How do you know when your RIB or inflatable speed boat is up at the correct pressure?

This is a question that people often ask us at our boatyard when they are looking at our RIBs. I am sure that there are lots of highly technical answers and specialist gadgets that could be used to give you the correct pressure for your RIB, but for the most part if you are a leisure I recommend a simple solution:

The tube should be firm to the touch. If you are going along through the water and it flapping about then it is too soft and you should pump it up some more to avoid damage. Most good quality rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) will be fitted with pressure release valves, which should prevent you from over inflation.

Bear in mind that the pressure will vary a lot from day to day as the tube on your RIB is effected by temperature changes in the air. For this reason if you are in a very hot country it is a good idea to make sure that your RIB is fitted with pressure relief valves. This means that you will avoid blowing seams if it suddenly gets very hot!

Some people use a foot pump like this one . its called a Bravo 1

and some use an electric one, I think the BRAVO BST12 HIGHSPEED is quite good.

Large air flow: 450l/minAutomatic: stop when the choosen pressure is reached

Reliable: the combined solution “” turbine and piston”" allows to eliminate those parts wich are subjects to mechanical wear and tear.

It can inflate and deflate, complete with connectors, much more reliable, more powerfull motor, motor gear made of brass, 3 m cable of bigger diameter. 12 volt only.

Not bulky (155X230xh115mm) and light (1,5 Kg)

Others might prefer to blow their tube up like this chap in the video below,

*****WARNING: Be careful or you might end up like this chap.

If you are thinking of going on a Poker run in your Powerboat this weekend make sure that you don’t end up like these people.

Click here to see a funny you tube clip from an American boating TV channel that covers all sorts of Powerboating activities. The video goes on to show a very funny clip from a Evinrude Etec advert involving to guys out in their powerboat.

For those that don’t already know what a poker run for Powerboats is, heres the answer that I found on a website called http://www.loch-sport.net/pokerrun/what_is_a_poker_run

“What is a Poker Run?

A Poker run is not a race for Powerboats. It’s a game of chance and an assembly of vessels of all pedigrees and proportions. A Poker Run is fun on the water, powerboating at its most enjoyable, and a chance to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.

Each participating Powerboat navigates a carefully charted course, stopping at 5 checkpoints along the route to pick-up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. At the final checkpoint, the envelopes are opened and the crew holding the best poker hand is declared the winner!

A Poker Run is an organised, activity orientated, fun filled safe event. Naturally it helps to have a great body of water, but equally as important are the card stops and special hosts that cater to Poker Runners throughout the run.

Poker Runs are for the entire family on your powerboat. At each of the five checkpoints, host communities/organizations provide unique and entertaining activities, sometimes linked with waterfront festivals and other powerboating events.”

Of course Poker runs are not just for hard powerboats but also for RIBs.

Two weeks ago our Norweigen dealers for the Ballistic RIB came to us with news of what we believe is probably our most northerly RIB Yet.

Somewhere up in the most norther parts of Norway is a company Valhall. Valhall is an adventure centre located on the island Krottoy just outside Harstad in Northern Norway.

From what we understand they use one of our Ballistic RIBs for boat trips in and around the Islands if you click the links you will be able to see this amazing place.

Here is a picture of our Ballistic RIB flying along with snow capped mountains in the background.

This place is famous for its views of the Northern lights and midnight sunshine at the right time of year.

Northern Lights, or aurora borealis as it is called in Latin, is most commonly observed in the winter season and best viewed from 70 degrees North. The phenomenon is caused by electrically charged particles (electrons and protons) emitted from the sun. When these particles reach the Earth, they are caught by the Earth’s magnetic field and directed towards the magnetic poles. In the upper layers of the atmosphere the particles collide with atoms and molecules, and the energy released is emitted as visible light.

The intensity of the Northern Lights varies with sunspot activity in a cycle of 11 years. Northern Lights have been observed at an altitude as low as 90 km above the ground, and as high as 1000 km. The Northern Lights are especially intense when there is high solar wind activity, causing huge amounts of particles to be ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. When these particles reach the Earth within 20 to 40 hours, the result is a spectacular light show on the night sky.

Valhall is an adventure centre located on the island Krottoy just outside Harstad in Northern Norway (see map). We offer a wide range of experiences and activities in the world’s northernmost archipelago, and accommodation in a newly renovated building that used to be part of a coastal military fort.