PVC boat storage features

Proper care of any thing is the key to its long and safe operation. In the case when it comes to PVC inflatable boats, proper storage allows you to maintain both their quality and appearance. The features of storing such inflatable structures at different times of the year will be discussed in this article.

Depending on the method and type of storage of the boat, as well as on its modification, there may be different requirements for its conservation. All the retention rules described below are basic and in most cases are mandatory.

• It is important to clean the boat from dirt, sand and mud residues.
• Only special detergents should be used to wash the boat.
• It is necessary to completely dry the entire structure, and it should be dried only when inflated.
• It is necessary to bleed air from such a boat strictly on a flat and clean surface.
• When rolling it into a roll, you need to make sure that it does not turn out tight, and there are no folds or bends on the boat.
• When storing the boat in winter, it is necessary to monitor the ambient temperature. It should not fall below +3 degrees and rise above +20 degrees.
• When storing, do not use the boat as a stand for other items.

Most owners of such boats prefer not to deflate them before storing them. Firstly, during long-term storage, this makes it possible to check the structure for integrity. Secondly, it saves time on inflating and deflating the boat in the future.

When inflated, it is better to store the boat in a suspended state. The ideal option is storage in a heated garage under the ceiling. If there is no heating in this room, then it is necessary to make sure in advance that in severe frosts the temperature will not drop below zero.

It is also necessary prepare the cables in advance, on which the boat will be suspended from the ceiling. It is not recommended to store the structure on the ground. In this case, there is a high probability that the product will be damaged or rodents will visit it.

When all the preparatory stages are completed, a number of actions must be performed.

• Half deflate the balloons. PVC boats are allowed to be stored half-flat, but not with full cylinders.
• The cables must be attached to the ceiling in such a way that the boat on them is at a height above the average height of a person.
• Particular attention should be paid to ensure that no parts of the structure come into contact with walls, ceilings, floors or other objects.
• It is preferable that there is free space within a radius of half a meter from the entire structure.

Also when hanging it is imperative to straighten all the folds and folds of the material, otherwise it is likely that by spring the boat will become unusable.

If the boat has a motor, then every 2-3 weeks the motor itself must be carefully inspected for corrosion. Before conservation, it must be disassembled, cleaned and lubricated. Experienced fishermen recommend storing the engine itself separately from the boat and best of all disassembled.

You can hang the structure not only in the garage, but also in the barn and even in the pantry, if its area allows. The main thing is that there is enough free space around the structure itself. It is also necessary that the room has the optimum temperature recommended by the manufacturer for storage.

Professional fishermen and ordinary owners of such boats pay special attention to their storage in the winter season. You can send a PVC boat for winter storage or conservation in two forms: pumped up or deflated. There are also several rules for the second storage option, which are presented below.

Before sending this item to storage, it needs to be properly prepared. To do this, when inflated, the boat should be thoroughly washed with warm water and dried well in the fresh air. After that, it must be sprinkled with talc on all sides.

The use of baby powder is optional, but recommended. (especially if the boat will be stored in high humidity conditions in the future).

Now the PVC structure can be neatly folded. To do this, it is placed on a flat surface in such a way that there is a free approach to each of its sides. Air should be released from it, along the way straightening all the creases and folds that are created.

Then the boat must be rolled up so that there are no creases anywhere. The result should be a fairly dense roll of PVC. The main thing is that you can freely insert your palm between its layers. Now it must be placed in a cellophane case and put away for long-term storage.

The conservation of a PVC boat in the winter season, or rather its storage, should be carried out in a spacious, dry and ventilated room. In the conditions of city apartments and private houses, the pantry is the best option.

In winter, special attention should be paid to ensure that the inflatable boat is not exposed to severe frosts, and is not stored near radiators, gas boilers or water heaters.

In fact, storing such a unit in the winter when folded is not so difficult. Compliance with simple basic conditions, as well as the implementation of all the advice of experts, will make it easy to keep such a design in its original form until the onset of spring.

It is important to understand that the requirements for its storage directly depend on the type of the PVC boat itself, or rather the thickness of the PVC. For example, the thinnest pleasure boats should only be stored suspended. Strong models equipped with a motor can also be stored deflated in special cases or boxes.

Boat engines should not only be disassembled and cleaned before conservation - they must also be properly stored. And here an important condition is complete absence of dampness and high humidity. Only in a dry and ventilated room can you keep the engine in perfect condition until the next season.

As for preparing the boat for conservation, experts insist that it should be washed exclusively with special detergents designed to care for PVC products. Their composition is chosen perfectly and does not harm the polyvinyl chloride itself, that is, it does not destroy it.

Use only a soft cloth for washing, after which the structure should be wiped with a dry rag and left to dry completely in the fresh air.

It is necessary to store the boat folded in a special case, which is sold separately, or already comes with a boat and patches in advance.

If there is any damage to the boat, it must be repaired before the structure is winterized.. In this case, the glue will grab well, and the patch will last a long time and with high quality.

During storage, you should not touch the boat once again, stored in a suspended state - the cables can damage its surface and cause cracks and breaks.

If the conservation of the boat in a deflated state will last more than 2 months, then for the entire time of its storage, the boat itself must be taken out of the cover several times and inflated, carefully examining for damage. After that, it must be stored again.

Particular attention should also be paid to protection of the boat from rodents. Not recommended for this put the poison directly into the structure itself or into a case with it. It is best to use sprays that are sprayed at a distance of 50 cm from the storage area. Approximately 10 days before the conservation of the boat, it is necessary to carry out disinfection from rodents and moths in the room.

In addition to the boat itself, properly prepare for storage the necessary and its accessories. They should be cleaned of dirt, washed, dried and stored in a dry, ventilated room at room temperature. It is forbidden to store them in one case or directly in an inflated boat.

After the winter period is over, it is necessary to properly prepare the boat for the new season. To do this, you need to get the cover with it and take it out into the street, leaving it until the temperature of the environment and the structure itself is equal. Only after that the boat can be unpacked, pumped up and carefully inspected for damage. If everything is in order, then it can be launched into the water.

The same applies to those products that were stored suspended.

All of the above tips will help keep your PVC float in perfect condition for years to come.

For information on how to store a PVC boat, see below.