How to choose the right pvc boat for use with an outboard motor

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Many anglers cannot imagine their fishing without a boat, now PVC boats are very popular, which have become affordable and also make it possible to install various outboard motors. What pvc boat to choose? Many anglers ask this question before purchasing. In this article we will try to describe the nuances of choosing PVC boats.

What is a pvc boat

The modern boating industry has discovered a marvelous choice of boat fabric. Polyvinyl chloride is a modern material with low stretch and high tear and cut strength. Such material is multilayer, with the addition of reinforcement and other materials that increase strength characteristics. Also, this material is well and quickly glued with special compounds, which makes it possible to install additional equipment on the sides of the boat.

How to choose the right PVC boat

Making the right choice of a pvc boat is quite difficult, the first thing you need to do is decide on the size and load capacity, as well as what motor you will put on it now and possibly in the future. Based on these goals, you will significantly narrow down the variety of models on the market.

Let's analyze all these parameters in order.

Density of pvc boat material

The most important parameter is the density of the pvc material used in the manufacture of your boat. It is necessary to find out from the seller the number of pvc layers used in production, the quantity is important here and the more it is, the better the pvc material is. With an increase in PVC layers, a small minus appears - this increases the weight of the entire product. Which can be inconvenient when transporting a boat to a body of water.

For inflatable keel boats, the density of PVC should be at least 1000 g/m2, the layers in this composition should be at least 5 and preferably 7-8. Do not purchase a pvc motorboat with layers less than 5, it can be dangerous if it collides with, for example, driftwood or stones.

Choice of pvc boat length

When choosing the length of the boat, first of all decide on the motor, and secondly how many people you will transport on it. For a small motor up to 10 hp and one passenger in addition to you, it is advisable to choose a boat with dimensions of no more than 3.5 meters. In this ratio, it will have good running characteristics and the motor will not be overstressed.
For transportation of 2-3 people, it is better to choose a boat with a length of more than 3.5 meters, this will make it possible for passengers to comfortably sit along the entire length of the boat, but here you will already need a motor with a power of more than 15 hp. Just remember that if you are transporting a boat to a body of water in the trunk of a car, it will be very problematic to put a boat more than 3.5 meters in there. If it's on a trailer, then there's no problem.

What should be the transom on a pvc boat?

The transom is also an important detail in the design of the boat, it accounts for most of the load when moving from the outboard motor. Therefore, the transom must be thick and durable. Good waterproof plywood with a thickness of at least 25 mm is suitable for the transom. Many manufacturers save on transoms in production and make it from plywood less than 25 mm, this results in a low-quality product. Do not buy a pvc boat with a thin transom, no matter how the seller praises it

What should be the bottom of the pvc boat

There are three types of floors in pvc boats, these are:
Rigid (payol) from plywood
Rack has come (usually from aluminum rails)
Inflatable
Let's consider each of them:

Hard plywood floor - one of the most durable pvc boat floors has the advantage of rigidity, ease of attachment of various additional equipment. Their downside is the weight! Accordingly, a more powerful motor is needed. For example, a plywood floor on a QuickSilver 3.8 boat weighs over 50 kg. The second drawback is transportation in disassembled form, plywood sheets are large and can hardly fit in the trunk of a car. For transportation on a trailer, a good and reliable option in which you can put all your things.

Rigid plywood flooring for pvc boat

Slatted floor for pvc boat - consists of aluminum slats interconnected by a longitudinal guide. Such a floor is characterized by lightness in weight and ease of transportation, as it easily folds into a rail of 10-20 cm. Of the minuses, it can be noted that this aluminum flooring during the ride can make a ringing from the vibration of the motor, which is not critical.

rack payol

Inflatable floors in a PVC motor boat are rarely used. We do not recommend buying a motor boat with inflatable floors, but if you still decide to buy one, use it very carefully when driving and look ahead.

how to operate pvc boat

The first thing after buying a pvc boat in a store, before launching it, you need to pump it up. For these purposes, do not forget to purchase a special pump made of the same PVC, such pumps have more power and allow you to fill a sufficient amount of air into the cylinders. Rock the pvc boat all the way so that its sides are like a stone. This will give the boats good buoyancy and provide a quick exit to the glider.

Is it necessary to register a pvc boat in GIMS

According to the law, all small boats must be registered with the GIMS. Boat cylinders must be marked with a registration number that must comply with the requirements. It is also recommended to apply the same number in a hidden place, for example under the floor, this can help with the theft of the boat and its search. For PVC boats with a motor less than 10 hp. It is not required to register with GIMS and apply a number.

What company pvc boat to choose?

It makes no sense to list all available firms. Only one thing can be noted, do not purchase PVC boats that do not have quality certificates or any documents indicating their production. Such boats can be assembled from low-quality materials, using insufficiently powerful adhesives. Also, to reduce the cost of production, they can use cheap Chinese pvc, which will affect the life of the boat
We can mention several well-known and proven companies:
PVC boats Altair— These boats are made in St. Petersburg. They have 4 chambers of independent compartments, are characterized by good running characteristics, handling and stability.

PVC boats QuickSilver- Made in Belgium. Reliable boats made of durable pvc, one of the oldest brands in the boat industry. They are distinguished by reliability, good controllability, withstand large weight loads, and hold large waves well. They have hard plywood floors and are designed for use with large motors.