Ama's and High Elevation

Not sure if anyone else has taken their AI's up to higher elevation like I did last weekend, but I noticed something odd with my Ama's when I went to launch at Pinecrest lake.  There were bubbles coming out of the drain plugs which made me abort my launch and return to shore and investigate. 

As I unturned the drain plugs a whoooooosh of air came flying out from the pressure inside.  Once I got home from the trip I took a look at my Ama's again, and now they were dented inward from the pressure.  They were OK once I pulled the plugs and left then in the sun for a few hours.  Probably should have left the drain plugs undone while traveling up and down in elevation.

Here are them side by side after I got home, with one still dented inward from the pressure on the left:

Seems like two separate issues - air bubbling out is consistent with high elevations as air would expand... however, your ama is dented inwards... indicative of the opposite.

Did you put the drain plug in before driving home?  The trip back down to lower elevations (air volume contracting) would be a more likely cause for the inward flexing.



For well-sealed drain plugs, large climate differences will sometimes generate similar effects.

Well at least you know they are water/air tight. 

Same thing happens to water bottles,bag chips, ETC. It is normal because of the elevation change.

Science is cool.

I've never taken my AI to higher elevation. I store mine with all drain plugs open.  Even in my usually cool garage I have experienced air pressure building inside the ama's when the temps go up.

Seems like two separate issues - air bubbling out is consistent with high elevations as air would expand... however, your ama is dented inwards... indicative of the opposite.

Did you put the drain plug in before driving home?  The trip back down to lower elevations (air volume contracting) would be a more likely cause for the inward flexing.



For well-sealed drain plugs, large climate differences will sometimes generate similar effects.

I didn't take a pic of the ama's when they were over inflated, cause you couldn't really tell.  Thats a pic of when I got home, and they were dented inwards, because I left the drain plugs in.  Sorry if I wasn't clear before.

How high is the elevation there?  The pressure increases 1psi every 33ft raise in elevation. For example if the elevation there is 3300ft the pressure would increase by 100psi.

I think Pinecrest is around 4000ft elevation.

Seems like two separate issues - air bubbling out is consistent with high elevations as air would expand... however, your ama is dented inwards... indicative of the opposite.

Did you put the drain plug in before driving home?  The trip back down to lower elevations (air volume contracting) would be a more likely cause for the inward flexing.



For well-sealed drain plugs, large climate differences will sometimes generate similar effects.

I didn't take a pic of the ama's when they were over inflated, cause you couldn't really tell.  Thats a pic of when I got home, and they were dented inwards, because I left the drain plugs in.  Sorry if I wasn't clear before.

Then yup, it makes perfect sense... as abdiver said, at least you know the seals are really quality!   

Gotta watch the wheels on the Wheeleze too.

Good to know Al. Didn't think of that. A friend once had his float tube blow up from altiutude. Mike your right about the wheeleze. They are so soft they really change with the heat of altitude.

Science is cool.

+1

How high is the elevation there?  The pressure increases 1psi every 33ft raise in elevation. For example if the elevation there is 3300ft the pressure would increase by 100psi.

Air pressure decreases with altitude....not linear either. The difference between sea level and 4000 is something around 2 psi


You might be thinking of pressure diff in water?

If you've ever purchased a bag of potato chips in Sac, then driven to Tahoe, you've seen how much the bag puffs up.
Drink a bottle of water in Tahoe, put the cap back on the bottle and drive down to Sac, the bottle is dented in.
Same thing happens with the amas.