| Frequently
Asked Questions. |
Copyright BoatsToGo.com |
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. The best tool to find leaks is soapy
water in a spray bottle. A leaky valve is rare, but if you
do find a leak we can send you a replacement valve. We
recommend mixing soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray
around the valve. If you see bubbles forming, check your valve
fitting and base and be sure the valve insert is screwed on tight. You can 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, it's probably time to
order a new one.
To find tiny leaks, take the floor boards out,
fully inflate the boat until it's 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 first leak, keep looking. You might as well fix them all at the same time! Remember, the number one cause of slow leaks is
due to poorly fitted valves. Unscrew the valve and clean the
area. Make sure the little rubber O-rings are still good. They are the cheapest repair possible.
If you have no luck finding a slow
leak with air bubbles, inflate the boat to it's 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.
Punctures less than
1/8" in size can be repaired simply without a patch.
Deflate your boat, then clean and dry the area to be repaired.
Apply a small drop of glue to cover the puncture and let dry
for 12 hours. If you need to get on the water sooner, let dry
for 30
minutes and then inflate the boat, inflating the compartment
with the repair only 3/4 full. This repair might not be
permanent so add a drop again at a later date to make it
permanent.
Your Inflatable Boat comes with a
repair kit as standard equipment. It is recommended to do
repairs in dry weather. 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 under side 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). IMPORTANT:
Click here to read full instructions
before starting ANY repairs.
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. Such tools may be purchased or borrowed at
http://www.boatstogo.com/valves.asp
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. Click here
for a video clip of the SD330 boat with an air 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.
 |
All of our air floors
come with a plywood support above the keel in the bow section
of the
boat. Because of these patented features, air floors become
very rigid and flat. Flat floors perform much better then
bended air floors of some competing brands. |
 |
| Air
Floors |
 |
as rigid
as
|
 |
Plywood
floors |
I am new to Inflatables, help me to choose a boat that is right
for me.
Please see all technical specifications for
Saturn inflatable boats at http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_boats.asp.
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.
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.
How to assemble Plywood or Aluminum Floors?
Please visit the Hard Floor
Assembly page if you have difficulties installing your plywood floor into your inflatable boat. You may also download
a Plywood Floor Assembly manual.
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.
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 5-10 years. If you do not take proper care
of the boat, it will
only last up to its warranty period. However, abused and mishandled
boats are not covered by the warranty.
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 www.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 SATURN 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 the
Inland
Marine USA web site.
 Please use ONLY cleaning solutions that are approved for
PVC fabrics. For example Inflatable
Boat Cleaner from NauticalEase or Cape Ann Inflatable Boat Protector
from Inland Marine. Do not use CLOROX, Windex or any other household
cleaners. These chemicals will make the fabric 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.
We
also recommend very convenient Swipes
Wipes, as they contain an excellent cleaning solution for
inflatable boats. These wipes remove any type of dirt, protect
against UV-rays and can make the boat look new again.
| |
| Here is two identical 4-years old
Saturn boats owned by two different customers in Puerto Rico. One boat was
never covered, another was cleaned and covered with a boat cover. |
 |
 |
|
Quiz: Which one of above
boats was covered and which one was left to rot under the sun? |
What documents are needed to
register my boat?
You will need a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) and Bill Of
Sale. 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 the 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.
BoatsToGo, Inc represents manufacturers in the US and a signed first page
should be more then enough to register your boat. There are no
manufacturers in the US who provide a notarized copy of the MSO.
However some offices are just giving a hard time to customers. If it
is absolutely necessary, we can provide a notarized copy of
the MSO
for a fee of $5. This is what the notary public charges us for the
seal. Please visit http://www.boatstogo.com/payment.asp
to send $5 payment if you need notarization.
What to do if a hand pump arrives damaged?
Saturn inflatable boats and rafts are of excellent quality
and workmanship. However, in efforts to pass the savings
on to
you, we are keeping costs as low as possible. Instead of
enclosing a high quality and expensive hand pump, and then
passing the cost to you, we are enclosing good quality generic
hand pumps. The hand pump enclosed with the boat is free and is a
complimentary gift to you.
In rare occasions, if FedEx
drops the shipping box during handling, the hose of the pump may
get squeezed by the weight of the boat and develop small
cracks. The simplest and fastest solution for cracks in a hose
would be to apply duct tape around the hose. This will make
the hand pump fully operational again. However, if you wish to
receive a new pump, please send damaged pump back for
replacement. Click here
for return address.
If the hose is fine and the pump
doesn't provide enough pressure to inflate the boat, then unscrew
the green cup with a T-handle and inspect the rubber seal on the plunger. If it's torn, let us know and we will send you a
replacement seal.
Please note that
high-performance foot and hand pumps are available from
the following retailers that are not associated with
BoatsToGo, Inc:
www.waterstrider.com/raft-air-pumps.htm
www.clavey.com/pumps.html
www.theboatpeople.com/atr_pumps.html
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.
Which accessories come standard with the boats and which are optional?
All boats except the SD430 come with 1 seat bench. All
boats come with a hand pump, repair kit, carry bag, aluminum
oars, 4' rope and either an air or plywood floor.
Optional accessories: boat
cover, under seat storage bag with
cushion, extra
plywood seat, valve adaptor for
electric pump, do-it-yourself
plans for building sun-shade canopy. Please visit our Accessories-Parts
page for additional accessories.
How to fold my boat for compact storage?
Click here for step-by-step
instructions for deflating and folding your boat.
Do I need to install a hydrofoil on the outboard motor?
We recommend that you install a hydrofoil on the outboard motor in
order to improve speed and boat handling. 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 applied 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 at http://www.boatstogo.com/valves.asp.
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:
- Inflate
all tubes to approximately 75% full.
- Insert
boat seats in designated spots.
- 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.
- Place
both ends of plywood boards under the left and right sides of tubes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Inflate
all tubes 100% until hard to touch.
- 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.
Where can I get extra seats for my boat?
Please go to accessories page to order extra seats for
SD290/SD330 or SD365/SD385 boats.
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.
How to properly load inflatable boat?
Please see below for proper loading of the inflatable boat:
Where do I get a Bill of Sale and
Manufacturer Certificate Of Origin in order to
register my boat?
If the Bill Of
Sale is missing from the shipping pouch or you need replacement
documents, you can download the necessary paperwork by clicking on
the Downloads
link.
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.
What
to do if water slowly leaking into the boat?
Most
likely place where water can enter inflatable boat is a
one-way drain valve. There are several reasons why water may
sip into the boat, and fixes are usually quick and easy.
- Drain plug is not fully inserted. Please
make sure there are no debris on a plug, and press on
drain plug to make sure it is all way in.
- One-way rubber seal that lock the valve
is dirty, or there are debris under the seal. Pull rubber
seal with your finger and inspect for debris stack between
seal and plastic housing. Wipe rubber seal with an
acetone.
- Drain plug assembly got loose or not
enough sealant under the drain valve. Tighten screws on a
drain plug while avoiding cracking plastic part. Apply
door/window clear silicone sealant around drain valve
assembly. Replacement drain plug assemblies are also available
per request.
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.
Can inflatable boat be fixed if it get a really big cut?
One of our customers cut 4' opening in a boat
tubes when he run over sharp rock. Here is a quote from his
email:
"Below is not a very good photo, but it may serve to remind you of the 4 foot gash I had on the port chamber of my 14-foot Saturn. Since this was taken, I have put on the big motor and been bopping all around the huge bay of Culebra, PR. She runs like new!!! I can hardly believe it.
 Most boat people here never thought the gash could be fixed. What you see here is only the top part. As you get further under the chamber, the tear continues for another 2 feet toward the stern. I had a local guy here stitch first from the inside, then from the outside. He began layering the patches, using 5200 Sealant. It still leaked after that, but only thru small pinholes. It was then I I found at Inland Marine an expensive liquid adhesive that gets applied from INSIDE the chamber. Then the boat gets rocked back and forth to spread the glue evenly. I gave it 2 "coatings" on 2 separate days. Then I went all around the perimeter (edges) of the patch again with a fresh application of 5200. And voila, it sealed perfectly, not the slightest leak.
For 5 days now I've been using the boat, and there's no sign of leakage, nor of the patch peeling back. Am I a lucky son of a gun, or what!!! The Saturn has proven to be so resilient. It just wants to please me. I'm very grateful for your extra PVC fabric AND SUPPORT! One day I will visit you in FL to shake your hands. Meantime, the Saturn name has gotten a lot of positive attention here on Culebra! Very best wishes."
Mark
Please send us
your questions and we will add them to this FAQ list.
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