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7. TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM
Does not hold air while
inflating
The kayak is sagging.
The kayak will not hold
full pressure for more
than couple of hours.
The kayak still loses air.
The tube is kinked or
bent.
The kayak is too tight.
The fin is bent.
The floor has formed a
large bubble.
There is water in the
kayak.
The kayak drifts to one
side.
12
SOLUTION
The spring valve uses a plunger system. The only time the plunger
should be in the open position is when you are deflating. Make sure
that the plunger is closed to inflate. Push the plunger in and rotate
counter-clockwise.
Be sure that the right pump is being used. You need a bellows foot
pump or a double action hand pump. A 12-V electric does not supply
enough pressure to fully inflate the kayak. The 12-V can be used to par-
tially inflate the kayak but one of the other pumps is needed to top it off.
Make sure that the plunger is in the closed position. It should only
be open when deflating. If it is open, the only seal is the black rubber
gasket inside the cap. Even then, a little air may still leak out.
If you have checked all the previous possible reasons for the kayak los-
ing air, then there may be a pinhole or hole somewhere on the tube. Pull
tube from outer covers. Inflate. If you cannot see or hear where a leak
may be, take a clean rag with soapy water and begin rubbing the tube.
If a hole is present, bubbles will continually form. Repair using repair
kit. If it is a very small pinhole, a dab of the glue may be sufficient.
The tube just needs to be adjusted. When kayak is fully deflated try
adjusting the position of the tube inside of the outer shell.
This is more than likely due to the fact that the kayak is over inflated.
The widest point should be no less than fourteen inches across.
After inflating the kayak, turn upside down and leave out in sun for ap-
proximately ten minutes. Fin will conform to its original shape. Even if
it is slightly bent, it will not affect the kayaks performance.
If two of the ridges in the floor have formed one large one, the I-beam
has come apart. This is caused by over inflation. It cannot be fixed. You
need a new tube.
Water will drip into the kayak off of your paddle. Do not be alarmed.
Simply dry it off before putting kayak away. You can also get a spray
skirt from our accessories list from a dealer. This will help keep the
inside of the kayak dry as well as you.
A kayak will always head in the direction of your last stroke. If the tube
is not aligned inside of the cover, this will also cause drift.
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