05-07-2009, 06:48 AM
My new boat is Bladderless.
Repairs on bladderless can only be done on the outside which don't hold as well AFAIK. But I have never had to repair a bladderless since the material is generally thicker....
I DO NOT trust gauges. I have seen two people blow up there boat with so called gauged compressors.
I don't trust some gauges either, but trust testing with finger pressure even less! I learned how and where to finger test my 'toon by using a high quality low pressure calibrated gauge that only reads to 5 psi. Cheap soccer ball gauges (20 psi), were then checked against the quality gauge to use in the field in case of loss- no big deal. Use a little WD-40 on the soccer ball gauge stem if they don't calibrate right, and that brings them back on. Adapt to any fitting with snug latex hose and inflation connectors. Car type compressor guages read to 100 psi and can't even tell where 3 psi is on the scale if the first line starts at 10....
I use an LVM in which I can inflate a 10'6" pontoon (and have a video to prove it) in 1 minute 15 seconds. I then attach frame and top off by hand. You should be able to push a dimple in the toon.
Sounds good to me, I use a fast vane pump also, then trim with hand pump. They make some other types that shut off at a pressure setting you select. Or you can use LVM that doesn't go above 4 psi pressure, then back off a little to proper finger pressure if need be. Google Water strider- has some unusual pumps and gauges if you happen to need for special situations.
When on the road and going light, I use a minature vane pump and top off with a short hose from a vehicle's spare tire, the clamp to the tire valve has a restriction that makes the flow easy to control.
Whatever floats our boats, ha.....
Pon
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