Warranty Terms
- Warranty shell become effective only upon receipt of “Operating Manual” with properly completed Warranty card: date of purchase, model, name, signature, full name of boat’s owner and also document that confirms the purchase (receipt, sales invoice).
- The producer guarantees operability of the boat if purchaser follows the rules of usage, transporting and storage of the boat stated by given manual.
- The producer is obliged to eliminate workmanship defects during the warranty period. Warranty repair is made by service center of Aqua-Storm Company.
- Warranty period from the day of purchase from a retail store is 36 month, but not more than 42 month from the date of production for seams and PVC materials. (For model Maverick - 12 months). During 12 months for complements and accessories (pump, oars, products from plywood).
- Workmanship defects are to be eliminated by the producer. During the warranty period and in case of compliance of storage and usage rules the producer is obliged to perform a necessary repair, and in case of grave defects through manufacturer’s fault to replace an inflatable boat during 30 days.
- The boat or complements can be replaced within 14 days after date of purchase if they were not used and are not damaged.
- Seams are considered damaged if outer layer detaches from reinforced fabrics base or if the seam loses its structural integrity.
- The glue that juts out from seams can change its color to yellow under influence of sunlight that does not influence characteristics of glued seams and the product as a whole and is not considered as defect.
- The buoyancy chambers of the product are considered airtight if, when inflated to the nominal pressure level, they maintain their shape and working pressure for 24 hours. The check accounts for natural changes in internal pressure caused by ambient temperature fluctuations in accordance with the ISO 6185 standard.
AQUA-STORM TECHNICAL INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Guidelines for Temperature Management and Pressure Control in PVC Inflatable Boats
Inflatable boats manufactured by Aqua-Storm are crafted from high-quality, high-strength multi-layer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). However, like any high-tech polymer product, a PVC boat requires strict adherence to physical and technical operational conditions.
Below are the official technical requirements and the physical rationale behind the operation of inflatable watercraft during the summer period.
1. Physics of the Processes: Thermal Expansion and Thermoplasticity
To understand the critical importance of careful boat handling in the sun, two main physical and chemical factors must be considered.
Charles's Law (Isochoric Process):
At a constant volume of the tube ($V = \text{const}$), the gas pressure ($P$) is directly proportional to its absolute temperature ($T$):
When the air inside a sealed tube heats up from 20°C to 60°C, the internal pressure increases by more than 30–40%, instantly pushing it beyond the permissible working range (nominal rating: 0.15–0.25 bar).
Thermoplasticity of Polyurethane Adhesive:
The seams of Aqua-Storm boats are assembled using professional molecular welding or specialized two-component polyurethane adhesives. When the PVC material and the glued seam are heated above 60°C, the process of polymer lattice degradation begins — the adhesive shifts into a highly elastic (thermoplastic) state, temporarily losing up to 80% of its structural strength.
2. Strict Prohibition on Turning the Boat Bottom-Up to the Sun
The primary danger arises from placing the boat on the shore in an inverted position (bottom-up) under direct sunlight.
Heat Concentration:
The bottom of the boat usually features a dark color or comes into contact with non-inflatable black components. On land, the PVC bottom fabric heats up to a critical 70–80°C within minutes.
Heat Transfer Inside the Tube:
The heated air rises, accumulating thermal energy directly around the keel and tube seams.
Result:
The combination of a critical drop in the strength of the heated adhesive and a rapid surge in air pressure inside the tube leads to a hermetic shift and seam rupture (separation) or damage to internal baffles.
Technical Rule:
On land, the boat must remain strictly in the shade or be protected by a light-colored protective cover. Additionally, the pressure in all compartments must be manually reduced by 40–50% from the nominal value.
3. In-Exploitation Tube Pressure Monitoring
To ensure safety and preserve the boat's geometry, the operator is required to regularly monitor the pressure within the tubes.
A. Inflation and Launch Stage
Inflate the boat on the shore to a level approximately 10% below nominal pressure.
Upon launching the boat, thermal contact with the body of water occurs. Since the water is colder than the air, the temperature of the gas inside the tubes will drop, causing a decrease in pressure. Bring the pressure up to the nominal level (0.15–0.25 bar depending on the model) immediately after the boat's temperature stabilizes in the water (after 5–10 minutes).
B. Mooring and Shore Landing Stage (The Critical Phase!)
The Main Mistake of Boat Owners:
The boat is pulled onto the shore or sand without adjusting the pressure in the tubes.
Once water cooling stops and direct sunlight takes effect, the tube temperature increases by 30°C in just a few minutes. The internal pressure critically exceeds the allowable seam strength limit.
Technical Rule:
During any landing on the shore where the crew leaves the boat for more than 5 minutes, you must immediately release pressure in all tubes (by opening the valves briefly) until the tubes become noticeably soft to the touch.
IMPORTANT WARRANTY WARNING!
Seam rupture, deformation of internal tube baffles, and structural tension elements caused by thermal overheating in the sun and excessive internal pressure are classified by technical expertise as a direct consequence of violating the vessel's operational rules.
These defects are not covered under the factory warranty and will not be compensated by the manufacturer. Repairs for damages of this nature are carried out solely at the owner's expense. Protect your watercraft!
Beneficiary: LLC COMPANY AQUA-STORM
Beneficiary ID (EDRPOU): 35213902
Account Number (IBAN): UA483052990000026005050238671
Beneficiary Bank: JSC CB "PRIVATBANK"