Author Topic: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump  (Read 26345 times)

10generation

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I've now got three RED boards and I think they are great.

Current way I pump them up is to use the floor pump, then connect schraeder adaptor and top off at the gas station to get to 20 PSI (by the way, can I go higher with the red boards?).

I bought a portable tire pump from Amazon, but pretty quickly realized the CFM (cubic feet of air pumped per minute) was so low that I could not take the board from flat to high pressure in any reasonable period of time.  It was also cheap and I smoked it.

So, I'm thinking I buy a high volume electric pump for toys - something like this - https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Inflatables-3-Times-Mattress-Replacement/dp/B015G1RYGK to get the board into its shape quickly, then buy a high quality, high pressure pump like the ARB 12v to get it up to 20PSI +.  https://www.amazon.com/ARB-CKMTA12-Board-Performance-Compressor/dp/B004P9A35E?th=1

Challenge is I need both pumps (ideally) to run off both 12v and 120 as sometimes I fill the boards at home and sometimes from my car (and I don't want to have to put batt clips on, would want cig adaptor), and I want speed so I'm not sitting around forever.  I've got multiple boards and when taking friends don't want to spend forever filling boards.

I'm not really price sensitive as I have a few grand in the boards and if I need to spend a few hundred to get a system that just works, and works well, that's fine.  I like the portability of inflatables and this is the missing piece for me to make it all fast and easy.

Have any of you done something similar?

And I know I can use the manual pump, but I paddle for fun and manually pumping up the boards is not my favorite way to spend my time...

Thanks


connector14

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2018, 04:26:18 PM »
I feel your pain.....pumping a Red Paddle 14 x 27 to 22PSI plus is quite a chore...I know.  Since I am a scuba diver and have access to tanks,  I am currently experimenting with topping off my new Red Paddle Elite to 25 PSI.  I have a normal regulator that attaches to the tank and drops the pressure to around 150 PSI and then I just bought a car tire (shrader valve with guage) attachment that I am hoping will help me monitor pressure while filling so as NOT to exceed my target pressure of 25 PSI. I just got all of the stuff together and will let you know how it works out after some practice. When at home I just leave my board inflated,  so that's no problem. However,  we plan to do more traveling and exploring and I want to find an easier way to deflate, transport and then inflate frequently and easily on our trips.  I was told that my Red Paddle board has been tested to as high as 40 psi,  but for normal use 22-25 PSI is your target. Using the Titan supplied pump I have a very hard time gvetting the pressure much over 20. Hence my search for a better solution just like you are looking for. I will post again when I have some more time with my "system".
"never leave the dock without your paddle"
Imagine Rocket 14 ...my new favorite, smooth and fast and lite
2018 Red Paddle 14 x 27 Elite
2014 Bark Dominator 14....smooth and quiet
2014 Imagine Connector 14...the "barge"

surfcowboy

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2018, 07:00:35 PM »
I travel with a schrader valve adapter and just hit a marina or gas station she. I travel. Same at home, I inflate at home and carry it car top.

PonoBill

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2018, 10:42:56 PM »
Buy a cheap compressor. You can get a 110V one for fifty bucks at any big box store, or a cordless battery powered one for $200 to $300. I've never used a hand pump to fill an inflatable--ever. Certainly not the Red Dragon.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

10generation

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2018, 11:21:39 PM »
Thanks guys. 

I'm a diver, had not thought about a scuba tank adaptor.  interesting idea.

I generally pump mine up at home and store them inflated, but I really want to crack the code on being able to take them rolled up somewhere, fill them up and paddle, deflate and be able to go to dinner, whatever, without having to worry about the boards on top.  Also, some great places to paddle 100 miles away (eg santa barbara) and I don't want to have them on top for the trip.

Suggestions welcome.  Challenge with a cheap compressor is CFM. Takes a long time.

PonoBill

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2018, 11:56:48 PM »
No it doesn't, unless you're talking about a little tire inflator. A five CFM compressor delivers five cubic feet per minute at 40 PSI. Most are positive displacement, so the flow rate doesn't vary quite like the ideal gas law, but it's still more like 8 CFM at 20 pounds. A 12' X 36" X 6" inflatable contains about 18 cubic feet at 20 pounds so the compressor fills it in about three minutes. Quicker still if the compessor has a sizeable tank and you start off with it full. 10 gallons at 150 psi is 13 cubic feet at 10 pounds.

I fill my Red Dragon (22' X 34" X 8", 984 liters = 34 cubic feet) to 22 pounds with my Trusty DeWalt portable in about five minutes. Even if you had four people manning the pumps it would take 30 minutes to blow it up by people power.

I've filled it with nitrogen once when I had it at a race track. I carry two big N2 tanks with me in my race car trailer. A lot more capacity than a scuba tank and less money generally. An Aluminum 80 Scuba tank is 80 cubic feet, of course, and that would be good for several fills of a typical inflatable, but you undoubtedly know the hassle factor of maintaining your own tanks and the inspection requirements to get them filled. I think all of mine are out of cert right now--I don't dive enough. N2 tanks you just bring to the welding shop and swap. Mine are 200cuft. Lst time I filled them it was about 50 bucks each. We run air tools and fill tires with them--dry gas.

Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

blueplanetsurf

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2018, 09:16:43 AM »
This pump is working very well for us, there is a video review on this page as well:
https://blueplanetsurf.com/products/bravo-20-isup-electric-pump/
Robert Stehlik
Blue Planet Surf Shop, Honolulu
Hawaii's SUP HQ
http://www.blueplanetsurf.com

connector14

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2018, 02:11:07 PM »
Buy a cheap compressor. You can get a 110V one for fifty bucks at any big box store, or a cordless battery powered one for $200 to $300. I've never used a hand pump to fill an inflatable--ever. Certainly not the Red Dragon.

It's always best to get well warmed up before starting your paddle session. What better way than to pump up your board to 22-25 PSI (if you can :).........
"never leave the dock without your paddle"
Imagine Rocket 14 ...my new favorite, smooth and fast and lite
2018 Red Paddle 14 x 27 Elite
2014 Bark Dominator 14....smooth and quiet
2014 Imagine Connector 14...the "barge"

PonoBill

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2018, 11:01:51 PM »
This pump is working very well for us, there is a video review on this page as well:
https://blueplanetsurf.com/products/bravo-20-isup-electric-pump/

That's nice, but for the same money you can get this, that will fill your inflatable, power your nailers and other air tools, fill your tires, and it's completely cordless. I can't help but think that cordless compressors have made this single purpose pump obsolete. And if you have AC power available you can get a more powerful compressor that this for about 1/3 the price.

« Last Edit: January 22, 2018, 11:12:32 PM by PonoBill »
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

connector14

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2018, 09:50:50 AM »
The  biggest problem and concern for me with these inflatable boards is knowing when you have reached proper pressure. I have the schrader valve attachment for filling,  but when it is installed it does not depress the valve on the board...so plugging in a pressure guage (such as a standard tire pressure guage) does no good,  you will not get a reading. I want to get my Red Paddle Elite to 22-25 PSI for maximum stiffness,  but I don't want to damage it by over-inflating. The guage on the Titan Pump (supplied with my board) is hard to read as it only reads when you are at about mid-stroke and I  question how accurate it is. I have  been experimenting with a scuba tank hooked up to a standard tire inflator with a guage on it.
But again,  I only get a reading on the guage when putting air in....and that reading is most likely just incoming air pressure. The one pressure guage attachment I have seen on the market only goes to 22psi.
Any ideas?
"never leave the dock without your paddle"
Imagine Rocket 14 ...my new favorite, smooth and fast and lite
2018 Red Paddle 14 x 27 Elite
2014 Bark Dominator 14....smooth and quiet
2014 Imagine Connector 14...the "barge"

connector14

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2018, 10:51:21 AM »
Update.....I just found this on Amazon and maybe this will be my solution to being able to monitor pressure WHILE filling.
 https://www.amazon.com/Inflation-Valve-Gauge-Side/dp/B076KR9JK9/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1516733378&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=wakooda+electric+pump+valve+stem
"never leave the dock without your paddle"
Imagine Rocket 14 ...my new favorite, smooth and fast and lite
2018 Red Paddle 14 x 27 Elite
2014 Bark Dominator 14....smooth and quiet
2014 Imagine Connector 14...the "barge"

PonoBill

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2018, 12:21:34 PM »
I don't use a Schrader valve for filling--too much flow restriction, I use a quick air connector and adapted it to one of the Red hoses. The pressure gauge is on the hose connector and it reads all the time, but it's a dinky little gauge. So drilled and tapped the side of the connector for a Schrader valve and I use a 0-40 pound 6" tire gauge that I use for race car tire inflation where small increments of pressure are important.

If you go that route, don't use a digital gauge--they suck.

I also set the regulator on the compressor to 20 pounds once the board starts to take shape. The one on my dewalt is very accurate, but you'd want to gain some experience before you trust one. Once I get to 20 pounds I set the regulator for 22 and see where it winds up. Generally on the money, but I wouldn't walk away to get a cup of coffee. Might come back to a giant tube.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

connector14

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2018, 12:37:49 PM »
I'll let you all know how this works out after I get it. Bill,  my plan is to use the Titan pump to get the board to shape....then use the scuba tank/regulator setup to bring it up to my final pressure. The guage on that adapter I just ordered is analog and goes to 25 PSI......so hopefully it will work out well for my needs.
"never leave the dock without your paddle"
Imagine Rocket 14 ...my new favorite, smooth and fast and lite
2018 Red Paddle 14 x 27 Elite
2014 Bark Dominator 14....smooth and quiet
2014 Imagine Connector 14...the "barge"

PonoBill

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2018, 01:20:37 PM »
Should be fine. If you dive often enough to keep your tanks fillable it will be a handy way to go. You could certainly go all the way with just the tank, an 80Cu Ft tank will fill your board completely at least four times.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

10generation

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Re: Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2018, 11:07:56 AM »
Pono Bill,

I was about to head out and get that compressor when I read your comments about the schraeder restricting flow.  That is what I have to fill my board, not sure about building some other means of connection.

Goes back to my original post - was assuming to first fill with a high volume pump I can attach to the valve and then use compressor (with lower CFM) to get to pressure.

If I use the dewalt with the schraeder will it take forever or will I burn up the dewalt?

Thanks for all the ideas.


 


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