Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

So when a bucket boat fills with water in a river and sinks it isn't a big deal because there is water pushing on the outside tubes of the boat inward and not just the inside water pushing outward against the tubes. My question is, can I inflate a bucket boat on land and fill it with water like a pool? Or would that be to much for it?

Mud wrestling pit for the new crib?

- Matt

Thank you Matt for that mental image.

A nerd would answer this question by noting that if the inside of the raft is 5' X 10', and you fill it one foot deep, then that is over 3000# of water. BUT, the weight is just sitting on the ground; it doesn't strain the floor. So what about the pressure pushing outward? At the bottom of the pool, the one foot deep water pushes out with 0.43 psi; at 6" deep, 0.215 psi, and of course, 0 psi at the surface. An LVM inflator puts out 1.73 psi, and most feel the raft needs to be "topped off" with a manual pump, so 2 psi or higher would be a typical inflation pressure. Since the pressure outward, even at the bottom, is generally less than the tube inflation pressure, it should be within the bounds of what the seams can handle.

A practical person would note that WalMart wading pools are of much lighter construction, and can probably be filled to 9" depth (or greater) without failure. So a sturdy WW raft should be able to handle the same loading without damage.

An engineer would say he/she isn't really sure and make no financially backed guarantees, but would also tell you that since he/she arrived at the same answer by two completely different methods, the answer is probably correct. He might even make note of the severe loadings that the WW raft must withstand during a broach or pin, which only rarely results in actual damage, as additional evidence that you have a high probability of not causing any damage to your raft. (Then he/she would test his answer on your raft before trying it on his/her own, to get that "100% sure" feeling that most engineers secretly crave but rarely achieve.)

And a good ole boy will say, heck if a $15 vinyl Wal-Mart pool will hold water this should work no problem. What you waiting for, hold my beer, get the hose, and call the honeys.

Matt- My guy couldn't come through with that bulk KY deal I had mentioned, so yes its back to the mud.
Cowper, I appreciate that answer, it seems really well thought out, I'm going for it.

A Savage spanke wrote:Matt- My guy couldn't come through with that bulk KY deal I had mentioned, so yes its back to the mud.

We all know that wasn't for the pool Spanke.