Depending on your cruising lifestyle, your dinghy will become your family sedan, minivan or sports car. Keep yours performing well by following some simple tips.
1. Keep your dinghy properly inflated. Under-inflation causes more tube damage than over inflation: aft cones will tear and transoms will come unglued from the tubes.
2. Use a UV protectant designed for use on Hypalon and Vinyl. DO NOT use any silicone (PDMS) based products or the tube cannot be patched.
3. Cover the dinghy when not in use. When in tropical high sunshine areas fit your dinghy with a tube sun cover.
Tube covered dinghy
Naked tube dinghy
4. Punctures are rare, but carry a patch kit. Controlling temperature and humidity is essential for a strong repair.
5. Watch for sharp objects! Tie your dinghy carefully at docks so it won’t swing into something sharp or get trapped under the dock.
6. Never pull your dinghy up on the beach and walk away. Tie it to something or anchor it. If you forget, hopefully you will find someone with a kayak you can borrow to go chase it down!
7. Change the lower unit oil very year. Fishing line in the prop can tear up a seal. Lube all moving parts every season.
8. Ethanol is a fact of life. Use an inline filter between the tank and the engine.
9. Engines that are used regularly are much less prone to problems. Get out there and use it!
10. And finally, it is ESSENTIAL to run the carburetor dry any time the boat will sit for 3 days or more.
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