F-Ribs And Sibs - Inflatable Boat Community

Hi,
Ok, used the foot pump once on the T38. That was enough. Saw a guy using a bravo with a car battery. I've done a bit of research and want to keep costs down if possible. How is the Itiwit with a decent car battery? Or should I play safe, pay the extra and go for the bravo? I'm thinking of a car battery with decent ampage to power them. Replies appreciated,
Nick

I use a bravo with a battery. I have used a small car battery and even a battery intended for use with RC aeroplanes.

A 7ah lead acid battery and a bravo will inflate the T38 1 1/2 times.

I have no experience with the itiwit pump, but I’m sure someone will speak up soon.

I originally had a Sevylar pump which I think is similar to the Itiwit in that its a high pressure piston pump. It had no problem inflating my Volaire 390 with a 7Ah battery. I’ve since upgraded to a Bravo BPT, 2 stage pump and that works very well with the 7Ah battery, particularly with the large volume hull as most of the time its ‘cruising’ with the primary high volume/low pressure turbine stage.

I have both the Bravo and Itiwit. The Itiwit is far better hands down especially with regard to the Valve fitting (Not supplied with the Bravo)

I inflate my T38 Using 2 Itiwit and a small car Battery.

Believe me buy the Itiwit from Decathlon at £39.99 you will be very pleased. Or buy 2 and you will be even more pleased and still have change to spare over one Bravo.

For what it is worth I never use my Bravo any more

Itiwits at work

I've had several Bravo's over the years ( I think ChrisM has one of mine ! ) and now an Itwit .

The bravos are good but hellishly expensive … and quicker than the itwit - but for the money I'll go with the itwit every time

They do take longer as they don't have the 2 stage of the Bravo - but as said running of a small &ah or I think I have a 9AH - they can do a modest size SIB 1 1/2 to 2 times before needing to recharge - or plug in the boot of the car socket ( but don't flatten the car battery - don't ask me how I know this ! )

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. The floor needs 15psi, I think the itiwit is 14.5? Has it got enough oomph? Looking at the replies I guess it has. Also thinking of the rechargeable bravo I've seen for £150. Easy to charge and dispenses with the need for a battery. But still expensive. The itiwit certainly has some followers. May be a runner......
Nick

The T38 floor only needs 0.8bar or 11.6psi so any of those pumps should be fine. In fact the Itiwit/Sevylor are rated to higher pressure, albeit slower than the Bravo’s, to cater for the SUP market.

I bought a ITIWIT pump due to its price, it is a great pump does the job every time BUT takes a lot longer than the Bravo, I did a test to use the ITIWIT to fully inflate all chambers and tubes of a T38, it took around 45 mins or more, it’s a pain when you have everything ready but waiting for the boat to be blowed up, so I use the foot pump (2 ways pump comes with the Honwave) to inflate the boat about 70% then switch to the ITIWIT while I will move on to the next tube, my record was 15 mins to get the T38 ready as the foot pump is a lot quicker. However if your budget is allowed then go for Bravo as that will save you a lot of time.

+1 for the bravo’s speed, but mine can be temperamental when it comes to switching to the second stage - sometimes it just stops.

I would not like to use a single cylinder pump to inflate the T38 - 45 minutes is crazy - I can be fully set up and half way to the Isle of Wight in that time.