Suggestions for electric inflatable pumps

[jbinbi]

Got a small, 8', slat dinghy for occasional cruising. Don't want to use the hand pump each I want to use it. Am going to put a 12v adapter in the aft end of the cockpit.

Looking for recommendations on 12v pump that will fit inflation valve. Hoping to find something that is reliable and will last a few years. Many on Amazon look like they wont.

[pjShap]

I've been happy with this one:
https://outdoormaster.com/products/e...-pump-shark-ii

[4arch]

I gave up on 12v and instead run a 120v pump off the inverter. The 120v pumps are typically higher capacity (and therefore faster) and cheaper.

If you're going to use a 12v, you will need robust cabling to your lighter plug or a direct connection to a battery. Otherwise you will experience voltage drop and will never get the advertised capacity.

When selecting a pump of either voltage, there are high capacity/low pressure pumps that can only go to 1 or 2 PSI, low capacity/high pressure pumps that can go to higher PSI, and two-stage pumps that will do both.

A high capacity/low pressure pump is good for bulk inflating/deflating a boat and you can finish inflating to specified PSI with a hand or foot pump.

[SailingHarmonie]

I have never seen a quality 12V inflator. Lots of them out there, and every one I looked at was junk.

We use a 120V model from West Marine that does a great job. It actually gets a lot of use because we have large inflatable fenders that need inflation each time we approach a dock. It's lasted us years.

[wrwakefield]

Since I standardized my battery powered hand tools on the DeWalt 20V line, I also bought their portable compressor.


It will run on 12V [comes with a long, detachable cord] or a DeWalt 20 volt battery. It has two output modes: high volume, low pressure [e.g., 2-3 PSI] for SUPs, dinghies and the like, as well as high pressure [lower flow] for vehicle tires, etc.

It works very well as a portable using a battery. The best I have used over the years.

While it comes with several inflation adaptors, I still had to purchase a [universal] HR adaptor for our RIB. [Most will fit the 3/4” ID High flow hose that comes with this compressor.] https://amzn.to/4bRFJpH


Just sharing what works well for my needs.

Cheers, Bill

[jbinbi]

Thanks. I have standardized on Ryobi, so I will to see if they have one. Great idea. Ah, just looked, no 12V adapter, just battery

I have only a 750W inverter on the boat, so not sure how great a job 120V pump will do. That is about 5A.

[Matt Johnson]

We used the Ryobi version that's very similar to the Dewalt shown above. Works extremely well, but noisy, so we'd wait until everyone in the anchorage was awake to use it.

[NorthCoastJoe]

I have a Ryobi inflator, it works great. It is no louder that the electric pumps you hear at a whitewater rafting put in. If you want a plug in type check out the ones made for whitewater rafts, commercial quality.

[wholybee]

I have a 12V pump, it's old and the model probably isn't made anymore. I run it from a small lithium jumpstart pack that fits in the bag with the pump. I wouldn't do it any other way.

The pump is 2 stage, with a turbine that inflates very fast, then as pressure builds it switches to a diaphragm or piston pump to get the final pressure. I can have my 300 sized dinghy inflated and in the water in less than 5 minutes.

Probably any 2 stage type 12V pump would be fine.

[jbinbi]

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287178780

Is this the one you have, and if so, how to connector hose to adapter for the HR valve?

Also, what about using just a small shopvac, though the adapter might be harder to find...

[CMH]

I use the Ryobi 18 volt inflator for our Zodiac. It works fine.
Chris

[CrispyCringle]

I have a Milwaukee 18v shop vac on board. It does the bulk of inflation duties very quickly by attaching the hose to the exit port of the vac. I use on on the dink and stand-up board. I use a hand/foot pump to do the last few psi. I dont even have a proper adaptor. I just hold the hose onto the fitting. Pressures are so low it hardly matters. It fills up the dink very quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Lit...hoCWsQQAvD_BwE