PVC BOAT EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED IN THE BOAT?
When you decide to buy an inflatable boat for the first time, it is always difficult to understand what will really be useful for you when using it, and given that there are so many additional options in our time that their cost can be more expensive than a boat, the question arises of how to understand what will be useful for you, who are the boat dealers in Memphis, and what is not worth spending money on.
HANDRAIL WASHERS (HANDRAIL EYE)
An important part of the boat, they are placed on the sides for pulling the rope, as well as at other places for tying ropes, for example, on the bow of the boat instead of a handle, to facilitate and reduce the cost of the boat. A rope is tied to this puck and the boat can be dragged along with the rope. The boat is equipped with rail washers without fail.
LEER CABLE
Rope, which is usually pulled between the washers of the handrail in order to tie anything you need to it, as well as to hold on to it or carry the boat. Rope lines are usually placed on the side of the boat (for carrying) or on the top (in order to hold). The cable line can be short and placed in the middle of the PVC boat cylinder, or it can be long and pass through many of the rail washers throughout the cylinder or part of it. Keep in mind that in those places where the line will run over the top of the cylinder, you will not be able to sit comfortably on the cylinder itself, therefore, if you prefer to sit on the cylinder while fishing, choose a boat in which the line will not be placed on top in the place where you plan to sit. The rope is very useful for rafting:
RAILING ON PVC TAPE
Such a rope strap is almost always placed on the top of the cylinder, it is very strong, gives the feeling of a higher cylinder and safety, its purpose is the same as that of a regular rope. Also, such a tape adds some zest to the boat’s appearance, the first company to introduce it was Zodiac, and after that, Memphis companies copied a successful design solution.
SMOOTH PLYWOOD BOAT SEATS (CANS)
Some manufacturers use smooth plywood benches on their boats, but this has been largely abandoned recently. Usually, smooth benches are erected in order to save money. In operation, such a bench is almost no different from a rough one, however, it has the advantage that it is very easy to remove moisture from it if you want to sit dry after rain.
ROUGH BOAT SEATS (CANS WITH MESH)
Almost all boats are equipped with such benches, even those in the photographs of which the benches are smooth (technology has changed over the years, but the photo is often not). Such benches keep a person in place better and prevent slipping.
BULWARK
An additional, small cylinder, which is placed on the cylinders of the boat (except for the bow). Bulwark creates a feeling of safety in an inflatable boat and visually raises the sides, and very strongly. It makes the boat prettier, reduces splashes, and allows you to load the boat to the eyeballs. Bulwarks do not always greatly increase the price of a boat, but boats with bulwarks are never small and always more expensive. Usually, the bulwark is placed on some boats from 360 cm, however, this is not a very popular addition, for an amateur. When a bulwark is installed in the boat, you will no longer be able to sit on the sides, consider this when buying a PVC boat with a bulwark under the motor.
INTEGRATED BULWARK
The integrated bulwark fulfills all the functions of the bulwark, but it is built directly into the cylinder, rather than glued on top. The photo shows that the bulwark is, as it were, part of the cylinder.
EYE HANDLE
Suitable for carrying a boat (when used as a handle), and you can also knit an anchor rope or just a rope on it. It differs from an ordinary pen in a beautiful design and smaller dimensions. Most often it is placed on the bow of the boat closer to the bottom of the cylinder, due to which, when carrying the boat, it rises high above the ground and there is no need to unnecessarily strain your hands, as in the case when the handle is placed on the bow of the boat (from above). However, it doesn’t really matter which handle will be on your boat.
EYE WITH A HALF-RING
Placed in the lower side of the PVC boat cylinder or in any other place. Serves to increase the functionality of the PVC boat, takes up little space, is inexpensive, and allows you to knit everything you need for them. Please note that only 1-5% of people use them. For example: for additional reliability, when attaching a PVC boat to a trailer, it is also tied to the eyelet with a half ring.
ROME
Gaining popularity on PVC inflatable boats more and more. The principle of operation of the eyelet: after lowering the anchor (the depth is different everywhere), a rope remains, it can be tied to a rope cable each time to a different length, or it can be fastened in the eye in several movements, leaving exactly the length that is needed now. The rope goes down to the center of the eyelet and clamps itself, then it is wrapped around the eyelet for several turns and it is held securely. There are eyebrows, which, as in the photo, are not very convenient for wrapping with a rope, but there are more comfortable (eye-weft). The swell is placed on the bow of the PVC boat (sometimes on the sides) – in a convenient place for the fisherman. It is difficult to know exactly how much you need an eyelet if you have never used a PVC boat, however, if you like this idea, equip the boat with it, it is inexpensive. When completing, do not forget that you may
GUIDE ROLLER
Equipped with an eyebolt, the task of the roller is to take over the friction of the rope from the anchor and protect the side of the boat from abrasion. It is especially important in the case when the anchor does not reach the boat (when moving between close points), but hangs directly in the water half a meter from the bow of the boat (drops to the bottom for anchoring and rises to move, but always remains in the water, in this situation, You won’t get tired of heavy anchors at all thanks to the lever). You can use it without a roller, but I recommend taking it with a roller right away. In the luxury equipment of PVC boats, the entire nose at the eye is often armored with a strip with a groove, this replaces the roller, but it costs much more, takes up a lot of space when folding the boat, and weighs several kilograms (but it is much more convenient when used on the water and is more reliable).
ROLLER EYE (DUCK EYE)
The most popular eyelet with a roller in PVC boats (not in the luxury configuration). It is mounted in one piece, inexpensive, and very convenient. The principle of operation is the same as that of the eyelet and the roller, but it is easier to stick to the boat (by hand) and looks more beautiful, and also has a convenient design for winding the rope on the eyelet. If you look at most of the inexpensive PVC boats that are equipped with a roller eyelet, you will see that such an eyelet like the one in the picture is used all over the place.
END HANDLES
In total, PVC boats are installed on large boats, and on small ones they are almost always absent. Manufacturers believe that a small boat can be easily carried by rope or transom. They add a kilogram of weight and increase the price of the boat, in a highly competitive environment, when each manufacturer tries to give the buyer the best price and customers demand “cheaper and cheaper” economy segment of PVC boats (partly through the fault of the buyers themselves) saves on everything that is possible, including the handles. The handles, of course, are a very convenient option that will never be superfluous in the boat, but, according to customer reviews, almost no one notices the lack of handles on light boats, and I myself have used the boat for more than one year without handles and did not feel any discomfort.
HANDLE ON THE NOSE
An obligatory element on a PVC boat (on inexpensive boats they put a rail washer on the bow, on boats it is more serious: a handle or an eye-handle). The handle is placed on the top of the bow of the boat and can be used to tie a rope or carry the boat. The presence of the handle on the nose does not allow installing the eyelet with the roller (which goes as one element) directly in the middle of the nose, only on the side of the nose or the eyelet and roller separately in the center.
HANDLES ON THE SIDE OF THE BOAT
The element, which is equipped with large wide PVC boats, its direct purpose is to transport the PVC boat, as well as to improve the convenience of manual carrying (more handles – more options for all occasions, more people can carry the boat together). Such handles do not have to be on your boat at all, in fact, they are rarely used for their intended purpose, but their presence will not hurt you (it will only increase the weight by 1.5-2 kg and, slightly, the price).
FISH HANDLE (BOAT)
An element that came to small PVC boats from large deck ships. It is reduced and modified for use on a PVC boat, you can hold on to it like a regular handle, or you can wind a rope around it while mooring to the pier or an anchor rope. A convenient option is an improved, more functional version of the handle.
SKIP HANDLE
A normal handle, however, is placed in an unusual location, usually to the right of the person (parallel to the balloon or tilted). It allows you to hold on and not lose balance in the boat at high speeds, just as when you hold on to it, you feel more confident and calm. Sometimes the skipper’s handles are placed on both sides on the inside of the PVC boat cylinder. In my opinion, the skipper handle is not needed and is generally an unnecessary element of the PVC boat: often it is placed in the wrong place where it is convenient for you and you have to adjust to its location, it also adds the cost of the boat, as well as weight and volume when folded condition. It is much more practical and functional to use a rope running along the top of the cylinder, you can argue: “But the rope cuts your hand and it does not lie so nicely in it, like a handle” – and I will not argue with you, it is, but, in my opinion, this is a minor drawback, which is completely absent when the cable is thick. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
OARLOCKS
An integral part of any PVC boat, even the largest boats are equipped with oars on oars (with the exception of catamarans), oars are necessary for installing oars on them, and on large boats they allow you to go shallow or move away from the shore in places where it is inconvenient on the motor. Oarlocks are absent on boats with paddles and kayak oars (as unnecessary). At the moment, all PVC boat oarlocks look like in the picture below, however, there are economy class oarlocks that are put on very cheap Chinese boats or were put on boats earlier (they look like a simple ring into which an oar is inserted). Even if you have a large motorboat and never use oars – take oars with you for emergencies.
