1        INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on purchasing a CAPERIB ore CAPEXRIB product!  We wish you a safe and enjoyable experience on the water…

This manual is a useful guideline on the care, maintenance, assembly and safety procedures of your boat. So before using your boat, please read this manual carefully and familiarize yourself with it.

If you are new at this experience, then we advise you to take a course offered by your local coast guard or affiliated groups, or ask someone with experience to give some guidance.

THE DIRECTIONS POINTED OUT IN THIS MANUAL ARE IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY.  KEEP THIS MANUAL IN A SAFE PLACE AND PASS IT ON TO THE NEW OWNER IF YOU SELL YOUR BOAT.

1.                  INFLATION / DEFLATION

1.1             Inflation Procedure

            CAPE produces both fully inflatable and semi rigid boats.                     Both ranges have similar fundamentals of safe keeping once               inflated, however, the procedure to assemble is more                           detailed.

To inflate the craft, we recommend using the hand pump provided as standard equipment.  Please take note of the following:

-         Make sure plunger “A” (refer to drawing) of the valve is raised (ie closed).  If this is not so, push and twist to the right.

-         Inset the tube of the hand pump into the valve, twisting the safety bayonet-type attachment to the right.  This will prevent the tube separating from the valve when inflating.  Once inflated, remove the tube by twisting to the left and replace the valve cap.

Your craft has several independent compartments.  Inflate each one enough to give them some volume without putting in too much pressure.  Once the craft has adopted it’s shape, inflate each compartment, starting from the back, to the full recommended pressure:

If you don’t have a pressure gauge, keep inflating until you notice a firm resistance when using the hand pump.  Check the degree of rigidity of the inflated compartments, verifying their final pressure.  If you have any doubts, it’s recommended to keep the pressure low rather than to inflate in excess.

NB – Never use a gasoline station air pump or any other high pressured pump.  Pressure rises with the increase in temperature – for example, a 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature means a 3 millibar increase in pressure.

The pressure will decrease once the craft is in the water or at night, and will increase when the craft is warmed by excessive exposure to the sun.  For this reason, it’s recommended that when the craft is not in use, or lying in direct sunlight out of the water, you should reduce the air pressure to compensate for the expansion of air.

WARNING: The combination of high temperatures and over pressure can be very injuries to the integrity of the seals of the tubes of the boat. Damage caused by this condition is not covered by the warranty. We highly recommend you to use an accurate pressure gauge.

If your craft is fitted with pressure relief valves, they will automatically open at 0.3 bar or 33 kpa, releasing excess pressure above this valve.

2          Deflation Procedure

Remove the valve cap, push the plunger, twisting to the left where it will remain fixed in the open position.

Once the craft is completely deflated, release the plunger by twisting to the right and replace the valve cap.

3.        Draining

3.1       Ball Bailers

Ball bailers are self deck bailers is allowing water a way out of your boat.  It is important that regular maintenance of the seal between the ball and the unit is done to ensure an adequate seal.

3.2       Hull Draining Plugs

The hull drain plug should be periodically removed to empty               any water between the

deck and the hull in the semi rigid range.  To open, twist anti-clockwise and to close, twist clockwise.

Never open the hull drain plug when you are on the water!

3.3             RIB boats are not constructed to be permanently in water.

We gives you following advises if you have your boat permanently in the water:

a)  Make sure that the drain plug is closing 100%. You maybe have to shift the standard drain plug to a better and more solid quality available on the boat marked.

b)  You can decide to shift the “ping pong” deck draining system (CAPE standard), to a “tube draining” system, ore another systems witch gives you better water tidiness related to the deck hull.

c)  You have to fit a drain pump in, ore connected to, the inner hull, - to ensure regularly draining of water from the inner hull. An automatic electric pump connected to the battery will be advisable. Make sure that the battery is powerful enough to handle the pump over the period of time you need.

e)  You also have to fit a pump to the deck hull to ensure that the deck is regularly

drained from water.

f)  Boats witch are permanently in water should to be sealed outside with an epoxy primer and with an alga resident paint.

g)  The tubes have to bee regularly manually cleaned from             alga.

4.         Mounting the outboard motor.

This is a brief outline – please consult your engine manual and follow the instructions on mounting.

-         Place the engine on the transom, well centered, on the bow-stern axis of the craft.

-         For best outboard engine performance, it is essential to position the engine at the correct transom height.  Most engines can be directly fitted onto the transom, providing that its cavitation plate “A” remains level with “B” (refer to drawing).  If the engine is positioned too high, the propeller will take in too much air, and similarly, if it is positioned too low, it will take in too much water resulting in loss of power in both cases.

It may be necessary in some cases to increase the height by means of a skid, or to cut the transom down:

Tighten the clamp screws securely.  It is advisable to tie the clamping handles to each other with a line  (A) to prevent the engine vibration loosening them while you are operating the craft.

-         As a supplementary precaution, tie off the engine with a safety line (B) to a strong point on the transom.

-         When fixing the engine to the craft by bolts, you will have to drill 4 holes through the transom.  Make sure you place the large washers on the inside face of the transom.

-         On some bigger semi rigids, it may be necessary to offset the engine – please consult your engine manual or dealer.

NOTE – any holes drilled through the transom must be properly sealed to prevent water penetrating into the grain of the plywood.  If this happens, it could cause some serious damage to the transom.

5.         FITTING THE ACCESSORIES (console, seats etc)

CAPERIB and CAPEXRIB are semi rigid crafts and have reinforced decks using a multi-laminate marine-plywod, which permits the fixing of accessories on the deck.

5.1             Position of the accessory

If the accessory is not already drilled, drill holes around the flange – one in each corner – and the rest of the holes at 150 mm centers using a 5.5mm drill.  With a pencil, draw round the accessory and mark the drilled holes on the deck.  Remove the accessory once you have done this.  Stick painter adhesive tape around the external line of the accessory to protect the rest of the deck.

Fit the accessory in the correct position, taking into account equal weight distribution and length of the steering cables.  The seats should be fitted behind the console allowing enough room for easy entry.

5.2             Drilling the deck

-         Using a 4 mm drill, drill holes in the market points.  Take great care not to drill through the deck, so as not to touch the hull of the craft (maximum 10 mm).

-         Remove any grease (with alcohol or acetone) from the deck area where it is to be sealed.  Clean the area corresponding to the flange of the accessory and leave it to dry.

-         Apply polyurethane one component marine sealant (Sikaflex 221, Bostic 2639, 3M etc) to the holes in the flange, following the instructions on the use of the sealant.

5.3             Fitting the accessory

-         Screw down the accessory to the deck using the screws and washers supplied by the manufacturer.

5.4            Recommendations

-         Remove the adhesive tape and any excess of sealant with alcohol or acetone before curing.

-         Don’t use the craft until the sealant has had time to be fully cured.

6.               FITTING OF THE STEERING SYSTEM

                  The steering system should be fitted by expert                                       authorized personnel only. 

7.         FITTING OF THE BATTERY

Choose and fit the battery according to the requirements specified in your engine manual.  Please also note the following:

-         Use a marine battery with minimal maintenance.

-         To reduce the risk of fire, fit the batter in a ventilated compartment completely independent from the compartment housing the fuel tanks.  If your craft does not have any suitable compartments, place the batter on one side of the craft and the tanks on the other.

-         The battery should be placed in a watertight box, protecting the terminal and preventing accidental acid leakage which could damage the craft or skin of the people.

-         Clean and dry the battery box periodically, lubricating the terminals.

-         It is advisable to use a battery switch, as a safety element, to avoid accidental discharges and other electrical problems.

-         To dismount the batter, disconnect all electrical systems (especially the battery switch), then disconnect the ground terminal (-) and then the positive (+).  To mount the battery, this operation should be done in reverse order.

-         When recharging the battery, remember that batteries do produce explosive gases, contain corrosive acids and produce electrical currents strong enough to cause burns.  Ensure that you take precautions:

o       Recharge the battery out of the craft in an open and well ventilated area.

o       Protect your eyes and void being close to the top part of the battery.

o       Don’t allow for the generation of sparks or flames in the area of charge, as batteries emit flammable hydrogen during the charge and in the following 15 minutes.

8.         FITTING OF THE FUEL TANKS

When fitting fuel tanks in your craft, take the following IMPORTANT recommendations into account:

-         Portable tanks should be placed on a cushioning base and should be strongly secured to the craft by means of a girth to avoid bumps and risks of breaking during navigation.

-         When fitting the portable tanks in a closed compartment, the compartment should be well ventilated and without electrical accessories or components, as well as isolated from sources of ignition or sparks.

-         If your craft is fitted with a fixed tank integrated in the hull, this tank should be fitted by expert authorized personnel only, carefully following the instructions provided with the tank.

-         The fuel feed and return lines will be mounted on an appropriate support properly secured to the craft structure.

-         When refueling, always stick to the following recommendations:

o       Disconnect the engine before refueling the tanks.

o       If possible, remove the portable tanks from the craft to refuel.

o       Refuel the tanks in the open air, far from heat sources, sparks or flames.

o       Don’t fill the tanks to the brim.  The fuel increases volume with a rise in temperature and there is a possibility of the tank overflowing or even breaking.

9.                  NAVIGATION

9.1             Using an engine

With inflatable craft and small semi rigid crafts, it is necessary to adjust the distribution of loads and the tilt angle of the engine according to sea conditions.  For reference please see pictures below (refer to diagram).

Maintain the ratio of oil in the fuel.  Refill the portable tank outside of the craft in a well ventilated area far from the ignition sources.  Check fuel level, avoid making noise and waves when near other craft and always observe speed limits.

9.2             Towing

If you need to tow your craft, take into account that:

-         Your craft must be towed as speeds under 4 knots and when sea conditions do not cause water to enter the craft.

-         Before towing, it is necessary to secure all the elements and equipment aboard, and to remove all people and the outboard engine if possible.  It is necessary to pay particular attention to wind and sea conditions and towing speed.

-         Semi rigid craft should be towed from the towing point at the bow.

-         Never tow your craft with people on board.

-         Inspect the towing painter often.

-         Check the towing conditions regularly while towing – especially check that the boat is not taking in water.

-         If your craft is fitted with a bow cleat, it can be useful in mooring tasks, but never as an anchoring or towing fixed point.

10.       DAVITS

If your craft is fitted with davit lifting points, we recommend the following:

-         Check with your boat dealer that the davit system on your boat is suitable to take your inflatable craft.

-         Don’t lift the craft if it is swamped or with people aboard.  Don’t allow people to get onto the craft when lifted on the davits.  Open plugs on the self bailers of your craft and leave them open while the craft is on davits.

-         Always use the davit lifting points to secure the single point davit lifting system (A) or twin point davit lift (B) – refer to picture.

-         As a precaution on long voyages, secure the craft with a set of safety straps.  Ask your davit supplier for advice.

11.       DEFLATION AND STOWAGE

If the craft is to be stowed and out of use for a long period of time, you should clean it with fresh water to wash off the salt, sand and dirt and leave it to dry before deflating.

 11.1    Deflation

-         Unscrew and open the valves to deflate all the compartments

-         To completely deflate the changers, you may use a hand pump with the tube inserted into the air intake hole of the pump.

-         Once all chambers are deflated, let the plunger out and replace the valve cap.

11.2    Stowage of the fully inflatable craft

-         Fold the tubes inwards to achieve the same width as the transom or until reaching the center of the craft.

-         Fold the cones across the transom (see pic below)