Questions/Answers
Which inflatable is right for me?
When deciding on the right inflatable for you, you will want to ask yourself three main questions:
Where am I primarily going to use the raft (i.e. lakes, ocean, rivers)?
What am I primarily going to use the raft for (i.e. fishing, whitewater, touring, multi-day trips)?
How many people are going to be in the raft?
Answering these questions for yourself are going to identify the boat that is the right fit for you. Each boat that we offer displays the person capacity, and a lists other features that will help you in making your decision. If you are still having problems selecting a boat for yourself, call Saturn at (800)217-3270 and one of our representatives would be happy to answer and questions, and get you the boat that best fits your needs.
My air compartments are becoming soft over time, what’s wrong with my boat?
Every single one of the inflatables we offer is tested at the factory. All Saturn boats are kept fully inflated for 48 hours, after the SATURN logo has been applied; this makes it very unlikely that your raft has a leak right out of the box. However, air may escape rapidly if you are not locking your air valve correctly. If your valve stem is compressed, and allowing air to escape, press the valve stem in and rotate it clockwise. This will extend the valve stem out, preventing the air from escaping
If your boat is not holding air, the most common cause is a slow valve leak or a pin hole. See below for locating and fixing these issues.
My boat is not holding air and I can't figure out why!
The first thing you will want to ask yourself is, "Am I inflating my raft before I put it in the water?" More often than not the water we use our inflatable boats in is colder than the temperature of the air. Cooler temperatures and elevation can cause PSI to decrease, causing the raft to become soft. Make sure you always bring a top-off pump with you whenever you go boating, especially in early or late season.
If you are absolutely sure your boat has a leak, the most valuable tool to locate the leak is soapy water. 75% of all leaks are attributed to valve leaks to repair a valve leak follow these steps:
Spray leaking air chamber down with soapy water, the leak will cause the soapy water to bubble, identifying where the leak is.
If the leak is occurring at a valve, unscrew the valve from the valve sleeve using the wrench in your repair kit.
Thoroughly clean the valve and sleeve, removing all sane, dirt and debris
Check the rubber -ring for damage, if damaged replace the o-ring. All of our valves are industry standard, and replacement parts can be purchased from your local raft supply store, or Saturn can send you one at no cost.
After cleaning/repairing the valve, screw the valve into the sleeve.
If you continue to have issues please give us a call at (208)853-6033
If you discover your boat has a pin-hole leak fallow these steps:
10. Fully inflate the boat to the proper PSI (2-3 PSI).
11. Scrub the boat with soapy water and watch for bubbling areas
12. Mark the area of the leak, and cut a round patch out of your PVC repair material (patches with square edges will peel up).
13. Sand both the patch and the boat down with 8o grit sand paper until you have a matt finish.
14. Clean the boat and patch with acetone or MEK and allow to dry.
15. Apply two coats of PVC adhesive to the patch and boat, allowing 3-5 minutes of drying between coat applications
16. Once your second coat has been allowed to dry for 3-5 minutes, apply the patch to the boat by gently rolling the patch onto the boat from one side to the other, ensuring that no air bubbles are trapped in the patch.
17. You'll then want to use a roller (http://www.nrs.com/product/1991/pro-roller-hand-tool) to smooth out and secure the patch
18. Wait 24 hrs before rolling or full inflating your boat.
19. Use MEK to clean off excess glue around the edges.
20. If you need to redo your patch, MEK can be used to remove the patch.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6YmWa7ScOc for a how to video on patching your boat.
How do I find and repair air leaks?
If you are losing air pressure, (aside from pressure loss commonly caused by colder temperatures), check the boat over for leaks. Start by checking the valves first. In our experience, over 75% of air pressure loss is attributed to a damaged valve gasket. The best tool to find leaks is soapy water in a spray bottle. Spray around the valve and if you see bubbles forming, check your valve fitting and base and be sure the valve insert is screwed on tight. If it is and it is leaking then you will want to unscrew the valve and clean the area along with any sand or grit on the o-ring. Also, make sure the little rubber o-ring isn’t damaged or torn, if so we can send a replacement out at no cost. If you want additional protection you can also apply glue from the repair kit to seal small leaks around the valve or holes where the nylon string enters the valve assembly. If you continue to have problems with the valve, just give us a call at (800)217-3270 and we’ll ship you off a new valve at only the cost of shipping.
To find pin-hole leaks fully inflate the boat until it's very hard to the touch. Put some liquid detergent in a bucket of water and scrub it all over the boat with rag or big wash brush. Watch for elusive or tiny bubbles. When you find the leak you should be able to repair with a small patch the size of a silver dollar.
If you don’t have luck finding a pinhole leak, inflate the boat to its’ maximum air pressure and try to listen for the leak. If you can narrow the area down, return with a spray bottle to identify the source of the leak.
Your inflatable boat comes with a repair kit as standard equipment. It is recommended to do repairs in dry weather as humidity will decrease glue bond. Cut a piece of repair material large enough to overlap the damaged area by approximately 1" and round off the edges. Apply glue to the underside of the patch and around the area to be repaired. Too much glue will often interfere with a proper repair. Allow adhesive to become tacky for 5 minutes, and then place patch on the damaged area. Use a weight to apply 3-5 lbs. of pressure for 24 hours. After the patch has dried, apply glue around the edges for a complete seal (dry 6 hours).
What to do if air compartments become soft over time?
All inflatable products, including dinghies, kayaks and rafts are tested at our factory. They are kept fully inflated for 48 hours after the SATURN logos are applied to the product tubes. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that brand new inflatable products are leaking air right out of the box. If air is escaping rapidly from a valve when you inflate your product for the first time, then most likely you are not properly locking the air valve.
If you leave your boat fully inflated, come back in a couple of weeks and the air chambers are soft, then there are two possible reasons for this besides a temperature drop; the least likely reason for a slow air leak is a micro hole, and most likely is a slow valve leak.
If you suspect that a valve is the source of the slow leak, you can verify this by fully inflating the air chamber, closing the valve cover and applying a soapy water mixture around the valve housing and cover cap. Air may escape around the valve perimeter, cap perimeter, or in the place where the string securing the valve cover cap enters the valve housing.
Over time, it is possible that debris, sand, dirt, oils and grime will accumulate on the rubber seal ring that is designed to keep the valve air tight. That may allow a small amount of air to slowly escape, making the tube and chambers soft. To remove debris you will need to blow air into the open valve with a hand pump while keeping the hose slightly away from valve’s unlocked pushpin. It might be also possible to splash a bit of acetone inside the valve to clean off the dirt and grime. Leave the valve open to let the acetone evaporate. If that does not help, remove the valve with a special valve tool, clean the rubber seal with a cotton swab soaked in acetone and re-install the valve with a tight fit. If that does not help, then valve needs to be replaced.
If you are observing air bubbles around the valve housing perimeter while applying a soapy mixture, there is a possibility that the valve needs to be tightened with a specialized valve tool. If you are using a NARU valve you should have received a valve tightening tool in your repair kit. If you raft/kayak/boat has Leafield C7 valves you will need to purchase a valve tightening tool from NRS or directly from us.
You can also quickly seal the slowly leaking air valve by applying a thin layer of glue around the valve housing perimeter, or putting a drop of glue inside the opening, where the string that secures the valve cover enters the valve housing, if you observe air bubbles at that particular place. Household silicone sealant may also be applied in place of the glue.
What are the differences between air and plywood floors? Is an air floor rigid enough to stand on?
Once inflated, a high pressure air floor becomes as rigid as a plywood floor. You can stand, walk or even jump on it, the same way you could on plywood floor.
If you are planning to inflate and deflate your boat often, then the air floor is your best solution, because the boat folds compactly. It's a breeze to assemble and inflatable boats with air floor. Just roll out-and inflate.
Assembling a plywood floor is a little bit of a hassle, and therefore we recommend plywood floors only if you keep the boat inflated most of the time. Another advantage of an air floor is that it is much lighter then a plywood floor. Due to it's lighter weight, the boat can achieve a higher speed much easier then with a plywood floor. Plus, an air floor is easy on your knees and absorbs vibrations better then a plywood floor. Because of these outstanding features, most of our customers prefer boats with air floors.
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I am new to Inflatables, help me to choose a boat that is right for me.
Max persons capacity displays how many persons the boat can transport safely. In general, to be comfortable on an inflatable boat, you will need to deduct 1-2 persons from the max boat capacity. For example, SD260's will comfortably seat 1-2 people, SD290/330's 2-3 people, SD365/385 3-4 people; SD430's will accommodate 4-5 people comfortable. Our whitewater rafts are designed for more passengers and can generally comfortably accommodate the max passenger capacity listed.
It is much easier to inflate and deflate boats with high-pressure air deck floors than boats with plywood floors or hard floors. It takes more time and skill to assemble plywood floor. In general, if you are planning to inflate/deflate the boat often, then select a boat with an air floor. If you keep the boat fully inflated for at least 1-3 weeks then choose a boat a with plywood or hard floor. If you keep boat on a trailer or in a dock, then a hard floor will not be a problem for you. If you keep the boat in the car's trunk and inflate it for only a day of fishing, then you will find it easier to deal with an air deck floor.
What to do if boat gets accidentally punctured while on the water?
First of all - do not panic. Inflatable boats have several air chambers, and if one of chambers gets punctured, the boat will stay afloat due to the buoyancy of the remaining air chambers.
We suggest that you always carry on board the following items - Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each passenger along with a whistle, a marine emergency radio to call the Coast Guard for help if necessary, a hand pump, piece of duct tape (Gorilla Tape) and a small bottle of acetone.
If boat gets punctured below the water line, there is nothing much you can do except for pumping air with a hand pump in order to slow down the air leak. For quick emergency repairs in ripped inflatables, you can purchase a ClamSeal product.
Punctures in accessible places, inside the boat, can be temporarily fixed with a piece of duct or Gorilla tape. To insure a good seal, the area around the puncture should be cleaned with acetone before applying duct tape. After that, you can pump in air to slow down the escaping air, and get ashore as soon as possible.
How long should I expect my SATURN boat to last?
That is totally up to you. If you take good care of your boat, it may last 10+ years. If you do not take proper care of the boat, it may deteriorate due to UV damage and not last as long. We have many commercial guides, outfitters, and customers than have literally thousands of miles on their boats/rafts are they are still going strong without any major issues. Our warranty claims are less than 0.5% of all products sold, that is a true testimate to the quality of our product line.
To extend the lifetime of your boat by taking proper care of it, we are recommending following book: "INFLATABLE BOATS - Selection, Care, Repair, and Seamanship" by Jim Trefethen. ISBN number 0-07-065252-X. Available at amazon.com, or you may order it from the publisher: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 1-800-262-4729.
It is well known that the most common reason for premature boat aging is exposure to the sun and its damaging UV rays. Fabric discoloration, fading, breakdowns and damages to varnished plywood can be all attributed to direct sun exposure.
The solution is simple - when the boat is not in use, cover it or deflate it. There are plenty of Inflatables rotting under the damaging sun in any local marine or harbor. If possible, deflate the boat, clean it and store it in its carry bag.
If the boat is constantly dragged behind your sailboat, left year round on a dock, or left dirty and directly under harmful UV-rays, you can't expect it to last forever. If you use a boat cover, or at least cover boat with a piece of tarp, your boat will last much longer.
Try to keep the boat clean and free of chemical detergents and sun screen lotions that may discolor the fabric.
We highly recommend boat cleaners available at NRS and can order them for you at a discount if you call us to order at (800)217-3270.
Please make sure to use ONLY cleaning solutions that are approved for PVC fabrics. Do not use CLOROX, Windex or any other household cleaners. These chemicals will deteriorate the fabric making it sticky over time. Sun screen lotions may contain silicon that will also make PVC fabric sticky. Clean the boat tubes of any sun screen lotion marks to extend the boat fabric life cycle.
What documents are needed to register my boat?
You will need a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) and Bill Of Sale to register any of our Saturn dinghy tender products or KaBoats. The MCO and Bill of Sale are enclosed in a pouch attached to the shipping box along with a Warranty Registration card. If any of these documents are missing from the pouch, please visit our Downloads page for replacements. Please fill out all necessary information: purchase price, your name, address and date of purchase. Don't forget to enter the correct HIN number. Don't bring blank forms to the Tag agency. Fill them out first.
In very rare cases, some states may ask you to provide the MSO with a signed and notarized First Assignment. In general this absolutely unnecessary. The First Assignment is for you to fill out when you are going to re-sell the boat. There are no manufacturers in the US who provide a notarized copy of the MSO. Please contact us if you receive that request and we will help resolve the issue or we can issue a notarized copy if needed.
What to do if a hand pump arrives damaged?
Give us a call. The hand pump is the one accessory that is susceptible to damage during shipping by FedEx. We can either help provide you information to make a claim to FedEx or we can sell any of the upgraded NRS hand pumps at wholesale pricing. The NRS Bravo Pump is a perfect low-cost dual action pump to replace a damaged generic pump.
What to do if hand pump does not work?
The Saturn boats, rafts and kayak should be inflated until quite firm. If you find the hand pump provided is not able to achieve enough pressure, inspect the hose and all connections for leaks. Remove the hose and block the air outlet at the T handle with the palm or your hand while pushing down on the T handle. You should encounter very substantial resistance to pushing down when the air outlet is blocked. If instead the handle goes down easily, open up the pump by unscrewing the green cylinder lid and inspect the black rubber seal to see if it is torn or improperly installed.
On the end of the plunger you will see 3 ridges: A top ridge, a 2nd ridge that is just below the top one, and a bottom ridge. When the black rubber seal is properly installed it is in the valley between the top ridge and the 2nd ridge, and it covers the 2nd ridge. Photo shows proper location and orientation of the black rubber seal.
The seal is bell-shaped so that its upper opening is smaller in diameter than its lower one. If it is upside down, remove it and turn it over. If it is in the wrong location (i.e., if it is below the 2nd ridge instead of above it), move it to the correct place as shown in the photo.
Once the rubber seal is properly situated, re-assemble the pump, taking care not to damage the seal. Use your fingers, and the fingers of a helper if necessary, to stuff the edges of the seal into the cylinder so that it does not get displaced or damaged as you insert it.
How to fold my boat for compact storage?
Do I need to install a hydrofoil on the outboard motor?
Although it is not generally needed we do recommend you install a hydrofoil on the outboard motor if you want to maximize the boat and motor performance. A hydrofoil will help put the boat on plane much faster and will help maintain the planning effect at lower speeds. See picture below, on the left without a hydrofoil, on the right with a hydrofoil installed.
How to protect air floors from accidental punctures or sharp dog claws?
An air floor PVC material has been designed to be strong and puncture-resistant. But if enough pressure is applied with a sharp object, like a knife or fishing hook for example, then a puncture may sometime occur. Dog claws, in general, are not sharp enough to puncture an air floor. But small pieces of sharp broken glass or similar objects may stick to the insole of shoes while boarding the dinghy and may also cut the surface of air floors in some cases.
To avoid damage to the high-pressure air floor, and keep it as good as new, you can purchase a piece of vinyl floor covering in a hardware store, or just use regular carpeting. Cut the vinyl or carpet to fit the inside of the boat and over the floor. Use paper patterns first, to get a perfect fit. Then use this paper pattern to cut the new flooring.
Applying vinyl or carpet covering will make inflatable air floors virtually indestructible. Floor vinyl covering or carpet is flexible and may be rolled up for storage when boat is deflated.
How to properly tow a dinghy behind a sailboat or yacht?
Towing bridle is necessary in order to properly tow your inflatable boat. Towing bridles are available at many marine retail stores and on-line. Do not tow the inflatable boat by connecting rope to the central D-ring with integrated handle. Use towing D-rings on both sides of the dinghy bow.
The most common mistake made when towing is the improper use of the towing bridle. Many boaters knot the tow bridle into a loop at the center, and attach a towing line there. This is wrong. The towing line should not be fixed to the bridle, but instead should end in a small bowline loop, through which the bridle passes. This allows the towline to slew back and forth in the bridle, and provides for tension on both sides of the bridle. Not rigging the towline this way is the most common cause of failure of the pad eyes on the dingy to which the tow bridle is attached. It is inevitable that during towing, the dingy will rock a little from side to side, shifting the strain on the bridle from one side to the other. If the towline is rigidly fixed to the center of the bridle, one pad eye will be momentarily required to sustain the entire tow load. If the towline can shift its position in the bridle, both sides of the bridle will remain in tension, and the load will be distributed to both pad eyes on the dingy.
Many cruising sailors have small outboard motors for use with their inflatables, which creates a dilemma when it's time to tow: should the motor be left on the dingy while towing? The tendency to do this is proportional to the weight of the outboard and the difficulty in removing it and storing it on the boat. There are a number of reasons for recommending against towing with the outboard on the dingy.
First, there is the hazard to the outboard. In large seas the dingy might flip over, submerging the motor. It's also possible that violent motion in the seaway could cause the motor to fall off the dingy transom. These things always seem to happen when you'd least expect them to, usually when a ten-foot sea is running!
Another consideration is the additional tow load the extra weight of the motor will create. A completely empty inflatable is usually a very light craft and hence a very light tow load. When you add 70 pounds or more of motor and gas tank, you could very well be doubling the tow load from a small inflatable.
The problem most likely to occur in towing the dingy is shipping water aboard. It can quickly lead to failure of the bridle pad eyes, especially in those instances where the load is not being equalized. Even just six inches of water in an inflatable can weight hundreds of pounds.
How can I prevent the outboard motor from damaging the transom while transporting my boat on a trailer?
While transporting inflatable boats on a trailer with the outboard motor in a raised position, heavy outboard engines may provide extra strain on a boat's transom. When a moving trailer hits a bump or uneven pavement, heavy motors are capable of damaging the transom. You can install a pole support from the end of the trailer to the end of the outboard motor in order to provide extra support for the motor's weight. These supports are available at places that sell trailers for boats and/or on-line.
Can I inflate my boat using an electric pump only?
No. You will need to use a hand pump to provide proper air pressure to the tubes. Electric pumps will not provide enough air pressure and your boat will not operate to it's full performance. You may quickly inflate all air compartments with an electric pump, up to the point where no more air can be electrically pumped inside, or about 90%. Then, you will need to use a hand pump until the tubes, keel and bow are hard to the touch.
How SATURN inflatable boats are different from other brands?
Saturn Inflatable boats are made of the same quality materials as famous expensive brand name inflatable boats. The workmanship is exactly the same or even better quality then most overpriced brand names that you can buy in retail marine stores. SATURN Our SATURN boats are made by a major manufacturer of inflatable boats in Korea.
Some of Saturn boats strong points:
- Very clean, hand-made seams. Glue does not stick out from seams.
- Double layer fabric at the bottom of all tubes .
- The Extra thick 1100 Dtex fabric with polyester support is a much thicker fabric than some other famous brands use.
- Flat and rigid air floor. Not bended in front like on most other brands.
- Safety valve that prevents over-inflation.
There are several reasons why our prices are the lowest in the US:
- We import directly from the manufacturer bypassing the middleman.
- By conducting our business on-line we avoid expenses that retail stores are passing on to their customers.
- We do not invest as heavily in marketing as other famous brands do.
- We don't have to maintain a large network of dealers and retail stores.
- Our 2 year warranty doesn't force you to pay for extra years that otherwise are just built-in into the retail price.
Many of our customers are boaters that have experience with other brand names such as Zodiac, Avon, West Marine, etc. However, after purchasing Saturn boats, we hear many comments stating that our boats are the same or better quality as these other major brands. The most common remark is, " Saturn boats are much better quality then expected" and 50% of our sales come from the referrals of happy owners of Saturn inflatable boats.
What type of outboard motor can be installed on a Saturn inflatable boat?
Short shaft 15" outboard motors are recommended to be installed on the 15" transom of Saturn inflatable boats. The lighter the outboard motor - the better. Either 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines may be installed on a boat transom, however 2-stroke engines are generally much lighter then 4-stroke outboard motors.
Long shaft 20" motors are not recommended, but may also be installed if a short shaft o/b is unavailable. However a long shaft o/b may create extra underwater drag. Long shaft o/b may be raised a few inches with the help of a 2-3" wooden bar placed on top of the boat's transom.
Max O/B motor, as per technical specifications for Saturn inflatable boats, means that this particular HP power output motor will bring the boat on plane when the maximum persons capacity is reached. For example, the SD365 can take up to a 30 HP outboard motor, but a 9HP or 15 HP motor will move this boat very nicely with 2-3 people on board. However, to put the boat on plane with a full load of 5 people and gear, a 30 HP motor may be required.
Are Saturn inflatable boats certified or approved?
Manufacturer Identification Codes (MIC) were assigned by the US Coast Guard on May 6, 2003. Our boats have been CE, ISO and Germanischer Lloyd Certified in Europe, Asia and Australia. The NMMA certification is expensive and optional, therefore we did not apply for such a certification in order to keep our expenses/prices as low as possible.
Air starts escaping from the valve immediately after I remove air pump. My boat starts loosing air after few hours. What is wrong?
The valve has a special pushpin inside. This pushpin has two positions, both up and down. When it is pressed in the down position, air will escape. If you turn the pushpin in any direction it will pop up. This will lock air inside and prevent it from escaping through the valve. Before inserting the air pump tube into the valve, please make sure that the pushpin is in the upper, popped up position. Once the pin is in the "popped up" position, insert the air pump tube into the valve and inflate the boat until it becomes hard. Once you remove the air pump, air will seal the valve and will no longer escape. If you would like to deflate the boat later on, press down on the pushpin and turn it in any direction until it stays in the pressed down position. Air will immediately escape from the tubes thru the valve.
How do I replace the air valve?
Please go to the valve assembly page to see how a damaged or defective valve can be replaced. Replacement valves and tools for their replacement can be ordered by visiting our accessories section.
What does "maximum motor capacity mean"? What motor rating do I need to put the boat on plane?
Max O/B Motor means: the maximum power outboard motor that can be safely used to plane a boat loaded to the maximum capacity on normal water surface conditions. Please exercise common sense and caution when using maximum motor capacities. Do not jump from wave to wave as new 4-stroke motors are much heavier then 2-strokes and provide extra strain on the transom.
Under normal circumstances, with half of a maximum persons/load capacity, or about 50% of the maximum O/B power rating may be necessary to put the boat on plane. For example: the SD365 is rated for up to a 30 HP outboard motor. But a 15 HP with hydrofoil installed would be enough to put a 12' boat on plane with 1-4 people and a light load.
The lighter the motor, the faster boat will run. 2-stroke engines, while still possible to find, are much lighter then 4-strokes, and will provide same power at less strain to the transom.
What are the necessary steps to correctly assemble my inflatable boat?
These are the steps you should follow to correctly inflate the boat:
Steps for assembly inflatable boat with an air floor:
1. Inflate all tubes to approximately 75% full.
2. Insert boat seats in designated spots.
3. Place deflated air floor inside the boat. The grey plywood board should be facing the keel. Make sure that the valve of the keel is accessible through the hole in the air floor. You will need it later to inflate the keel through this hole.
4. Place both ends of plywood boards under the left and right sides of tubes.
5. Stretch the air floor along the boats bottom, so it covers it from nose to transom. The rear end of the air floor should be touching the transom.
6. Inflate the air floor until it's hard. You will know that the floor is fully inflated when the air pressure starts pushing the air pump handle up.
7. Inflate all tubes 100% until hard to touch.
8. Inflate the keel through the hole in air floor.
Steps for assembly inflatable boat with plywood floor. Click image to zoom in:
What is the working air pressure, and do I need a pressure gauge?
It is not necessary to have an air pressure gauge to inflate Saturn boats. The boat tubes are equipped with Safety valves that will prevent over-inflation. In general, when you feel that boat tubes/floor are hard to the touch, and it becomes difficult to pump any more air in, that means that the boat is ready.
However, if you are using a high-pressure electric air pump, please use below guidelines to avoid boat over-inflation and consequential damage.
Helpful conversion factors:
- 1 psi = 0.06895 bar
- 1 bar = 14.50326 psi
- 1 kpa = 0.145 psi
How do I tie up my dinghy to the dock?
If you are planning to keep your inflated dinghy in water or by the dock for extended periods of time, here is a simple scheme that you may follow. Gray PVC 1/2" electric pipes can be used as pole supports. PVC pipes are available in local hardware stores and Home Depot. They provide enough tension to keep the dingy from rubbing against the dock.
However, keep in mind that prolonged exposure to open water will cause extensive algae and barnacle growth on the bottom part of the boat.
How can I make a quick swim ladder to get into my boat from the water?
You will need 8-9 inch long pieces of 2" diameter white plumbing PVC pipe and a piece of thick rope. Drill holes at the end of each pipe and run the rope from one hole to another. Make 2 knots where the rope exits the holes in the pipe, to make sure that the pipe will stay in place and will not slide when boarding the boat.
Make knots along the rope to assist with pulling yourself out of the water. Attach rope to the grab line, or any other place that can support heavy weight and throw the other end of the rope across the boat into the water, so that it is 20" below water line.
When boarding, insert one foot inside the loop with the pipe and grab the rope with both hands. Pull your body inside the boat, by using knots on the rope to help you up.
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How to properly load inflatable boat?
Please see below for proper loading of the inflatable boat:
The keel tube under the floor is skewed to one side. How do I correct that?
Please follow these steps to correct positioning of the keel.
1. Deflate boat tubes.
2. Deflate and remove air floor.
3. Inflate keel and then deflate it while spreading it out evenly on both sides.
4. Insert air floor back and inflate boat tubes 100%.
5. Inflate air floor, then inflate keel.
What kind of valves do Saturn boats and rafts have?
Saturn boats and rafts use a Halkey-Roberts flat valve designed by Naru.
I can't put the boat on a plane due to cavitation problems. The outboard creates a lot of noise and bubbles but the prop lifts out of the water and the boat stops. Why?
There are two reasons for cavitation problems. First, is an incorrect or damaged prop. The second, and most likely, is that the boat is not fully or properly inflated. If the boat's chambers are not fully inflated, this will cause water disturbance under the boat tubes, and cavitations as a result. Please make sure that the boat is fully inflated by using hand pump. Do not use only electric pumps or compressors to inflate the boat. Use a hand air pump to pump up all boat chambers until they are hard to the touch. In general, once you feel that it becomes difficult to pump any more air with a hand pump, it means that the chamber is full. You can lightly knock with your hand on each compartment and it should feel hard, not soft.
The most recent response from a customer who fixed cavitation by properly inflating his SD365 boat was: "Thanks, I did what you said and went out in the ocean today and my boat ran great, really moves with this Honda 20hp outboard."
More Info about Cavitation due to the outboard propeller:
Ventilation occurs when surface air or exhaust gases are drawn into the propeller blades. The load on the propeller is reduced by the mixing of air or exhaust into the water steam causing over revving.
Anti-ventilation Plate: A large plate cast into gear case housing directly above propeller. Helps reduce surface air from being pulled into the blades.
Cavitation: The aeration (bubbling) and boiling effect of water caused by creation of a low pressure area. Generally caused by a solid shape (propeller blade) passing through the water, in such a position and speed, that a low pressure area is formed due to the inability to move through the water in nonresistant manner. An example is, a propeller blade that has a rough edge would not cut efficiently through the water, thus creating a low pressure area. If the pressure drops below the vapor pressure, a cavitation bubble will form in that region. These bubbles will collapse when they reach the higher pressure region of the blade. This causes a rapid change in pressure and can result in physical erosion. You may notice burns (erosion) at some area on the face of the blade.
How can you avoid slipping in the boat seat while the boat is in motion?
You can apply a non-slip stair tread tape which is manufactured by 3M. It is very durable and is water resistant as well. It is available in most hardware stores. It is made to be used on stairs but also works well on boat seats to keep you from slipping into turns when a boat is in motion. It makes the seats non-slip!
How do I put my Inflatable Boat Registration Numbers on my boat?
There is a company that specializes in Inflatable Boat Numbering and Lettering. Check-out http://www.boatnumberplate.com. They Manufacture registration numbers and or name plates that can be glued onto your boat. They guarantee them legal in every state and for the US Coast Guard.
I am a heavy person, over 250 lbs. How can I minimize pressure on the plywood seat and seating straps in order to avoid excessive wear?
Put a regular cooler between the seat and air or plywood floor to create extra support for the plywood seat. The cooler has to fit under the seat. There are IGLOO or Coleman coolers available in department stores that are just the right size.
Coolers can also serve as dry storage containers. When a boat is jumping on waves, coolers will prevent excessive pressure on the strips that hold the plywood seat attached to the tubes. For example, a Coleman 9 Qt. Excursion, Red cooler, dimensions 11.25" x 12.66" x 9.75", Vendor Part Number: 6209A703G, around $15.