped handle, which operates in a durable plastic housing that is not subject to wear and low temperatures. Along with this, structurally, all the models presented below are quite different.

Hand pump Bravo -4 SH – has a cylinder volume of 1.5 liters. The pump is double-acting, so air is pumped into the cylinders when the piston moves both down and up. The bright color of this hand pump creates a festive mood, associated with summer and a sunny beach. We agreed that the pump has the downside of being compact. It is not very convenient to work in a very inclined position. But size, in some cases, can make a difference.

Results: The most interesting thing is that it took us 7 minutes 35 seconds to inflate a 3.7 m long boat. Not a bad time for such a “baby.”

Hand pump Bravo -4 ALU RED is a double-action model with a cylinder volume increased to 2 liters. The abbreviations in the name stand roughly as follows: aluminum rod and automatic switching to single-acting mode when the pressure increases to 400 mbar. It has a bayonet connection between the hose and the pump, which allows the use of a pass-through pressure gauge to control pressure. Which is what we took advantage of. The maximum pressure declared by the manufacturer can reach 800 mbar, but we could not verify this in this test.

Results: increasing the pump volume led to logical results - it took six and a half minutes to inflate the boat. Although the creator has overlooked this model for its unearthly beauty, it has a reliable design, convenient external dimensions, and in our opinion, it is most thoroughly prepared to meet domestic operating conditions. There is an aluminum rod and the ability to connect a pass-through pressure gauge. But even more important is the ability to automatically switch to a one-way pumping circuit. At the moment this is one of the best models in the class.

The Bravo SUP hand pump is a model originally designed for high-pressure floating inflatable boards (Stand Up Paddle - SUP board), therefore it is not equipped with adapters, but is packaged in a carrying case. It has an aluminum stem and can pump cylinders up to 1000 mbar. The piston volume is 2.5 liters, so the manufacturer decided that working in one direction was enough. The pump has an interesting and useful feature - a filter is installed at the inlet to protect against sand and dust.

Results: Using this hand pump, we inflated the boat in 8 minutes 3 seconds.

In the group of hand pumps, the Bravo -4 ALU RED model can be noted as quite productive and easy to use, with maximum capabilities and good characteristics. However, we do not exclude that for PVC boats with dimensions different from DL370 or having a different design, other models of hand pumps will be more convenient.

Summary table of hand pump test results:

Electric pump for PVC boat Bravo 12: characteristics

Pump Bravo 12
This electric pump can be compactly placed in your car before going fishing, which allows you to make it small.

The performance of this pump is several times lower than that of the Marlin GP-80 BD electric pump.

Capacity is 150 l/min.

It will take 20 minutes to pump up a boat that is 3.5 m long.

Owners note in this model a control pressure sensor, which allows the boat to be given the required amount of air.

In working condition it makes a lot of noise, the price is average.

How to choose the right electric pump?

The purchase must be approached with special responsibility, since electric pumps for PVC boats can be very expensive, so the purchase is not made for one year. In order not to get unpleasant surprises while fishing, you should think about it and make every effort to purchase.

The first thing you need to determine for yourself is the required power and pressure indicators

. Typically, these parameters are comparable to the dimensions of an inflatable boat. As for the reliability of the design and its durability, it is worth taking a closer look at the materials used in production.

It is also necessary to carefully select a pump depending on the power source

. The choice is influenced by the location of application. You can find pumps operating from a 220 Volt network, or from 12 Volt, or models with built-in batteries. The latter options are more suitable for fishermen, since the boat is often inflated on the shore of a reservoir, and there are no sockets there.

Price

is an important indicator. Today the market provides fishermen with a wide range of products, so everyone can choose a model to suit their pocket. You can buy an economical, low-cost option, or an expensive, high-quality pump.

Electric pump for PVC boat Bravo BST 12 HPP: characteristics

Pump Bravo BST 12 HPP
The pump consists of two sections. The package includes a battery, pressure regulator and reverse.

It is characterized as a lightweight and compact unit that is convenient to carry in a bag. Weight is 1.5 kg.

The cost is a bit steep, amounting to 12 thousand rubles. The pump is more suitable for professionals than ordinary people.

A fairly powerful unit - 800 mbar. Mainly used for inflating boats with inflatable bottoms.

Electric pumps for PVC boats: pros and cons

In this article we have listed good and high-quality units for inflating PVC boats.

But today the choice is so great that every self-respecting hunter or fisherman should know the basic selection criteria, as well as be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of most electric pumps.

The advantages include:

• Possibility to pump up a 2-seater boat in a short period of time.
• Fully automatic, no physical effort required.
• Most of the models are small in size and weight.

The disadvantages include:

• Any electric pump is powered by a battery, so there must be a battery.
• A modern, high-quality pump costs a decent amount of money.

Tips for choosing

Before choosing a pump for your boat, it is recommended to listen to the following tips:

1. It is better to purchase models with a high degree of housing protection, which is especially important when operating in extreme conditions.
2. You need to choose those models whose technical characteristics match the parameters of a PVC boat. This is especially true for electric pumps.
3. It is better to consider models from brands that have earned trust among buyers.
4. If possible, it is better to buy devices with additional functions such as a pressure sensor, regulator, shutdown mode after inflating the boat
5. You should not buy too cheap models.

Electric pumps for PVC boats: prices

Let's delve into pricing policy. Prices for boat pumps vary.

The higher the quality, the higher the price. To get a really good pump, it is better to save some money.

The price range is quite wide. The starting price starts from 3 thousand rubles.

These are the simplest models, which, frankly speaking, are not durable. A decent device can be purchased within 8 thousand rubles.

For lovers of the highest quality and functionality, electric pumps will cost about 15-18 thousand rubles.

These are modern models from the famous manufacturer Bravo.

Parameters of electric pumps for PVC boats

When purchasing an electric pump, you should consider the following technical parameters of the product:

• Equipment productivity can vary from 150 to 1000 liters per minute. A model with an indicator of 150 l/min will fill a boat of 3-4 m in size in 21-22 minutes. Then, a device with a capacity of 1000 liters can cope with the task in 3-4 minutes, but such equipment will require a capacitive battery of 40 Ah.
• The case material must be strong and resistant to shock and damage.
• The pressure produced by the device. According to this parameter, products are divided into three groups. High (from 800 mBar) - used for large-sized inflatable boats, medium (up to 500 mBar) - this pump can easily cope with inflating vessels up to 4 meters and low pressure (40 mBar) - used for the initial filling of small inflatable watercraft with air, then it will be necessary pump up with a mechanical pump.
• Built-in pressure control, which preserves the integrity of the surface and seams, since the compress independently stops the pumping process when the fill has reached certain levels.
• Possibility of operation from a battery or car cigarette lighter; models with an integrated battery are most convenient.
• Equipped with a check valve for pumping air out of the vessel.
• Built-in pressure gauge with pumping control system.

Testing foot pumps for inflatable boats

Bravo without number

Pump without specific model number. Compact, designed for small inflatable boats. It has a working chamber with a volume of 5 liters and, according to technical characteristics, is capable of providing a pressure of 200 mBar.

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Bravo 1

Compact foot pump, reinforced design. Working chamber 5 liters. The main purpose is small inflatable boats. The manufacturer promises a pressure of 300 mbar.

Bravo 2

The most common foot pump model from Bravo. Very often it can be found in a set of inflatable boats. The working volume of the chamber is 6.5 l. The pump has a reinforced structure, the power elements are made of stainless steel, the fur is made of PVC material.

Test results. The working volume is already 6.5 liters at a maximum pressure of 300 mBar. Well proven model. The whole structure looks reliable. The pumping process is much faster and more convenient. You don't need to press your foot so often. Less effort is required when pressing the bellows, but productivity is greater. It took 8 minutes to pump up our boat. The pressure in the cylinders was 190 mbar. The overall impression is an excellent model, perfect for medium boats up to 3.6 meters long.

Bravo 10

Top model of foot pumps from Bravo. The working supporting surfaces are made of polyamide with fiberglass reinforcement and fur made of high-strength PVC. It has two working chambers (low and high pressure) 5 and 1.6 liters. Maximum pressure 800 mbar.

Mechanical boat pumps are compact, lightweight, and do not require the use of electricity or a battery.