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The science behind Minn Kota’s Digital Maximizer. Are they better?

Minn Kota Digital Maximizer Worth It Review

You’ve read the marketing material about Minn Kota’s Digital Maximizer technology. It sounds great!

Up to Five Times Longer Run Time on a Single Charge.
https://minnkota.com.au/technology-items/digital-maximizer-fresh/

5x longer run time? Yes please! But does it work and is it worth the extra $$$?

Let’s find out.

How does the Digital Maximizer work?

To find out what makes Digital Maximizer motors work more efficiently, let’s first have a look at how traditional trolling motors work. (The Fisherman’s Electrical Manual is a good read if you want to know the details.)

November 28, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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Inflatable boat trailers – Complete guide

What is the easiest way to haul your inflatable boat? Put the whole thing on a trailer, of course. If you have the space to store it and the time to drive a bit slower (due to towing), inflatable boat trailers are great.

In this detailed guide, you will learn all about how to choose a trailer, what modifications you may need, and how to tow it as well.

Let’s get started!

How to choose a trailer for an inflatable boat

There are several things you need to pay attention to when buying a trailer for your SIB (but not as many as you would need for a traditional boat). Read more

October 31, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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What is a Halkey-Roberts valve?

So you’ve bought your new inflatable boat, only to realize the valve looks way different than the one on the inflatable raft you had when you were a kid.

Reading the instructions, you realize it is a Halkey-Roberts valve. But how do you use it?

What on Earth is a Halkey-Roberts valve?

The Halkey-Roberts valve (also called HR valve) is a one-way check valve. It makes the inflation and deflation of inflatable items as quick as possible, because it does not let air out while you are pumping into it.

HR valves are the most popular valve types you’ll find on high-end inflatable boats.

As you can see on the image below, it has 3 core elements:

The base, which is built into the rubber tube (far left)
The middle part, which is screwed into the base (mid)
The cap, which is screwed onto the middle part (far right)

July 23, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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Marine battery group size guide

If you run a trolling motor on your boat or any other accessories that need to be powered (stereo, fish finder, etc), you will need a marine battery. While searching for batteries, you will come across the term battery group size. But what are battery group sizes exactly?

What is the meaning of Battery Group Size?

The term “battery group size” simply refers to the battery’s physical case size. It is a specification that you’ll find on all boat batteries.

It is basically the physical measurements of the battery casing as set by the Battery Council International (BCI). The height, width, and length of a battery specify its group size.

You should be able to locate the group size of your battery on the labels.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about battery group sizes:

A smaller group size generally indicates a larger battery.
Conversely, a larger group size generally indicates a smaller battery.

July 2, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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How much does a trolling motor and battery weigh?

Depending on what kind of boating you plan on doing, the weight of your supplies can really add up.

No matter whether you are looking to place a trolling motor on an inflatable boat, a kayak, pontoon boat, etc., you will need to take the weight of the motor and the marine battery into consideration when planning your trip.

In this article, you’ll find info comparing the weight of different classes of trolling motors, as well as the batteries that power them.

July 1, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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What is a Boston valve? Usage tips and tricks!

If you’re shopping for an inflatable boat, you will have probably come across the term Boston valve. It sounds impressive as it is part of the advertising material, but wait a minute.

What on Earth is a Boston valve?

A Boston valve is one-way check valve with 2 ports, which allows for easy inflation and quick deflation of inflatable items. It is used in larger inflatable products, such as inflatable boats and mattresses, to speed up the process of inflation and deflation.

As you can see on the image below, it has 3 core elements:

The base, which is built into the rubber tube (far right)
The middle part, which is screwed into the base (mid)
The top cap, which is screwed onto the middle part (far left)

May 28, 2019/2 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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How to clean inflatable boats (to look like new)

Proper care, cleaning and maintenance of an inflatable boat will not only keep your boat in tip-top shape, it will also extend its lifespan.

If your boat is cleaned regularly, it will look like new almost all of the time.

But if you don’t clean maintain your boat, the fabric will start turning dark, which will take more effort to clean. It can be done, but it’s better to avoid it with regular cleaning. Read more

May 8, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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[Guide] Inflatable sports boat registration in all US states

It is necessary for boat owners to register their boats to legally operate them within a state. However, every state has different conditions and requirements for boat registration. Specifications on the type of watercraft that needs to be registered vary from state to state as well.

Do I need to register my inflatable boat?

Technically, yes.

However, some states do not require inflatable boats to be registered or to bear registration numbers. Policies and rules vary in each state, so it’s best to check the laws concerning boat registration in the state that you live in to know if you need to register your inflatable watercraft.

You will find links to all state laws below. Read more

February 14, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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DIY swim ladder for an inflatable boat

Let’s face it. Getting into an inflatable boat in deep water is hard.

If you’ve had trouble getting back to your boat after you went for a swim or after accidentally falling into the water, you should consider making/getting a boarding ladder, aka swim ladder

If you have a boarding ladder, you can hop into the water with confidence that you’ll be able to return to your boat safely.

February 14, 2019/0 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com

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Why you need launch wheels for your inflatable dinghy

Most boat owners would agree that launching boats into the water down the beach or down the boat ramp is not an easy task. Just imagine how grueling it is to haul the entire boat along with your extra gear (motor, cooler batteries, etc.) on your own.

There is a great solution though: installing launch wheels on your SIB!

Installing launch wheels on your inflatable boat is really just an application that makes use of a simple mechanism which utilizes mechanical advantage to multiply force. (Yes, that’s basically straight from your Physics textbook back in high school.)

Simply put, these launch wheels can make everything simpler and much easier.

February 12, 2019/6 Comments/by Tom @ pumpupboats.com