Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips
Sorry about the B&D reference. You were showing a $75 Black & Decker unit that Amazon had, and so I referenced another Black & Decker model that 'they' (Amazon) also had a $16 B&D one. I generally don't appreciate when others use short cuts like that and here I am doing it myself.
Yes filling chambers stretches them, so the top 4 should all be inflated to similar pressures so as to not stretch some more than others (They all are adjacent to one another). The bottom keel is a stand-alone, so whether you fill that up with the others or not, will not impact any other chamber.
The keel chamber, unlike the 4 top ones, does not seal with a Boston valve. Though the keel valve is a more simple top cap/plug with a reverse pressure flap seal (my term) inside, it is still relatively heavy duty. Think of this one like most basic inflatable items/pool toys: When you take the top plug out, you don't see directly into the inner chamber. There is a flap over the bottom, with attachments to the sides of the valve. When pressure outside (your pump or mouth) is exerted, the flap pushes inward, allowing the chamber to fill. When this outside pressure is stopped e.g. you stop blowing it up, the inner pressure pushes the flap upward, to partially seal the valve, allowing you to put the top plug back in, without losing much pressure. Sometimes, especially when new, this bottom flap is stuck and it is hard to build up enough initial pressure to get air in. Squeeze the valve at it's base from all sides to loosen the flap. This should let air in and probably eliminate this problem in the future. Bleeding air out of this chamber/valve presents a similar problem all the time. When you first go to deflate it and take the plug/cap off, air won't really come out. Squeeze the sides of the valve at the base to break the inner flap's seal and air will exit. With reduced inner pressure, the flap seal won't present such a problem to expel the rest of the air.
The slat floor is intended to be installed with the smooth surface up. There is a cut out in the floor to allow you to inflate the keel after the floor is installed. Inflate all of the 4 basic chambers a little more than is necessary for the boat to take rough shape and then install the floor. After the 1st 2-3 times you'll learn how much is too much. Once the floor is in, you can then inflate the chambers fully to 'lock down' the floor. You may want to pause once more before completely filling them to install the motor mount. Once this is installed, but before you put on the motor, top off all 4 chambers.