So the summer season is over. In the cold season, fishing from a boat is a dangerous activity. So, it's time to start preparing your boat for the winter. Because proper storage of a PVC boat in winter is the key to its long and reliable service. We highlight two important steps:

Step #1:
Cleaning a PVC boat from debris
Absolutely all fishing boats need pre-cleaning before long-term storage. And it doesn't matter what they're made of. The aroma of fish scales and algae is sure to attract mice, who will gnaw rubber, PVC and seats made of bakelite plywood with equal pleasure.

Do you live in a private house? Excellent! Take the boat out into the yard, pump up the cylinders and rinse it with water from a hose. Pay special attention to the places where the stringers and seats are attached, as well as the areas where the cylinders are connected to the bottom of the PVC boat: this is where small debris accumulates. Although, for example, fishing boats of the TM Ladya brand do not have any fasteners on the bottom. The special design allows you to simply insert the bottom flooring (slate mat or slate book) into them. Therefore, buying an inflatable boat of this brand is to make your life easier. Caring for these boats and preparing for launching takes a minimum of time.

But back to cleaning the PVC boat from debris. High-quality polyvinyl chloride is tolerant to chemical attack. If necessary, you can use any detergent:

Gel or dishwashing liquid;
- ordinary soap (household, children's or even soap from expensive brands, which has expired);
- washing powder.

Dilute your chosen detergent in water. Wipe the areas that are not amenable to ordinary water with a sponge moistened with the resulting solution. Rinse off the product, rinse the boat and leave it in the air until completely dry.

Car cosmetics and PVC boat: "Yes" or "No"?
I am often asked about whether it is possible to use special automotive cosmetics for vinyl when cleaning a PVC boat from pollution, seeing a common root in the words “vinyl” and “polyvinyl chloride”.

My answer will be "No!". Because almost all car cleaners or polishes contain silicone or other synthetic substances that cannot be completely washed off - they remain on the surface in the form of a “protective film”. Such a film is good for the dashboard of a luxury car, but it is detrimental to PVC (over time, it corrodes it under the influence of sunlight).

On the other hand, there are special products for dry car washing, the action of which is based on the biodegradable components included in their composition. These components, as it were, envelop the bio-garbage and allow you to get rid of it without unnecessary gestures. Similar products can theoretically be used to clean PVC boats before winter storage. But it's expensive and impractical. A regular detergent from the list above will do the job just as well, but it will cost several times cheaper.

PVC boat in a city apartment
Many residents of high-rise buildings will have to store their watercraft in the winter in the apartment, and wash it in the bathroom or in the shower. I will say right away: this method is suitable for a boat size of 190, 220 or (maximum!) 250. PVC inflatable boats for fishing of a larger size will not fit in the average bathroom.

An important nuance: be sure to check the air valves before you start washing the boat. They must be closed! Otherwise, water may get inside the cylinders. You will have to look for a special key, unscrew the valves and pour out the water. It's troublesome. And it is still unknown whether it will be possible to return everything as it was.

Step #2:
Preparing a PVC boat for winter
The craft has been washed and dried. Further exercises with it depend on exactly where you plan to store it. There are two options: in a special shed (a garage is also suitable) or at home, in a pantry, in a bag for a boat.

In the first case, it would be optimal to hang the inflated boat on slings from the ceiling or rafters and store it in this way until spring, after lowering the cylinders a little. This storage method allows you to completely secure your fishing boat from rodents. An added bonus will be the lack of fuss with the preparation of the PVC boat for the start of the next season. They removed it from the lines - inserted the seats and the bottom flooring - pumped up the cylinders - attached the oars to the oarlocks - you're done! You can enjoy your favorite hobby again.

Residents of city apartments are forced to store PVC boats folded. But your PVC watercraft will take up minimal space only if it is properly folded. And to fold it as compactly as possible, you need to follow the following sequence of actions:

How to properly fold a PVC boat for the winter?
- Using the pump, remove the remaining air from the cylinders by connecting the hose to the "return" valve;
- wrap the bow of the boat inward to the supports of the seat closest to it (as if by a third of the length of the boat);
- put the stern of the PVC boat on top of the bow (this is another third of the length, and if you have a motor boat, first wrap the stationary transom inside);
- now turn the boat to your side. And start twisting the resulting result towards the valves, pressing and squeezing out any remaining air. Again, if you are the owner of a motorboat, then twisting it across the transom will not work. But this is where logic comes in handy.

This will get all the air out of your boat. The result of the effort will be a very compact package. Put it in a bag and put it in the pantry or closet - and so you can store it all winter.

Should I use talc?
Until recently, anglers and hunters dusted their boats with talcum powder when preparing them for winter storage. This is because these boats were made of rubber, which requires special handling.

With the invention of the PVC boat, the torment of the owners of "airbags" ended. Polyvinyl chloride products do not need to be treated with talcum powder. Moreover, even with an unwashed boat, nothing will happen over the winter. The material will remain intact unless it is chewed on by mice, although such experiments are unhygienic.

PVC boat storage conditions: humidity and temperature
High-quality polyvinyl chloride is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and humidity. You can leave the boat in the closet, in the pantry near the battery, on the balcony. An unheated garage will do. According to the instructions, the minimum safe temperature for a PVC boat is -30°C. In practice, the material can withstand -40°C.

Along with this, be sure to remember: polyvinyl chloride is a combustible material. Do you use heating elements or other types of heaters that can heat up to high temperatures for heating? Make sure that the place where you are going to store the PVC boat is at a sufficient distance from a potential source of ignition.

The preparation of the PVC fishing boat for winter storage is completed. Properly performed, it significantly increases the life of the watercraft. And at the same time allows you to start the new season with a great mood. Because it is very pleasant to understand that nothing will happen to your beauty during the winter, and to know that the first fishing next year will be uneventful.

Do you have any questions? Ask - I will try to answer them as detailed as possible. And if you have your own secrets for the winter "preservation" of a PVC boat - share it here in the comments!

Sincerely,
Sergey

Furniture is not tinted in Moscow - all boats and ships are painted by the owners themselves with uncompromisingly bright colors. The average service life of such ships and boats is 15-20 years. The owner lovingly updates the design of his vessel every 2-3 years, gradually tinting its worn parts.

When the life of a boat comes to an end, its color content is a real object of abstract painting. Just look at those colors and textures!

At first, Katya and Jan thought about whether it was worth ennobling and restoring the material, but there was a danger that then it would lose its uniqueness and charm of antiquity. Therefore, the processing of the boats is minimal, it allows you to preserve their original color and the patterned beauty of the cracks: the surface of the boat is skinned to eliminate the possibility of getting a splinter and make the material more pleasant to the touch, and a special matte composition is applied to fix the color.

I asked how the colors on the sides of the boats are so beautiful and harmonious. Katya explained that the inhabitants of this country have their own special artistic taste: "Lifestyle, houses, nature and religion - everything has its own beauty." According to Katya, in any of the ports of Java, Lombok, Bali and other islands, she and Jan had the feeling that they were in some kind of art gallery.

Of course, not all the material that is brought from distant islands is aesthetically attractive. The "LikeLodka" team selects it very carefully. I felt that the guys were fascinated by the color and combinations of shades. For three months, Katya and Jan were choosing the right material, literally rummaging through the factory yard in search of the perfect pieces - parts and boards are not sorted by color, so you have to tinker with it. Usually warehouses are a huge open-air space, all littered with boards.

I realized that Jan and Katya control the selection process very carefully, they try to participate in it as much as possible and explain in detail what color or size of boat they need. For example, at first this beautiful chest of drawers was assembled from parts that were too dark. Then Katya and Jan had to go to the factory storage in search of the most colorful and colorful pieces of wood.

Now, when I looked at this chest of drawers in the Depst store, the vivid paintings of Jackson Pollock flashed in my head.

Now the young "LikeLodka" has the first delivery. For him, Katya and Jan ordered a 20-foot container with 70 boats and chests of drawers. The boats were loaded right in front of them - the young artists were very attentive to the packaging, requiring several layers of cardboard to wrap the furniture so that it would safely reach Moscow.

And although the dimensions of the container were carefully calculated in advance, already when loading the boats it suddenly turned out that there was still room! Then, in the operational mode, it was necessary to ram it with other interior items: otherwise the boats could be damaged during transportation.

The stool was captured during the production process, so it was brought to perfect condition already in the workshop in Moscow. Here Jan is sanding the rough surface of a tree and you immediately feel how it becomes more pleasant to the touch.

All the boats live and fit in a 16-square-meter workshop, where Katya and Jan made their own second floor for the boats.

On the day when the native boats were approaching Moscow, the couple spent the night in their workshop in a double hammock, because during the daytime trucks cannot enter the center. At 5 am, the long-awaited cargo arrived and by about 7 am all the boats took their places.

Katya and Jan call their workshop "The House of Boats". And there is a really special, homely atmosphere. Even a little mysterious. Here they stand - wooden treasures - motionless and quiet, packed, slender, dust plays in the evening sun, smells of paint and wood. And so I wanted to see what textures and colors are hiding under the plain gray-yellow cardboard.

"LikeLodka" are proud to offer a design that is not trivial for our country and love the planet: the furniture is made according to the “recycle” principle, which means not a single felled tree. The brand shares the philosophy of eco-design, more than relevant now all over the world. Boats and ships are given a second life - only on land.

Katya told me with inspiration that at every stage - in choosing a boat, in buying it - there is already an element of creativity, because these unusual items require emotional involvement in the process.

Jan and Katya on the second floor of their studio

At first, Katya and Jan thought that cafes and restaurants or designers would be their target audience. But the main and most responsive buyers turned out to be ordinary people who would like to have this unique item at home. Because there won't be another like it.

Boat in the interior

"LikeLodka" is a progressive brand open to any suggestions. If you have ideas for ship plank furniture, feel free to email the friendly "LikeBodki" team; for example, the most unusual wish from buyers was somehow to make a boat in the form of a bed.

"LikeLodka" even has its own model boat. She is a real beauty. It is used for exhibition and promotional purposes. For example, at the Usadba Jazz festival, she acted as a kind of photo booth: they took pictures and made wishes in it.

The boat is big, especially compared to others. I was amused by the story of how the guys had to explain at the factory that they needed a boat that would fit a person (and maybe even more than one), and the factory owner kept wondering how big our people were and what kind of activity would take place there ; after all, Indonesians are known for their diminutiveness and compactness. The next time this boat can be seen at the exhibition “Sea-Amore”, which the magazine "Seasons" is organizing on July 26th in the Hermitage Garden,. There she will be the most important boat in the world - the boat of declarations of love. So, if you have been wanting to tell someone about your feelings for a long time - it's time to do it under the wooden vaults of a 15-year-old Indonesian boat, which definitely has enough space for two - checked.

Perhaps, it is the metamorphoses that occur with a tree that attract me most in such furniture: at first it was a deaf log or a fallen tree trunk; then - a boat with which the Indonesian family could feed themselves; and only then - an interior item that crosses huge distances before getting, for example, into a Moscow apartment and reminding you of the sea. Katya told me a story that the head of one of the factories once told them: once one of the inhabitants spent all alone on the high seas for almost a month and escaped only thanks to a boat. I think the owner of a rack made of such an object will certainly attract a good portion of good luck into his life!

I realized that the boat for me is one of the symbols of travel and adventure. The heart longs for travel, especially if you live in a big bustling city and have a busy work schedule. I closed my eyes and ran my hand along the uneven surface of the boats, imagining how long they had traveled to Moscow. Cracks and many layers of colors also remain on them, as wrinkles appear on a person’s face over time from frequent smiles, anger or sadness. Warm wood keeps stories, which even makes these interior items somewhat animated. If you decide to have such a thing at home, let it bring good luck and a touch of adventurism to your home.

Photos: "LikeLodka"

Where you can buy and see "LikeLodka" furniture:

An interesting discussion ensued about life on a 40+ yacht. User Alloy Boy wondered what it was like to move from an apartment to a small boat:

“All day long I see yachts from the window of my office, and it seems to me that life on them flows so serenely. he writes. - Is it really there nowhere to turn around, it seems to me (if you live alone)? How quickly do they depreciate? A quick search reveals that a 40-footer is comparable in price to an apartment or a small house, but what are the advantages of living on a yacht (other than mobility)?

Here are the responses he received:

Imaka

"It's a very relaxed life and quite comfortable, but it all depends on your needs and desires. By the way, in most places you will pay much less for a 40-foot yacht than for an apartment.

Life on a boat is not for everyone. It can be pleasant and relaxing, but to make it so, you have to work hard. If it is possible to live on a yacht without buying it, then you should do it.

You must take care of fresh water and emptying the waste tank. For water, you will have to run ashore - sometimes to the marina. In some places there is water delivery to the boat, but experience tells me that this is rather an exception. Personally, I haven't been so lucky. When my husband and I stood in one place for a long time, we had to grab 20 liters of water every time we went ashore.

Need electricity? If so, consider wind turbines or solar panels, depending on where you live. Fridge? The most energy-hungry device on a yacht. There are less voracious, but they will cost you a pretty penny. Would you like to have a hot shower on the boat? Consider whether your area is warm enough to make do with a daily "summer shower" or if you should buy a water heater.

What about the concoction? If you have a gas stove, especially the Force 10, two burners and an oven, that's great, some people complement it with a barbecue grill in the cockpit. With a stove, you should have a gas detector in the cabin in case there is a leak, the gas can accumulate on the bottom of the boat, causing an explosion.

If you are at anchor, then you will have to get to the shore on a dinghy every day. Make sure it doesn't get stolen. Is there transport on the beach? So much the better, you don’t have to carry laundry, food, etc. on your hump. Do you work every day? Keep in mind that there will be days when it will not be easy to get to the shore by dinghy.

Do you want TV and internet on board? We usually used mobile internet. Sometimes it was lucky to catch an unpassworded wi-fi. A sufficiently high-mounted antenna will provide reception of free TV channels. Naturally, the picture quality will "limp" when the boat is moving.

Again, depending on the region, clothing can suffer from moisture and mold. To avoid this, we hid everything in airtight bags.

I would repeat my experience if given the opportunity and if the right person is around."

driver2

"Thinking about it myself. I've been swimming for years, I'm approaching retirement, and the prospect of having a second home is appealing. If you're working, you probably don't want such a drastic change.

If life in a kennel does not scare you, then go ahead. On a yacht in a marina, you get the following: long walks to and from the car with purchases, daily trips to the showers in the marina (a drain can save the situation, but you can’t empty it in the marina, and it’s expensive to pay for it weekly) or you can go out to sea every week to empty it there.

Highly recommend a light (or white) interior. Dark wood is depressing during the winter months. In addition, in winter you can suffer from claustrophobia. That is why for those who are planning to live on a boat, I advise you not to skimp on space. The more space, the better your mental health.

It's a lot like living in a camper...with the chance of drowning."

DoH

No washer/dryer. "Interruptions" with water. Everything is modest with cabinets and cooking. The beds leave a lot to be desired. Shower with boxes. Everything is damp all year round. The smell of gasoline if you have a motorboat. Knock on the pier, even if the boat is tied. Many yachts don't have heaters, none of the ones I've been on have air conditioning. At best, you will just be cramped. Entertainment is tight. Getting a pet is almost impossible. Straighten up to your full height? Forget it.

Everything, of course, is true, but I myself would like to live on a boat - but only on a long journey, and not huddle in a marina and dangle back and forth to work. Maybe live in the Caribbean in the winter and move to Maine for the summer? I would also like to go from North America to Europe. A completely different life!

Think of it this way: having a boat as your home is like having a motorcycle for all occasions. Sounds romantic, but how convenient is it in practice?

william g

You don't have to stay where you don't want to, you are literally and figuratively the "Captain of your ship" and no one will argue with that.

You can make your own at home.
And today we bring to your attention a small report on the manufacture of a boat at home.

You can do it, or your eyes are afraid, but your hands do it.

There are times when you want to go out into nature with a fishing rod, spinning, sometimes even with your family. The boat "Desnyanka", born in 1992, is even very suitable for this, but, due to its low carrying capacity, it is more for spending time intimate with nature. Little by little the boat wore out, rubbed, but walked.

And then one day, at the beginning of October 2006 from the Nativity of Christ, being in the middle of the Dnieper, I see how my boat begins to curl up under me, and the extraneous sounds made by the boat do not at all inspire confidence that I will get ashore dry.

Having got out on the shore, almost dry and charged with adrenaline, I firmly decided to put the boat in order, but upon closer examination it turned out:
Repair is not fast and does not guarantee safety in the future (more than 30% of the surface, or already passed or was about to emit air)
Even restored, the boat could not provide for the needs of a family (4 people) in water trips, and such a need is increasingly arising.
Installing a motor on it is possible, but does not guarantee safety (I don’t feel pleasure from walking on oars, especially against the current).
Other essential minor things.

The conclusion that I made for myself (not without the help of my wife) is to change the boat!

I have a couple of experiences in motor boats - as a passenger, but the boat must be with a motor and its own. And it was 10/08/2006.

And the Internet has begun to scour: Many boats are beautiful and different, but something is missing in each.

I went to people, a lot of advice, all contradictory.

10/19/2006 I came across information about the independent construction of a boat, I was interested. Since the boat was also planned for family vacations, his wife was involved in the discussion of the issue. She liked the idea of ​​building a boat on her own: the husband is busy, the son does not hang out on the street, he does not spoil his eyes in front of the computer, plus "working together for my benefit - it unites." We looked at a lot of projects of boats such as "Salmon", "Catfish", "Burbot", "Perch", "Shark" and others. We read a lot of articles, including "In Search of a Fishing Ideal", "VITA Displacement Boat", "Building a Boat Using the Sew and Glue Method", "Is It Worth Building a Boat? Reflections". Uploaded literature on the construction of ships "15 ship projects", "Vessel type selection and construction", "Boat boats and motors in questions and answers", CARENE program. Taking the DIXI project as a basis, changed the linear dimensions to 3460 mm - length, 1350mm - width, board height was 500mm amidships - on the advice of fishermen, for the possibility of access to the Kiev reservoir I made a model of cardboard 265mm long (approximately 1:13), lowered it into the water (into the bath) - it does not sink! I began to load, since there is enough lead, 600gr - it does not sink, even the margin on the sides remained (the layout without a cutout on the transom): The family liked it.

10/25/2006 I looked at the boat, built by Oleg Melegov in the spring of 2006 in the garage and has been run in several times, including on the Kiev reservoir. I took a few pictures for a closer study, listened to a number of tips.

31.10.2006 finally matured! I ordered FSF 4mm plywood 1240x2450 - 3 sheets, transferred the pattern from CARENE to the wallpaper sheet, and started looking for a room.

11/10/2006 brought plywood.

11/15/2006 went to Kyiv (to the company "AEROLA"), bought 5 kg of epoxy resin - ED-531, 1 kg of hardener - Telalit, 2 liters of microspheres - Kobasil.

On 11/18/2006, a friend from the local yacht club, after giving some unprintable comments about the idea to build a boat, presented a roll of fiberglass, for which he was immediately forgiven. In addition, to facilitate my work with resin, he recommended using not scales, but medical syringes of different sizes, having previously drilled holes (with small volumes of the composition used - 20-100g, this is very convenient).

11/19/2006 - I couldn't find the premises, my hands itch: I persuaded my wife to let me into the hall for a couple of days to glue the plywood under the blanks, promised to cover everything with a film - for my own safety. The project has "officially" begun. I did not dare to glue on the "mustache", and there was nowhere to prepare plywood for gluing. As a load for gluing plywood, the wife allowed the use of home preservation, but she did not suspect that this would not end, and she had been reading the tale of the bast and ice hut to children for a long time.

On November 22, 2006, he transferred the bottom patterns from the wallpaper sheet to the plywood and, having promised his wife that after cutting the plywood, everything would be put in the garage until spring, he picked up a jigsaw. The wife, in order to minimize dust effects, suggested using a vacuum cleaner as a sawdust collector. Ignoring her advice and desire to help would be unwise on my part. The work continued, but with an assistant - the project, as planned, became a family one.

11/23/2006 - side elements are cut. In all operations where temporary fastening of elements was necessary: ​​transferring a pattern from a wallpaper sheet to plywood, cutting out symmetrical body parts, gluing a fender, etc., binders of the appropriate size were used (taken from work for temporary use) - on the advice of Oleg Melegova.

On 11/24/2006, I processed the symmetrical elements of the boat hull with a planer, drilled holes at regular intervals (100mm) along the edges of the blanks (5mm from the edge), for further stitching of the hull. As a sawdust collector, when working with an electric planer, I used an ordinary construction glove, as it turned out to be quite effective. As supports, to hold the workpieces in a vertical position, I used clamps (3 pieces - everything that was available), fixed at the bottom, in opposite directions. I sewed two elements of the bottom with nylon thread, like boots are sewn, using a metal loop, and promised to transfer everything to the garage in the morning. The idea to use kapron thread arose for three reasons:

natural laziness (too lazy to pick out glued metal brackets).
rings made of nylon thread impregnated with epoxy resin will work as reinforcement.
capron does not rust.

11/25/2006 - Saturday. Since it was not possible to work on the project for more than 2-3 hours on a weekday, the arrival of Saturday was perceived with enthusiasm. While the family was sleeping in the morning, without noise and dust, an impromptu slipway was built and the bottom was glued together, a fillet was brought out. Fillets in the seams are very convenient to remove with a plastic disposable spoon. When the wife saw all this, the epoxy had already set. And my wife is kind, quick-witted, in general, she left the fox in a bast hut. And the project has become even more family-friendly. In the garage, I cut the fiberglass into strips 5 cm wide and 7 cm wide at an angle of 45 °, annealed the strips on a fire. Annealed fiberglass, as it turned out, is very frayed.

11/26/2006 purchased a sheet of plywood 10mm, made a transom. Taped, in one layer, fiberglass inner seam on the bottom. To avoid trouble, fiberglass was impregnated with epoxy resin in the attic, laying a film on the floor. The fiberglass impregnated with resin no longer crumbles, and the finished strips fit well on the primed surface.

On November 27, 2006, according to the already known technology with the use of child labor (daughter and son took an active part), they sewed the hull of the boat. In the evening, when the children had gone to bed, a transom was sewn on with epoxy glue. The epoxy work was carried out while the children were asleep and the door to the room was closed or they were not at home.

On 11/28/2006, internal side and transom seams were glued with fiberglass.

11/29/2006 purchased a sheet of plywood 6mm. Made solid frames.

11/30/2006 the frames are sewn in, glued.

Smoke break. Weekends. The family needs attention.

04.12.2006 jars were made and installed.

06-07.12.2006 the outer parts of the fender were made and glued. The fender was pressed along the entire length with 6 clamps at the control points and binders between them.

On 12/09/2006, the front frame and deck were sewn in from pre-prepared plywood residues.

On December 12-13, 2006, the inner parts of the fender were glued.

12/14/2006 glued: reinforcement of the transom board 25mm thick, 130mm wide, transom shelf 15mm wide, two vertical brackets to the knapsack board. Strengthening the transom board, while the epoxy resin dries, is fixed with screws.

12/15/2006 the boat was turned over and installed on an impromptu slipway (from tied chairs in the stern and a stool in the bow). Knits are sewn and glued under the seats. The cans glued to the sides and frames were longitudinally unstable and had to be strengthened.

12/16/2006 the outer seams of the boat are pasted over with fiberglass in two layers. The screws have been removed from the transom. The screw seats are drilled out, and furniture chopsticks are glued in their place.

On 12/17/2006, the seams were processed under the vacuum cleaner. Made and installed on the glue bottom and side redans (fixed from the inside with screws).

On 12/18/2006, screws were completely removed from the side steps and partially from the bottom ones. The boat is treated with epoxy on the outside.

12/20/2006 the boat is completely painted on the outside, on the inside - only the bottom part and the lower part of the side.

12/22/2006 the boat is set to normal position. The upper part of the fender was leveled with a planer, impregnated with epoxy resin.

12/23/2006 removal of the body! Weight 44kg. The calculation was justified: the boat did not pass through the entrance! But through the attic to the roof - tyutelka in tyutelka! The descent from the roof of the watercraft did not cause much trouble: several tens of meters of rope, a four-seater tent - which became a temporary cover for the boat and half an hour of time for the whole procedure, along with packing and unpacking. Next car trailer, shore, launching.

The boat on the water did not present any surprises, there were no leaks, creaks, cracking of the seams were not observed.

Crimping is made on 410 kg. live weight (5 people with a photographer - son 9 years old) + 44kg. own weight of the boat + 20kg. engine. A complete check of driving performance was not carried out for reasons: strong wind, not run-in motor (purchased the day before), a complete lack of personal experience in driving a motor boat.

Remarks identified at this stage: a narrow cutout on the transom - a small tiller angle (the engine had to be moved closer to the starboard side), due to the lack of personal experience at the beginning of the project and the engine until its completion.

In the spring I will bring the boat to mind and conduct full sea trials. I hope repainting, installing practical things, the total weight of the boat will not increase much.

As is customary at the end of the story: special thanks to my family, they endured, did not kick me out, and most importantly, they helped as best they could. From my words, my wife recorded correctly. Signature.

And the hands are itching:
01/02/2007 - electric jigsaw, extension cord - the cutout on the transom became wider, half a meter of adhesive tape so that the fresh cut does not get wet, and we are again near the water. The face, profile and other material evidence, in the form of human footprints in the boat, is attached. Five horses at the stern! Few, Few. But according to the table, the allowable power is enough.

Yes, and I almost forgot, two-centimeter ice, 150 meters, in a deep backwater, they broke like an icebreaker - an experiment, you know. Adrenaline is more than enough, it's a pity the camera was on the shore, two kilometers from the scene. We came back - we are not afraid of anything! 4mm plywood in a keeled bottom + two redans = icebreaker!

Sergei Klepikov

PVC boat Now there are many anglers and lovers of water walks. Someone buys the most expensive model from a well-known brand, and for some, a budget boat is enough. The service life of a product is determined to a greater extent not by price, but by proper operation. Therefore, only a well-trained person should go sailing. Tips on handling boats and proper storage will help extend the life of the boat.

How to properly handle a boat

1. Regular Cleaning - After swimming, clean the surface of the boat from fish oil, grains of sand and algae. Adhering particles and aggressive chemicals contribute to tissue destruction. Thoroughly clean the seams, which are often clogged with debris.
2. You need to clean not only the boat, but also the components - the pump, oars and other elements also need care.
3. Drying - do not leave a wet boat in the garage. It can become moldy, and in cold weather - an ice crust. As a result, the material will begin to break down.
4. To make the surface dry faster, the boat must be laid on its side. If desired, you can wipe it with a cloth.
5. Washing with soap - never scrub the boat with steel wool or abrasive detergents. Before long-term storage, clean the watercraft with a soft sponge dampened with soapy water.
6. Handling with care - use fishing tackle boxes. Do not put knives and hooks on the bottom, which can break through the PVC.
7. Inspect the shore - before launching, remove sharp snags and stones from the road.
8. Keep the boat away from fire - the heat from a campfire or an unextinguished cigarette can melt the material. Do not smoke near the boat. Burning matter is much easier than restoring it.
9. Carefully fold the boat - store the product folded. Make sure that when folding inside the bundle, twigs and particles of earth do not fall.
10. Dry the inflated boat - this way the water will drain better.
11. Roll the craft with the valves open from stern to bow. If you have a model with a motor, the ends of the cylinders must be pressed against the transom.
12. Do not load the boat with heavy objects during transport or storage - such actions quite often lead to breakdowns.
13. Do not leave the product under the scorching sun - it is especially dangerous to leave inflated boats in the heat. Look for a spot in the shade of trees or a covered shed.
14. Store your boat in a safe place - new boats are often infested with rodents. You can protect yourself from uninvited guests by washing the fabric well. Then there will be no smell of fish, which mice like so much.
15. Create optimal storage conditions - the room temperature should be maintained between 0 and 25 degrees Celsius. If you have left the boat in sub-zero temperatures, let it warm up before use.
16. Discard talc - it is suitable for rubber products. PVC will be difficult to clean, making repairs difficult later.
17. Do not try to do the tuning hastily with improvised means - if the boat does not have seats, do not put boards or logs instead. They will damage fragile material.
18. Read the instructions carefully and always follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
19. At negative temperatures, it is better not to unfold or move a rolled boat, as unwanted cracks may form on the fabric.
20. If the vessel is suspended from the ceiling, it does not experience large changes in humidity. And rodents will not be able to get to it and make a nest for themselves.

Boat inspection and repair

Damage during operation does not always appear immediately. The canvas usually does not break through the first time, but after prolonged use. The bottom is rubbed, creases and cracks are formed, which sooner or later make themselves felt. Therefore, after each trip, it is necessary to inspect the boat.

If a puncture could not be avoided, a repair kit will come in handy. Usually it is attached to the boat. You can repair a hole or abrasion in the field. The PVC material can be repaired and be fishing on the same day. The damaged area and the patch must be degreased with acetone in advance. The cleaned surfaces are glued together with polyurethane adhesive.

Boat storage in winter

It is advisable to allocate a separate room where the boat will wait for the next season. The product must not come into contact with other things. It is advisable not to fold the craft into a tight bundle. Otherwise, the likelihood of cracking the material will increase. The boat must be loosely folded or partially filled with air.

Water must not be allowed to come into contact with the surface of the material. You should choose a non-flooded room with a normal level of humidity for storage. Otherwise, the accumulated moisture will turn into ice and will destroy the PVC. You can install the boat on a pedestal or a flat surface.

You can store the boat both in a garage and in a city apartment. However, sub-zero temperatures will not benefit. It is extremely undesirable to leave an inflatable vessel near heating devices and, moreover, near an open fire. Do not place heavy objects on the bottom, even if you keep the boat warm at home.

Difficulties in caring for a model with a motor

The motor gearbox suffers the most. During the operation of the motor, it has a large load. During long-term storage, condensation and various deposits may form on the engine. Whereas during operation this usually does not happen. Therefore, do not forget to periodically inspect the engine, especially if it is stored in a cold room.

Failure to follow the rules of care reduces the life of the boat by 2-3 times. A properly maintained boat will serve you for many years. If you store it in a dry, rodent- and corrosive-free garage, it will last until next season without damage.

The material of such boats is a fabric covered with high-quality polyvinyl chloride. Moreover, there are several layers of such fabric. Such a watercraft can overcome many water obstacles and serve for a long time with careful handling.