Keeping the Sun from Damaging Your Inflatable Kayak
Sunday, August 7, 2011
By Miller Johnson
Inflatable kayaks are getting more popular among avid boaters. It's apparent that they have a lot of benefits compared to traditional wooden kayaks. Because they are foldable, they are portable and can be carried anywhere in the world's most challenging rapids. Inflatable kayaks can be placed in your bag for these adventures, although a lot of kayaks nowadays come with their own backpacks for the ultimate in carrying convenience.
Inflatable kayaks are also considerably safer compared to traditional wooden kayaks. It doesn't turn over easily and is, in fact, more stable than hard shell ones. They don't puncture easily compared to hard shell kayaks that can splinter into pieces when it hits sharp edges of rocks and other large obstacles like tough tree roots.
However, there's one element of nature that can considerably shorten the life of your inflatable kayak: the sun. The PVC or Hypalon material your boat is made of can withstand battering from the toughest rocks but it cannot stand the sun's intense heat, particularly when it's out of the water.
We are basically talking about the damage the sun can cause after you have inflated your kayak. On a sunny day, you should never leave a fully-blown kayak out on the sand or on top of your car. After inflating it, you should waste no time in launching it to the water.
The reason behind this is that the sun's heat can destroy the structures inside the kayak, the most important of which is the septum or the part of the boat that makes the kayak's floor flat. The tube-like sections of the boat's bottom are made up of septums. Too much exposure to the sun's heat will cause the septums to be torn apart and when this happens, the floor will not anymore have those tube-like sections but will instead have a single shape that will make the kayak unstable. You won't be able to sit on a firm floor when this occurs, but that's the least of your worries.
What compounds your problem is the fact that you'd be hard pressed to repair a kayak with damaged septums. You might find a shop who could do the repair job for you but that would cost you quite an amount. So as far as the sun goes, just keep your kayak away from the sun's rays if that is at all possible.
How can you tell if the sun's heat is too intense? If it's too hot for you, it's going to be scorching for your kayak. Don't risk exposing your boat under the heat of the sun without any protection. After inflating it fully, your kayak should make its way to the water right away.
If an immediate launch is not possible, get your boat into the shade or into shallow water to cool it down even under the intense heat of the sun. You can also take out a little air from the chambers to prevent sun damage to your inflatable kayak.
Inflatable kayaks are also considerably safer compared to traditional wooden kayaks. It doesn't turn over easily and is, in fact, more stable than hard shell ones. They don't puncture easily compared to hard shell kayaks that can splinter into pieces when it hits sharp edges of rocks and other large obstacles like tough tree roots.
However, there's one element of nature that can considerably shorten the life of your inflatable kayak: the sun. The PVC or Hypalon material your boat is made of can withstand battering from the toughest rocks but it cannot stand the sun's intense heat, particularly when it's out of the water.
We are basically talking about the damage the sun can cause after you have inflated your kayak. On a sunny day, you should never leave a fully-blown kayak out on the sand or on top of your car. After inflating it, you should waste no time in launching it to the water.
The reason behind this is that the sun's heat can destroy the structures inside the kayak, the most important of which is the septum or the part of the boat that makes the kayak's floor flat. The tube-like sections of the boat's bottom are made up of septums. Too much exposure to the sun's heat will cause the septums to be torn apart and when this happens, the floor will not anymore have those tube-like sections but will instead have a single shape that will make the kayak unstable. You won't be able to sit on a firm floor when this occurs, but that's the least of your worries.
What compounds your problem is the fact that you'd be hard pressed to repair a kayak with damaged septums. You might find a shop who could do the repair job for you but that would cost you quite an amount. So as far as the sun goes, just keep your kayak away from the sun's rays if that is at all possible.
How can you tell if the sun's heat is too intense? If it's too hot for you, it's going to be scorching for your kayak. Don't risk exposing your boat under the heat of the sun without any protection. After inflating it fully, your kayak should make its way to the water right away.
If an immediate launch is not possible, get your boat into the shade or into shallow water to cool it down even under the intense heat of the sun. You can also take out a little air from the chambers to prevent sun damage to your inflatable kayak.
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Last but not least, be sure to read our inflatable kayaks review and this article on our Sea Eagle 420x review.
Posted byBertie at 1:05 AM
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