FOR
ADVENTUREGLASS PADDLEBOATS
Congratulations! You have just purchased America's most unusual and most unique
pedal boat. Your Adventureglass pedal boat is the result of years of design,
manufacturing and material improvements. It clearly represents the best value
available and is designed to provide you and your family with many years of
enjoyable service. Review this manual and familiarize yourself with the safe
and proper use of your paddleboat.
I.
BASIC MATERIALS
A. Hull
and Top
The
Adventureglass paddleboat hull and top are made of high quality fiberglass.
Fiberglass is very strong and durable. And will last for a very long time. If
you maintain some care in handling and operating your boat. Clean hull and top
with fiberglass cleaners and wax the entire boat frequently.
B.
Flotation
The weight
capacity of your boat is 600 pounds. Flotation is provided by closed cell foam
located between the hull and top. Do not load boat unevenly, always balance the
weight evenly.
The crankshaft is cold
rolled steel that has been painted to resist corrosion. Some models have
stainless steel crankshafts to resist corrosion in a salt-water environment. The
crankshaft is mounted on heavy ball bearings, for long life. The paddlewheel is
made of aluminum which is very strong and corrosion resistant. The steering is
made of heavy linkage and is designed to be extremely durable.
II.
TAKING DELIVERY
A. Upon
delivery of your Adventureglass Paddleboat you should receive:
1. 1 head
for your boat and/or set of wings, mast.
2. Owner's
manual.
B.
Transporting your boat
Always
face the bow ( front) of the boat towards the direction of travel
to prevent
the wind from catching the pedal compartment. Always tie your Adventureglass
paddleboat firmly to your vehicle / trailer.
III.
PRE-LAUNCHING CHECKS AND PROCEDURES
Install
the rudder. Be sure to check that the rudder moves freely and is
mounted properly.
C.
Check to
ensure the bow drain plugs are properly installed, and screwed in tightly. They
are located inside the tunnel, all the way to the front.
Check to
ensure the crankshaft and paddle wheel assembly turn freely.
And
the paddlewheel axle and rudder assembly is free of weeds, fishing
line etc.
E.
Move the
steering handle side to side to ensure the rudder moves freely. Note that the
steering has a positive stop. Take note of the steering limits and do not force
the handle beyond these limits.
IV.
LAUNCHING
A.
Before launching the boat, a number of safety procedures must be addressed.
1.
Review the passenger and weight capacity limitation. Ensure the loading will be
within these limits. Proper distribution of weight is necessary to ensure proper
balance (trim) and performance.
2.
Check the weather and water conditions. High winds, waves, strong currents or
tides may seriously affect your ability to steer the unit or travel the
necessary distance to shore. Fatigue from rapid and continuous pedaling to
overcome these forces may prevent you from returning to your point of
embarkation. Be sure to take these factors into consideration before launching
the boat.
3. Make
sure all passengers are wearing a certified Personal Flotation Device (life
jacket). Insist that all children wear a P.F.D.
B.
When launching the boat from shore with one person, lift and pull the boat
backwards into the water or better yet, turn the boat around, lift and push it
bow first into the water. The rudder is designed to kick out away from the boat
if it strikes an object when moving forward only. DO NOT push the boat backwards
into the water as the rudder may jam and bend the rudder shaft.
Use two
people to carry
the boat
to the water to prevent excessive hull abrasion over time and to protect the
rudder.
C.
Be especially conscious of shore condition. Sharp rocks, sharp edges on break
walls, concrete aprons, etc. can chafe the hull if you drag or slide the boat
over these surfaces.
D.
Make sure the rudder is installed properly and secured rudder failure will
result in the loss of your ability to steer.
E.
You may need to drain the boat of any accumulated condensation or water seepage.
Remove the bow drain plugs located at the bow inside the tunnel. Reinstall the
drain plugs. Make sure they are screwed in tightly
V.
BOARDING AND OPERATION
A. Use
caution when climbing aboard the boat. Step into the footwell or front seat
using your arms for additional support and balance so the boat remains stable.
Do not step on the rub rail or gunwale to board the boat. Make sure that you and
all passengers are wearing P.F.D.'s (life jackets). DO NOT hold on to steering
handle when boarding ( it is only designed for steering ).
B. Once
seated, begin pedaling in the direction you intend to travel and steer the craft
by grasping the steering handle. Positioning the steering handle in the center
will position the rudder straight fore and aft and will steer the craft
generally in a straight line direction.
VI.
SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM STORAGE
A.
Short term storage procedures are as follows: pull the boat from the water to
prevent a build up of algae and marine growth on the hull surface. Cover the
boat and remove drain plugs.
The boat
can be secured by running a cable or chain over the paddle wheel and looping it
around a stationary object and locking the two cable ends together.
B.
Storage of
your
Adventureglass paddleboat in the off season or for long periods of time requires
a little extra care. If it is to be stored outside, cover the boat and remove
the drain plugs. A coat of wax is extending the life of the fiberglass. Storage
inside is preferable.
Do not
stack heavy articles on top of the boat or set it on narrow supports, i.e. saw
horses. Additional weight and/or ports may cause damage to your paddleboat.
VII.
MAINTENANCE
Your
Adventureglass pedal boat is designed to provide years of enjoyable service
with a minimum of care. Here are some suggestions for proper maintenance.
A.
Cleaning
General
cleaning can be done with soap, water and Standard fiberglass cleaners. Be
sensitive to the environment and don't clean your boat in the lake. Clean it
away from the water. It is best to wax the boat after every wash, as well as
several times each year to keep the surface shiny, and to protect the boat from
the sun.
In salt water, barnacles
and other marine life will form on the hull surface if the boat is left in the
water over long periods of time Carefully scrape them off periodically. They
will be easier to remove if you keep them wet. Painting an antifouling bottom
preservative can help minimize barnacle build up.
B. Crank
and Bearing Maintenance
The crank
shaft has ball bearings on the inside and
Delrin
bearings on the outside. Grease the inside
Bearings
occasionally, and oil the outside bearings if
They
“squeak”.
Use an
oil-squirtcan to lubricate the rubber seals between the paddlewheel and the
crank compartment. This will prevent squeaking and deterioration of the rubber
seals.
However,
bushing life can be extended and the inevitable corrosion (rusting) of the crank
at the bearing surface can be retarded by using an oil squirt gun to apply some
oil on the crankshaft next to the paddlewheel inside the tunnel (underneath the
boat) or ultimately by disassembling the crank shaft from the paddle wheel axle
and lubricating the bearing surface of the crank shaft with a light application
of marine grease. A once a year application is usually adequate, depending on
the frequency of use. A fall application prior to storage will minimize
corrosion over the winter months.
Wax
your boat often using a good automotive or fiberglass wax, to keep the
fiberglass looking fresh.
More often in a sunny environment.
No other maintenance is
required other than keeping the unit clean by periodic washing and occasionally
draining any moisture that accumulates inside the boat (see pre-launch
procedures). Contact your dealer for service, replacement parts or accessories.
You can also contact Adventureglass directly for repair procedures, parts or
accessories by calling 1-800-566-2551
Instructions to adjust Drain Plug.
Loosen
lever A and remove drain plug.
Make sure
lever A is in the upright position ( loose).
Hold on to
bottom plate D , and tighten (screw counter clockwise) with lever A. Until the
rubber plug C gets squeezed between top plate B and bottom plate D.
This will
result in the rubber plug C expanding in the middle.
Make the
rubber plug fit snugly in the drain hole on the boat. Making sure the lever A is
in the upright (loose) position.
Insert
drain plug into drain hole on boat and push lever A down (tight) onto top plate
B.
The drain
plug should now be watertight.
If your
boat has the screw in type drain-plug always make sure it is screwed in
tightly. Also check the O– ring on the plug, to see if it is clean and in good
shape.
Short Maintenance list for Paddleboats.
Check Drain plugs so that
they are tight and don’t leak.
Check rudder.
Wax the paddleboats every
other month, to help prevent fading from sunlight.
A good way to get water out
of the paddleboats is to use a
hand
bilge pump (can be purchased from Adventure-glass) or a wet vac. it also cleans
the boats at the same time.
Clean canvas covers with
“armor all” or similar product.
Grease ball bearings at
cranks,
If the paddlewheel squeaks.
put a little oil on the rubber grommet where the paddlewheel shaft goes through
the body of the boat into the crank area. This will also extend the life of the
rubber seals.
Check the hull for scratches
or cracks.
Operators Check
List Paddleboats.
Get the most responsible
guests 1st name.
Write down name, time in and
time out on the time sheet.
Hold on to boat when helping
guests in.
ALWAYS LOAD EVENLY.
(A boat that is leaning
too much is Uncomfortable for the guest and can in extreme situations take in
water).
TELL GUEST: No
Bumping
No Leaning outside of boat
No Hands in water
Always sit down
Always
keep an eye on guests. Correct them if necessary. Make sure guests are sitting
down on the seats at all times.
If one guest is a lot heavier
than the others make sure the boat does not lean dangerously. Suggest the
heaviest guest lean towards the middle, if necessary.
When Time is out call guests
name to come in.
Help guest get paddleboat
into docking area.
Always hold on to boat when
guests disembark.
Help guest out of loading
area
Version 25
Printed in the USA
Needs Acrobat Reader
ADVENTUREGLASS
