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Monitoring Inflation Pressures:
As temperatures and altitude change, the air pressure inside your boat will also change. You may need to
make adjustments to the pressure in the chambers throughout the day. Transporting an inflated boat on a
hot day or when gaining altitude can lead to overinflation; check the pressure regularly. Cold air and water
temperatures will cause a reduction in air pressure. Always bring a hand pump along for adjusting air
pressure as needed. Later in the day, as the air temperature outside warms up, the pressure inside the boat
will increase. As this happens, you’ll need to release a small amount of air from each chamber. Check the air
pressure regularly throughout the day and adjust accordingly.
All NRS inflatables are built to withstand substantially higher pressures than we recommend. However,
overinflation puts strain on the seams and shortens the life of your boat. An overinflated boat is also in danger
of explosive decompression (blowing apart at the seams!). The NRS warranty (see page 6) does not cover
damage caused by explosive decompression.
MOUNTING FRAMES
Raft Frames:
Carefully follow the frame assembly instructions. After the frame is assembled, place it on the raft so that it
rests on the top wear patch material. When the frame is positioned where you want it (generally in the center,
except in the case of stern frames), use NRS Heavy Duty Straps to cinch each corner to a D-ring on the raft.
Place straps on each side of the raft at opposite angles to keep the frame straight and centered.
Cataraft Frames:
Where you mount the frame along the flat area on your cataraft tubes depends somewhat on the type of
boating you’re doing and the performance characteristics you’re looking for. Additionally, the NRS frame
system allows you to easily move frame pieces along the side rails to fine-tune your set up.
Experimenting with frame positioning will help you find what works best for your style of boating. Start by
centering the side rails on the flat area of your tubes. For most boating it works well to place the oar mounts
near the center of the frame, and to distribute weight fairly evenly along the frame. For more extreme boating
conditions, some rowers prefer to position the rowing station and/or cargo toward the front of the tubes,
weighting the bow to help avoid flipping over backward in big waves. Proper weight distribution and rower
position will increase performance and prevent the boat from “nosing in” or riding bow-high.
Place a frame side rail on one tube and strap the outside D-rings to the side rail, cinching them until just tight.
Next, strap the inside D-rings to the lower rail. Adjust the tension of the straps to center the top side rail on the
top of the tube. Align the other tube across from the first and repeat these steps.
It’s always important to cinch down a frame with straps at opposite angles so the opposing tensions keep the
frame securely in place. This is particularly important on cataraft tubes because the frame supplies all the
structure and rigidity for the boat.
VALVES
Inflate/Deflate Valves:
All current NRS rafts, catarafts and IKs feature Leafield C7 inflate/deflate valves. To open the valve, first
remove the valve cap. Then press down on the spring-loaded valve stem and turn it counterclockwise. The
valve stem will now be locked down in the open position, allowing air to move freely in and out through the
valve. To close the valve, push down on the valve stem and turn clockwise. The stem will pop back up,
sealing the valve shut. In the closed position, you can still pump air into the chamber, but when you remove
the pump, the valve will not allow air to escape. When you’re done, screw the plastic valve cap back on to
keep water and dirt out of the inner valve.
Important Tip: When deflating your fully inflated boat do not fully open only one chamber. This puts
excessive strain on the internal baffles and can lead to baffle rupture. Either work together with someone to
release the pressure in the chambers simultaneously, or release small amounts out of each chamber until
high pressure is relieved and individual valves can be fully opened safely.
