Aluminum Rib Military Navy Boat Maintenance Guide

Yoolwin marine can produce aluminum rigid inflatable boats size from 3m to 11m. Can be used in different operations, tender and dinghy/ rescue and search/ patrol and cruising/ military and navy aluminum boats. Aluminum boats for rhibs designed with ultralight weight, durable heavy duty deep V hull, tube can choose material from 1.2mm PVC/ Hypalon/ Orca Hypalon, supply better buoyancy, tube also do with multi air chambers, supply boat with better flexibility and safety. To enhance the aluminum inflatable boats with better peroformance and long lifetime, the regular and right method for inflatable aluminum rhib boat maintaince is importance. Following is the detailed guide maintaince for both tube and aluminum hull. 

(1). Tube maintainance 

* Best Choice for tube material

Choose the suitable tube material for aluminum rigid inflatable boat. More details check the last article. 

* Inspecition

Regular maintainance for the tube material is the first step. Mainly for the tube outside appearance, such as cuts, breaks, abdrasions. When tube fully inflate, can do inspection with soap foam. 1.2mm PVC do with hot welding process, Hypalon material do with cold glue process. The main  inspection position should be the connection positions and where tube connect with aluminum  hull parts. If there is bubbles, should do repair for the leak parts. Another parts, is for the inflate/ deflate valve and also the safe valves inspections. 

* Cleaning

Aluminum  rigid boats inflatable normally can be used in different water conditions, rives/ lakes/ sea waters. River and lakes for fresh water. Sea water for salt waters. Specially when boat used in salt waters, the tube should be cleaned with fresh water. Can advoid the salt water corrosion. Even used in river or lakes fresh waters, also should be cleaned for the dirt and other contaminants. After cleaned the tube, should wait the tube totally dry, then can dock in the garage. Can also avoid the high or cold temperature and high UV. This can much increase the tube lifetime. 

* Tube protection

If the aluminum rib inflatable boats used in hot weather positions or in high UV places, tube recommend equip with whole boat cover or tube cover. Normally tube cover more recommended, because even boat run in the water, the tube cover also do not need to delete, much protect the tube from all other damages. 

* Valve Maintenance

Aluminum hull inflatable ribs tube made from multi air chambers. Each chamber is with inflate/ deflate valve and safety valve. Inspect if the valve parts leak or not. Same method as tube inspection, use sofa foam, if there is bubbles, should fix it or change to new one. Normally should check 1 time a week, repair kit is with professional tool to tight it in good conditions. If the valve loos, then the tube easy to leak. 

(2). Aluminum Hull Maintenance

* Washing

Aluminum boats inflatable can be used in different water conditions. Fresh water and salt waters. When boat used in fresh water, lakes or rives, also should clean with outboard dirt  or other details on the aluminum hull. This can protect the outside power paiting on the hull. If the boat used in sea salt waters, when boat drain out boat water, should clean with slight fresh water, this can keep protection for the paiting, also can avoid the corrison on the aluminum hull. Specially for the draft waterlines, should clean with the soft brush. After boat totally cleaned, should wait it air dry before stock in the garage. 

* Aluminum hull structure inspection:

When boat run fast in the deep ocean sea with fast speed, even the aluminum hull made from marine grade aluminum material, also have the possiblity to be damaged, like the cracks with rocks or signs of stress. Also should pay more attention to the hull welding points, these are potiential weak points. If find some over stress or cracks on the aluminum hull, should do inspection for the boat by professional engineer or repair workds. After totally repaired then can be used again. 

* Hardwares inspection

Each aluminum ribs equipped with many hardwares, like fender holders, cleats, screws. After the boat used or before use the boat, these hardwares should do inspections carefully. If the nails loose, the boat accessories easy to fall off, like the doors on the cabin or console. If there are some damages on these accessories, should change new ones. Make sure all use 316 stainless steel material or Anti-corrosion materials. In the future can also adovid the corrision problems. 

(3). Outboard engine inspections

Outboard engine as one important part for the aluminum rigid military boats. There are several details should be checked before usage. The fuel level/ indicate water conditions/ fuel system/ cooling system horse/ electric connections. Regular and right method maintainance for aluminum navy boats, can confirm boat with reliable operation and longer use lifetime. Follow above tube/ aluminum hull/ engine maintainance steps, the boat can keep in better conditions.