How To Guides
- How to undertake a professional quality repair of your PVC or Hypalon RIB, inflatable boat and SIB tubes
- How to clean inflatable boats, protect RIB collars, tubes and sponsons, clean Hypalon and PVC inflatable boat fabric
- How to find a leak in my inflatable boat, RIB, dinghy, life raft or inflatable kayak collar or tubes
- How to fit a replacement screw-in type inflatable boat, rigid inflatable boat (RIB) or dinghy inflation deflation valve
- How to fix or glue inflatable boat PVC fabric patches and accessories to Hypalon fabric RIB collars and tubes (and vice versa)
- How to identify the fabric of your RIB, inflatable boat, dinghy, life raft or inflatable kayak collar, tube or sponson. Hypalon or PVC?
- How to repair inflatable boat, RIB, RHIB, SIB and kayak collars, inflation tubes or sponsons
- How to replace a Leafield Marine A4 inflation/deflation valve older inflatable boats, RIBs, RHIBs and dinghies
- How to replace an inflatable boat valve
- How to service and/or fit a replacement diaphragm to the Alfons Haar type SF1 inflation valve
- How to service or repair the Leafield Marine A7 or B7 inflatable boat valve
- How to service or repair the Leafield Marine C7 inflatable boat valve
- How to clean your RIB with August Race products
- How to winterise and store inboard engines and outboard engines
- How to make an emergency repair using TEAR-AID® Type A to a Hypalon inflatable boat, RIB, raft and other Hypalon / rubber inflatable structures
- How to make an emergency repair using TEAR-AID® Type B to a PVC inflatable boat, RIB, raft and other PVC / vinyl structures
- How to check your lifejacket
- How to install a TRIB airCap HR
- How to install a TRIB airCap LF for Leafield Marine C7 & D7 valves
- How to store your inflatable boat over winter
- How to look after and maintain the ropes on your boat
RIBs & Inflatable Boats
Safety Data Sheets
Blog
How to replace a Leafield Marine A4 inflation/deflation valve older inflatable boats, RIBs, RHIBs and dinghies
The A4 inflatable boat or life raft valve was manufactured by Leafield Marine and fitted as standard to early Avon inflatable boats and life rafts along with Humber and Dunlop boats. The A4 is a simple, yet robust, inflation valve that is bonded directly to the boat’s inflation tube or collar. The valve body and cap are made of moulded neoprene rubber so that they are flexible and can take the knocks from diving or fishing gear. The A4 valve cap includes a pin which is used to deflate the valve by inserting it into the valve to open the spring-loaded diaphragm.
The A4 valve has been superseded by newer Leafield Marine models that are lower in profile and easier to maintain, e.g. easier access to the rear of the valve to replace the diaphragm. However, the A4 remains a high-quality inflatable boat inflate/deflate valve that has stood the test of time.
www.ribstore.co.uk supplies new replacement parts for the A4 valve (see the corresponding product reference numbers alongside the diagram above).
Need to replace your A4 inflation valve with a modern version?
It can be easier, and sometimes cheaper, to replace your existing A4 valve with a modern Leafield Marine C7 or D7 inflation valve combined with a fabric valve aperture reinforcing patch (a ‘valve doubler’) that is the same colour as your tube fabric. This is a fairly simple DIY job and a guide is available at https://www.ribstore.co.uk/pages/advice-information
B8904003A41-REV01D
B93170-REV0A
A10042-REV02
View & Download a PDF Version of this Guide HOW TO Leafield Marine A4 Valve