          
Alaska
Hunting Books Plan Your
Click
here
for more information or to
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Alaska |
|
[ Return to Contents | Post a Reply | Post a new message ] who cares? maybe you should! Posted by jklingel on Feb 23 2005 The cheapest tube material is PVC, and for a reason. It is not as tough as Hypalon or Polyurethane. The abusers (SEALS, etc) use either Hypalon or Polyurethane (PU), PU being the tougher material. PU can be, therefore, thinner and lighter than Hypalon, and just as tough. It does NOT seem to hold air as well as Hyp does when used on an inflatable that is constantly inflated/deflated; not sure why, but that is what a NAVSEA study said. The Navy saved weight and got a tougher tube going from Hyp to PU, and cut the "down time" significantly. (PU repairs easier and quicker than Hyp, requiring less personnel training, etc.) BOTH are very good products, w/ PU being a tad stiffer (folds less easily). Most quality boats use about 1100 denier (1000 decitex, or dtx) fabric while "heavy duty" or "commercial" is in the 1600 dtx range. PU tubes were going to cost me an extra $4000 for my RIB, but that may be due more to the hassle of the boat builder going "custom" than the price of the material. PU tubes from Wing Inflatables were going to cost about $11K, which is only a little more than I was quoted for Hyp on a slightly different RIB I looked at. I have a PVC Zodiac and think it is pretty tough stuff, but I did not request PVC on the RIB, now that I have read a lot. Also, I do not recall any of the RIB builders offering PVC. Most are Hyp, some PU (except Zodiac, whose Strongan is apparently an evolving PVC). PU, with welded seams, is apparently the best joint going. Hyp is still glued. j Previous: What about......? Kenaimike Feb 25 2005 Next: But of course- Michael Strahan Feb 24 2005 Message Thread:
|
|
Alaska outdoors
~ home |
Areas |
Magazine
| Directory |
Alaska outdoors forums |
Alaska boating © 1996 Outdoors America Communications |
