RIB Storage

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Talisman
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Joined: 12/26/07
Posts: 244
RIB Storage

What is the best way to store a RIB for the winter.  Fully inflated, deflated or partially deflated?

Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
 

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
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Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

I would think dry, out of the sun and clean is most important. If you fill now with cold air you may stretch as it warms up so I would say partially inflated

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

Maine Sail
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Joined: 2/26/10
Posts: 324

Our 2001 AB RIB (16 years old) has ben stored inflated, upside down on elevated saw horses, then shrink wrapped/covered her entire life (I have my own ShrinkFast gun and use scraps). It has in fact only ever been deflated once or twice. I only need to add air maybe once per year. At -15F it gets a bit soft, but it is still plenty inflated so as to not have a deformed shape..

-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/

 

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pkeyser
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Joined: 5/18/13
Posts: 679

We leave ours inflated, suspended from the ceiling in our barn. We've had carpenter ants chew a hole in a PVC inflatable when it was stored on the floor of a garden shed. (They ate an airconditioer cover too- so they must be attracted to PVC). Basement storage is ok, but takes up a lot of room. I don't think it matters much whether it's inflated or not. 

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

Talisman
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Joined: 12/26/07
Posts: 244

Thanks everybody.  Clean, dry, inflated and covered from the sun sounds like the consensus.  

Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
 

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