Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

[aneal000]

So I picked up a nice used 1999 Quicksilver 270 SIB (with inflatable floor - no hard bottom) and a Mercury 9.9 off of Craig's List last week. The owner had it blown up and everything was holding just fine. I brought it home and it sat in the driveway in the sun on Friday and I believe due to heat self-over-inflated itself. At least one chamber did, the air-floor. I found the hole. A seam seemed to come apart. It was on a horrible spot, but I think I was able to successfully patch it on Saturday. But since this was a new to me purchase, it didn't stop me from taking it out all weekend. My question is two part: 1) will having a severely under inflated floor cause poor performance? Does this part even affect planning or performance? The inflatable keel was fine and the rest of the chambers were all filled well. 2) I had really wanted a RIB, but couldn't pass up this deal, is there any difference in the plywood floor boat over what I have, at least with regards to performance and planning? As I was thinking if I can't get this sealed up I wouldn't mind putting plywood floors in and calling it a day. Any thoughts?

BTW... I was able to GPS 15mph (on plane) with 2 adults and one kid ~400lbs aboard.

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

Is the air floor a High Pressure Air Floor?
If so that is your problem
Most air floors should be inflated to 11or 12 PSI.
If you can't fix the floor you could drop in a wood one.
The boat would just be heavier

 

[Guest]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

So I picked up a nice used 1999 Quicksilver 270 SIB (with inflatable floor - no hard bottom) and a Mercury 9.9 off of Craig's List last week. The owner had it blown up and everything was holding just fine. I brought it home and it sat in the driveway in the sun on Friday and I believe due to heat self-over-inflated itself. At least one chamber did, the air-floor. I found the hole. A seam seemed to come apart. It was on a horrible spot, but I think I was able to successfully patch it on Saturday. But since this was a new to me purchase, it didn't stop me from taking it out all weekend. My question is two part: 1) will having a severely under inflated floor cause poor performance? Does this part even affect planning or performance? The inflatable keel was fine and the rest of the chambers were all filled well. 2) I had really wanted a RIB, but couldn't pass up this deal, is there any difference in the plywood floor boat over what I have, at least with regards to performance and planning? As I was thinking if I can't get this sealed up I wouldn't mind putting plywood floors in and calling it a day. Any thoughts?

BTW... I was able to GPS 15mph (on plane) with 2 adults and one kid ~400lbs aboard.

Last summer my friend sinistre who often posts here had a hole in his air floor on his mercury 340. The boat did not perform even close to its potential. I would put in a wood floor which would probably be cheaper then buying a new air floor. Don't get me wrong when he had that air floor inflated he would sit on it like a lazy boy. I was ready to dump my wood floor wAtching him sit on the air floor the only thing missing was a cigar. Once he had hole my wood floor looked superior. Bottom line: if you get another air floor buy a matt to put over it and inflate to 12psi if not put in a woof pr aluminum floor

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

What ever floor you wind up with, if you plan to fish
You will need a mat.
It is a lot easier to clean a mat than the actual boat floor

 

[aneal000]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

Thanks for the responses. I believe it is the high-pressure floor. Not completely sure how to tell - other than what looks like the newer versions of that boat are as described. I do think I have successfully patched it - haven't inflated it fully just yet to test, but it was holding well with "some" air in it. I do like the idea of the wood floor. I'm not too concerned with weight, and not concerned at all with taking it apart or storing it. Any thoughts on how to get dimensions for the wood floor? What thickness is usually used? Thanks again!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

An air floor has very low air volume and high pressure, this combination doesn't hold pressure for long time periods, environmental issues works against them. Get an electric pump with gauge and set it to 12 psi, will need a reinflation to same psi once on water as pressure will drop specially on cold water. If tubes, air floor and keel are not inflated to its recommended working pressures expect a poor sib performance, worst if heavily loaded due to hull drag and lack of rigidity for sib to overcome fast when out of the hole. Tubes and keel needs min 3.0 psi, max 3.5 psi.

Happy Boating

 

[flukesofnature]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

So I picked up a nice used 1999 Quicksilver 270 SIB (with inflatable floor - no hard bottom) and a Mercury 9.9 off of Craig's List last week. The owner had it blown up and everything was holding just fine. I brought it home and it sat in the driveway in the sun on Friday and I believe due to heat self-over-inflated itself. At least one chamber did, the air-floor. I found the hole. A seam seemed to come apart. It was on a horrible spot, but I think I was able to successfully patch it on Saturday. But since this was a new to me purchase, it didn't stop me from taking it out all weekend. My question is two part: 1) will having a severely under inflated floor cause poor performance? Does this part even affect planning or performance? The inflatable keel was fine and the rest of the chambers were all filled well. 2) I had really wanted a RIB, but couldn't pass up this deal, is there any difference in the plywood floor boat over what I have, at least with regards to performance and planning? As I was thinking if I can't get this sealed up I wouldn't mind putting plywood floors in and calling it a day. Any thoughts?

BTW... I was able to GPS 15mph (on plane) with 2 adults and one kid ~400lbs aboard.

I have recently run across a product called BIXLER's "toob seal"...comes with good reviews. My concern with the use was " after application..can the inflatable be used as normal ( I/E inflate and deflate normally), Factory rep says No Problem..that is what is was designed for. 1 quart for inflatable up to 11 foot..all chambers. About 50 ish bucks.

 

[flukesofnature]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

Thanks for the responses. I believe it is the high-pressure floor. Not completely sure how to tell - other than what looks like the newer versions of that boat are as described. I do think I have successfully patched it - haven't inflated it fully just yet to test, but it was holding well with "some" air in it. I do like the idea of the wood floor. I'm not too concerned with weight, and not concerned at all with taking it apart or storing it. Any thoughts on how to get dimensions for the wood floor? What thickness is usually used? Thanks again!

See mariner 4 modifications..posted yesterday to "dragon23"...I posted a way to get all the measurements for that boat...mariner..you could use the idea and change for your boat.

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Inflatable Indoctrination: There's a hole in my bucket...

Did you check Mercurys web site on the floors? The boat I have coming you can get your choice of air or solid for replacement, how ever they are the same price.