Cold Temperature Storage of Inflatable Dinghys

colbysmith

Getting ready to head down south, and will be taking our inflatable kayaks with us. One a Hobie, the other a Sea Eagle. I store them inside all winter, (and then summer too when not in use.) They are stored rolled up, rather tightly. Looks like I will have two days travel with temps below freezing, close to 0 at night, and not above freezing during the day. I plan to haul the rolled up Kayaks in the back of my truck beneath it's tonneau cover, so while they will be out of the weather, they will still be in sub freezing temperatures for a couple of days. Is this a bad thing? Ie, harmful to the kayak material? I will not be moving them, or unrolling them until we are in Florida, and above freezing. The other option is to keep them in the boat, with the Webasto running. (Really hoping we can keep the cabin in the 50's even with outside single digit temps, as we'll be "boaterhoming" on the way down.)

C-Wolfe · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:03 pm Post subject:

Colby, I have been boating here in Alaska for 20 years now, I always kept my dinghy in an unheated shed for the winter mounts, with temperatures reaching 40 below at times. I never touch it or move it around during below freezing temperatures. I haven’t seen any issues with doing it this way. Different material and glue might react differently but I had several different one and none had issues. hope this help

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:10 pm Post subject:

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 566 Photos: Thistle

I’m buying an inflatable dinghy today. Is the foot pump sufficient or should I buy and inflator?

Schuster · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:57 pm Post subject:

Donald, if you are buying a new dingy then the foot pump is made for the dingy and should be quite adequate. If you have some sort of physical limitations then maybe the electric pump may help. I have a 9' boat that i pump with the foot pump. It takes a few minutes to do but I've usually go plenty of time for that.

ssobol · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 2:39 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 2:54 pm Post subject:

Agree with Ssobol. I have owned inflatable dinghies since 1964 (over there 60 years). When I was young, we had only foot pumps. We used to have a race at Two Harbors Catalina. The boat started in the bag, only one manual pump, but oral was also OK. Launch the dinghy with any number of people you want. Paddle about 100 yards, return to shore, roll up and store the boat in the original bag. Our team came in second place the first two years, and 3rd place the 3rd year. The shore boat and harbor patrol always seemed to beat us. Our team worked out and practiced for many weeks before the race. The initial prizes were a new inflatable, or Sea Gull Outboard motor, next year the prize was a set of sleeping bags. Then down to tee shirts and some bangles....

As we age, the foot pump can be an issue. We used a "Jump pack" (12V). clipped to the pump which solved the power source issue. We could inflate on the cabin top, foredeck and the cockpit if necessary.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 566 Photos: Thistle

I was looking at a Ryobi inflator. I have a lot of Ryobi tools and am fond of them and their affordability. But I'm hoping to use the foot pump at first. I have the time and inclination so I may find that to be fine for a while.

A few years ago I found a used old Seagull Motor. I thought about collecting them as a hobby sort of thing. Tell me about them. Were they reliable?

thataway · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:26 pm Post subject:

Robi inflator. Not sure which one you are considering. The centrifugal with conical nozzle may or may not fit the valve on the inflatable. Having a hose with the proper fitting Halkey Roberts is the valve which most inflatable boats have. In my spares kit, I kept at least one valve, several adaptors, glue and fabric for the boat I had at the time. If you need the high pressure for an air floor, these centrifugal vane inflators will not supply enough pressure.

Get an inflator which you can set the pressure or that has a pressure gauge. The electric are so handy, I would not consider a foot or hand pump, except for a back up.

ssobol · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:46 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 11:03 pm Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:02 am Post subject:

C-Wolfe · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:04 am Post subject:

I have experienced several times those temperature change affecting the air pressure on the dinghy. Happens mostly in the morning when at the "mother ship” but also a few times where I go to shore in the afternoon for a nice long walk, come back early evening just before sun set to find quite soft tube on the raft. I modified a small bike pump, the portable kind that you will take with you on a bike ride. it’s quite slow but it works, and it doesn’t take any room. It's a lot more convenient and much less likely to be left behind than a cumbersome big foot pump .

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 566 Photos: Thistle

Is altitude an issue for these boats. Does the pressure change enough btwn Donner Pass and Sacramento warrant deflating them before descending. Somewhere in the middle here my the suction cups of my EZPass often let go. And tires change pressure. Doe this threaten an inflatable.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 566 Photos: Thistle

https://www.nrs.com/learn/inflatable-boat-use-care-instructions?srsltid=AfmBOoqRtOcP-AVN-XnBOBJftLS8PTVb52IMiu2UkRqXeLqBCE-bbUTv