About 95% of slow air leaks associated with our Inflatable Dinghies are due to simple issues with a valve. Below is a video that will show you how to test, clean, and replace your valves.
Please note if you remove the outer valve with your wrench, the inner end of the valve can fall inside the boat. We recommend positioning the back of the valve against a flat surface so it stays in place when you separate the two halves. You can also use needle-nose pliers to retrieve this piece if it falls inside.
Find the Leak
Our Dinghies are produced with baffles, which allow air to travel from one chamber to another safely. If you are to have an air leak this is a safety feature that keeps equal air in the tubes to encourage flotation. Though this design dramatically increases the boat’s safety, it is more challenging to find slow air leaks.
To help determine where the leak is you must deflate all the air chambers and then fully inflate one chamber. Once you have the first air chamber inflated and closed the valve cap you can spray soapy water. The more soap, the better. Heavily spray the boat down and look for tiny air bubbles in the cap’s interior and around the edges. This will help you determine which chamber leaks.
If you see bubbles, you have found the problem! If you don’t see them you should look closer. These bubbles are extremely small and will require you to be very close to your boat to see them. Apply some pressures to increase the bubbles and decrease the time you spend looking for them. Remember to generously spray your soapy water and allow 3-4 minutes for the tiny bubbles to form. If you do not see any bubbles repeat the steps above.
Fix the Problem
If you have bubbles appearing around your valve’s perimeter, you may need to:
- Tighten your valve.
- Clean and reinstall your valve.
- Adjust the orientation of your valve.
- Replace the valve.
Please see the video above, “Inflatable Boat Valve Repair Instructions - Find & Fix Small Valve Air Leaks”.
Your valve on your boat has a rubber seal where dirt, salt, and debris can get built up over time, causing a slow air leak. It is essential to clean the valve occasionally to avoid this. You can accomplish this by using the foot pump like a hairdryer to blow debris off the valve. Place the nozzle about 2 inches away from the valve and give it a few pumps to remove any residue.
An even better method is to remove the valve using the provided wrench found in your repair kit. Additional valves and wrenches can be purchased on our website if needed. Start by removing the male part of the valve with the wrench. Ensure you have needle nose pliers as the female end can fall into the boat. Then clean the rubber seal by spraying soapy water and cleaning it off with a paper towel. Then use a cotton swab to remove any additional debris. See our “Find & Fix Small Valve Air Leaks” video for instructions.
Other Possible Air Leak Locations
- Seam
- Hole In The Fabric
Manufacturing Process
Newport Inflatable Dinghies are inflated, and pressure tested three times throughout the manufacturing process. The third test ensures we are producing an excellent product by inflating our boats for 24 hours and pressure checking the chambers four times. We are proud of the products we make and we stand behind them. If you notice your boat is deflating quickly and can hear the air coming out, 99% of the time it’s because your valve isn’t properly
You may purchase replacement valves here. If you have any additional questions about our boats, please see our Boat FAQ Page. For more in-depth articles, please see our Boat Support Page. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please give us a call (866) 721-0002 Monday to Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm PST or reach out to us via email SUPPORT@NEWPORTVESSELS.COM.
