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Water getting into inflated dinghy tube

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by Pascal, Jan 24, 2020.

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  1. Pascal, Jan 24, 2020
    #1
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Sounds crazy... right?

    Walker Bay generation 450, 3 years old

    During this past trip to the Exumas I noticed it has developed a fairly pronounced list. Pronouced enough that it took about 250lbs on the other side to level the boat and getting on plane solo was hard with the bow sky high...

    Turned out the aft stbd tube had water in it... I removed the valves this morning and shop vac’d 38 gallons of water. At the end i heard a sucking sound from the back of the tube where a seam has come unglued. At speed water appear to get scooped into the tube somehow replacing air...

    Learn something everyday. If someone had told me water could get in an inflated tube... I would have said no way!
  2. Fishtigua, Jan 24, 2020
    #2
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    We had a customer with a larger Brig RIB. The same thing was happening to his and sunk his Suzuki 100.

    Funky new RIB designs are not as robust as the old tube fitment systems were the tubes are sealed in chambers.
  3. Pascal, Jan 24, 2020
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    In our case there is triangular patch, like a reinforcement on the bottom of the tube at the end. The leading edge of that patch has come unglued and I guess that s how water gets forced in. I just don’t understand how air isn’t escaping, or the water for that matter once the dinghy is out of the water...
  4. Fishtigua, Jan 24, 2020
    #4
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Heck mate, got one one these for sale and one side goes a bit soft.
    Skellig4.jpg
  5. chesapeake46, Jan 24, 2020
    #5
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I thought they made a pill for that until I saw the picture
  6. Fishtigua, Jan 24, 2020
    #6
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    You have no idea how much that costs to fix until you get to my age.
  7. Oscarvan, Jan 25, 2020
    #7
    Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    Somehow a flap of the material is acting as a check valve. When you're moving the water pressure per square inch is bigger than the air pressure and the water scoops in. Slow down, water pressure reduces and air pressure closes the check valve.

    Hey, sounds plausible no?
  8. Capt Ralph, Jan 25, 2020
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I'm a little concerned that mold will start growing in the tube. This could come back and be an issue soon.

    That water has been getting pushed in there for a while, maybe the whole 3 years.

    I'd contact the mfg. Raise an engineering / quality of design / quality of assembly and anything else you can think of. Back it up with a nice letter.
    Who knows, something may stick and the mfg helps out some,, or more.
  9. Pascal, Jan 25, 2020
    #9
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I m pretty sure is a pretty recent judging by the list and weight distribution change. It came up pretty suddenly so I don’t think it s been an ongoing issue. Dealer is picking it up on Tuesday.
  10. Fishtigua, Jan 25, 2020
    #10
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Pascal, Walker Bay are pretty darned good with their customers.
    Never heard a bad report of them, and I do this crap for a living.