Assembly

Depending on the foldable model, your AB boat will be packed in one or two carry bags . These bags will contain the buoyancy chamber and transom, a seat, a pair of oars or paddles, a foot or hand pump, a maintenance kit, and depending upon the model a set of floorboards and battens. To assemble your AB foldable dinghy, you must complete the following steps or procedures:
 
 Roll-Up Dinghies

1. Open the carrying bag, and unfold the boat on a clean flat surface. Avoid rough surfaces such as cement, so that neither sand nor stones infiltrate the creases before inflating the boat. 2. Once unfolded, partially inflate the buoyancy chamber. 3. Insert the removable fibreglass seat into the seat attachments and completely inflate the buoyancy collar. 4. Assemble and install the oars or paddles. For more detailed information on oar assembly, please refer to the chapter on Oar Assembly. 5. Don’t forget to bring along an anchor, rope, maintenance kit and a life vest for each passenger aboard. For more detailed information, please refer to the chapter on Marine Safety  

 

 Dinghies with an Inflatable Keel (I Models )

1. Open the carrying bag, and unfold the boat on a clean flat surface. Avoid rough ground such as cement, so that neither sand nor stones infiltrate the creases before inflating the boat.
2. So as to avoid pinching the caps of the inflation valves, we suggest you screw them to the valves.
3. At this point do not inflate the inflatable keel, as you could damage it.
4. Start by fitting the triangular bow floorboard #1, sliding its edges into the angle between the bottom and the buoyancy chambers. Verify that it has reached the top angle of the bow, and that the air valve of the inflatable keel fits into the hole of the bow floorboard.
5. Always fit the stern floorboard (#4 or #5 depending on the model) against the transom, under the transom battens, after having installed the bow floorboard.
6. Then install section #2 against #1.
7. If you have a 4 section floorboard insert #4 against the transom, insert floorboard #3 into #4, raise #2 and #3 and join so as to make a reversed V. To flatten the floorboard, press firmly downwards on the joint of sections #2 and #3.
8. If you have a 5 section floorboard, insert #5 against the transom, insert floorboard #3 into #2. Insert section #4 into #5. Raise sections #3 and #4 and join so as to make a reversed V. To flatten the floorboard, press firmly downwards on the joint of sections #3 and #4.
9. To flatten the floorboards, press firmly downwards on the joint of sections that are raised.
10. If the floorboards do not fit exactly into the angle of the bottom and the buoyancy chambers, do not worry. The moment the stringers are in place, they will fit.
11. Fit one stringer into each side of the previously assembled floorboards (rounded part of the stringer upwards), and insert the stringer into the floorboards. This will provide more rigidity to your soft bottom inflatable.
12. When the floorboards & battens are in position, insert the removable fibreglass seat into the seat attachments. You may then proceed to inflate the buoyancy chambers, leaving the inflatable keel compartment for last. Inflation techniques are covered in the Inflating Instructions section of this manual.
13. Assemble and install the oars or paddles. For more detailed information on oar assembly, please refer to the chapter on Oar Assembly.
14. Don’t forget to bring along an anchor, rope, maintenance kit and a life vest for each passenger aboard. For more detailed information, please refer to the chapter on Marine Safety.
 

 Hard Bottom Dinghies


Hard bottom dinghies or R.I.B’s, as they are frequently called, require very little preparation before launching. Simply inflate the buoyancy chamber, fit the removable accessories that come standard with your AB, attach the outboard engine and include the fuel tank (if not a model “T”) and the safety equipment required. For more detailed information, please read the Marine Safety chapter in this manual.

At the same time, make sure your boat has the hull and condensation (if applicable) drain plugs tightened into the valves before launching the boat. For more information, read the Hull & Deck Drain Plug chapter in this manual.