Q8. How long should I expect my Hysun Marine inflatable boat to last?

Q8. How long should I expect my Hysun Marine inflatable boat to last?

A8. That is totally up to you. If you take good care of your boat, it may last 5-10 years. If you do not take proper care of the boat, it will only last up to its warranty period. However, abused and mishandled boats are not covered by the warranty.

When not in use, it is highly recommended to store PVC inflatable products in a well ventilated, shaded area. Humidity and heat are killers for PVC glue used in the assembly of inflatable boats. Do NOT store PVC inflatables in closed containers, boxes or storage areas with no ventilation and under direct sunlight. Humidity will accumulate in tightly closed storage areas and will weaken the chemical bond of PVC glue once significant heat is present.

To extend the lifetime of your boat by taking proper care of it, we are recommending following book: "INFLATABLE BOATS - Selection, Care, Repair, and Seamanship" by Jim Trefethen. ISBN number 0-07-065252-X. Available at www.amazon.com, or you may order it from the publisher: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 1-800-262-4729.

It is well known that the most common reason for premature boat aging is exposure to the sun and its damaging UV rays. Fabric discoloration, fading, breakdowns and damages to varnished plywood can be all attributed to direct sun exposure.

The solution is simple - when the boat is not in use, cover it or deflate it. There are plenty of Inflatables rotting under the damaging sun in any local marine or harbor. If possible, deflate the boat, clean it and store it in its carry bag.

If the boat is constantly dragged behind your sailboat, left year round on a dock, or left dirty and directly under harmful UV-rays, you can't expect it to last forever. If you use a boat cover, or at least cover boat with a piece of tarp, your Hysun will last much longer.

Try to keep the boat clean and free of chemical detergents and sun screen lotions that may discolor the fabric. We highly recommend boat cleaners available at the Inland Marine USA web site.

Please use ONLY cleaning solutions that are approved for PVC fabrics. For example Inflatable Boat Cleaner from NauticalEase or Cape Ann Inflatable Boat Protector from Inland Marine. Do not use CLOROX, Windex or any other household cleaners. These chemicals will make the fabric sticky over time. Sun screen lotions may contain silicon that will also make PVC fabric sticky. Clean the boat tubes of any sun screen lotion marks to extend the boat fabric life cycle.

Your local West Marine store always carry number of inflatable boats cleaners, protectants and boat paints that will help to keep your inflatable boat as good as new.

We also recommend very convenient Swipes Wipes, as they contain an excellent cleaning solution for inflatable boats. These wipes remove any type of dirt, protect against UV-rays and can make the boat look new again.

Here is two identical 4-years old Hysun boats purchased at the same time and owned by two different customers in Puerto Rico. One boat was never covered, another was cleaned and covered with a boat cover.

A reminder to all of our friends and customers in the hot and humid areas of South Florida, Texas, LA and the likes. Please keep in mind when storing any inflatable raft or flotation device that your garage can easily reach temperatures of 100+ degrees in the heat of summer, not to mention swelter in unprecedented levels of humidity for months on end. This unnecessary and easily avoidable exposure to constant moisture is known to corrode away at the integrity of the chemical bond used to weld your inflatable together.

It is recommended by us here at Hysun that you always cover your inflatable when not in use, and when possible deflate so that you can store away within a climate controlled area of your house. Also note that if you are unable to pack away your inflatable to always reduce the amount of pressure within the tubes and floor as heat exposure will cause the air contained within the vessel to expand, ultimately resulting in a burst seem. The few extra minutes spent packing away your  Craigslist posting about Hysun boat over 10 year old, but still in great condition.PVC inflatable watercraft will dramatically increase its durability and longevity helping minimize weekends lost to ruptured seams.

If you will take proper care of your inflatable boat, it may last well over its warranty timeframe; over 10 years!