Fenders with unusual fill valves

TrueBlue · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

Since buying my Nauticat 33 in Fall of 2004, the four original fenders have been a bit soft. Earlier attempts at filling them have been unsuccessful, due to a strange fill valve - never encountered anything like it.

Although the boat is Finnish, the fenders were made in Norway - with a larger diameter valve opening than the Taylor brand fenders on my previous boats. As most boaters know, Taylors are inflated by a standard needle attachment, such as used for many inflatable sport balls, but the needle is far too thin and short to work on these valves.

Has anyone found a way to inflate this type of valve? Excuse the photos - taken this morning just before removing the shrinkwrap - fenders are still a bit dirty . . .

soul searcher · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

TB.
That looks similar to a polly form. You could try using . a blow gun on a air compressor. I have one with a rubber tip that would seal a bit in the threaded hole. just pressurize the whole valve. Instead of sticking a needle through a hole your sticking air through it . does that make sense?

Hope this helps.
Matt

Faster · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

TB
They could just be "flapper" type of check valve deep inside that fitting - have you tried just forcing air through with a tapered nozzle and an inflatable pump?

I don't believe you need a great deal of pressure in the fenders, so that might do the trick.....

Another thing you might do is find another one of those plugs, drill a hole through it and find a way to attach it to an air pump - then you could use the original threads to hold it in place while you're pumping them up.

TrueBlue · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

Hmmm . . . good points. I don't have an air compressor, but if it's a one-way type of valve, opened by pressure - instead of a penetrated stem, then perhaps my triggered air nozzle attached to one the Scuba regulator's low pressure hoses will work. I'll give it a try - thanks.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

Presta valves on bicycle tires look complicated, but open with just air pressure... The triggered air nozzle and scuba tank sounds like a good way to go... much like the emergency air tanks that the tow trucks carry to fill flat tires on the road...

erps · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007

I have fenders like that too. Just last week, I unscrewed the valve cap to let the air out of a bunch of fenders so I could store them easier. I took one look at the valve, put the plug back in and stuffed them back in the locker still full of air. I'll be sitting on the sidelines to see if someone else figures them out before I take 'em out again to take another look.

Giulietta · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007

TB..that is very common in Europe..Plastimo fenders are like that too.

I use the plastic tips that came with my Quicksilver inflatable dinghy air pump, as I know you have one, you should also have the tips and the pump.

I use the hand pump to fill them.

TrueBlue · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007

In my profession, I dwell on designing solutions to the big stuff so often, that sometimes the simplest solutions to life's small problems - seem to evade me.

Excellent suggestion Giu - thanks guys.

Giulietta · #9 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007

As you guys say in the US...KISS, right???

Besides its light!!! ehehehehe

camaraderie · #10 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007

"As you guys say in the US...KISS, right???"

You're spending too much time in Wyoming near broke-back mountain Giu!!