Maiden voyage

[jonsy]

1st day in the F-Rib 360 with 20hp merc efi . If I have to be critical , I found the valves fiddly , the white adaptor got stuck and I had to borrow someone’s pliers to get it out . With the £95 pump you get all them adaptors when you only need 1 . I wish they had of been metal maybe with a bayonet fitting . But it’s just me being critical . The next thing which turned out to be a nightmare was launching and retrieval with the launch wheels getting stuck in the sand with the weight of the engine , it was turning into a bad day . But the boat and outboard were fantastic , I’m still running in the outboard so I had to go easy but I’m impressed . But what amazed me most was the fuel consumption , I travelled from Bowleaze cove to durdle door and a bit of trawling in between and I think I only used 1.5 litres maybe . So I will have to stick to proper slipways from now on , because launching on sand / shingle almost killed me and also bent the wheel bracket .

[ChrisParish]

Rats rats and triple rats. I’m sorry to hear about your problems.

Adapter wise, the ones that come with the pumps are usually a bit rubbish. The best bet is to get an aftermarket valve adapter, cut the original one from the hose and fit the aftermarket one. I’m not sure which one works with the F-Rib valves, but @Martin might be able to help.

[Martin]

Oh bugger, sorry to hear that matey.. not good in your maiden voyage. I think f-rib HQ could do with a little nudge regarding these new valves.

@Martin might be able to help.

The new f-ribs have a different manufacturers valve on these days, not sure which adapters fit but I’m pretty sure @harrison knows the correct type.


Martin

[harrison]

Hey @Martin @jonsy, the latest F-Ribs are usually fitted with the classy Leafield D7 inflation valves.

For stress free inflation can’t beat the genuine Leafield screw in adapters. Go for the one with the internal spring which pushes down the inner valve...reducing back pressure, inflation time, and less stress on your expensive electric pump.

Leafield C7/D7 pump adapters

https://www.ribstore.co.uk/products/lea ... -16mm-hose

[jonsy]

Well thanks guys for the useful advice . Life is a learning curve is it not albeit an expensive one . I would have thought them guys at F-Rib would put one of the leafield D7 adaptors in when you are spending all that money on an F-rib or any inflatable for that matter . Really these issues need to be dealt with before they get to us the consumer to save us the hassle .

[simonk]

I had a minor moan about the Frib valve situation recently too. If you badger Steve at Frib he will send you a Leafield D7 adapter (albeit one without the internal spring). It’s worth checking you don’t already have one in your repair kit. In any case I’d persevere with the supplied pump and the one white ring adapter that fits as it probably is the fastest and most trouble free way to inflate your boat (trust me I’ve tried multiple different methods of inflating mine).
I’m not really sure why the Leafield valve arrangement is so revered, as it seems like a faff to me... the good old Halkey Roberts valves seems a much better set up.

[harrison]

I’m not really sure why the Leafield valve arrangement is so revered, as it seems like a faff to me... the good old Halkey Roberts valves seems a much better set up.

Reliable valve fitted as standard on most UK ribs/life rafts. Fully serviceable/fully rebuildable with readily available spares.

Interesting you find them a faff to use. Just as easy as the also good Halkey Roberts bayonet type valves in my book.

If you can’t be bothered with the quarter turn screw type fitting there is also the option of a simple push fit adapter....stays put ok during inflation without holding.

Zodiac style push fit adapter right

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2694730097

[sonny1]

oddly enough i checked out a possible bowleaze launch today (sunday)
but wont be bothering with that after seeing weymouth harbour slipway . just the best slipway ive yet seen

[jonsy]

Found a slipway today that is free to launch on Portland dorset , its right next door to the Aqua Hotel that has parking 3.50 = 4hours . The burger & chips that the hotel serve up look pretty good as well .

[sonny1]

im fairly certain that if you launch into portland harbour someone out on the water will want some money from you, hope im wrong