Advice on buying new inflatable

[m1taylor]

Hi,

I am looking for a new inflatable small tender with the following spec:

Should be light and very easy to store
Preferable with inflatable keel
Good value for money (so don't want to pay for Hyperlon)
2.3 or 2.6 metres

Any recommendations? Most small tenders seem to have slatted floors - are there any with inflatable keels which I understand have the advantage of rowing/steering more easily, and storing more easily having fewer solid parts.



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[TonyMS]

YM did a review a year or so ago and recommended the Suzemar (owned by Suziki).

I bought one, 2.65m I think, for less than £500, and am very pleased with it.

Tony

<hr width=100% size=1>www.montgomery-smith.org

 

[andy_wilson]

I've had a Suzumar 265 for 2 and a half seasons now.

They agreed with my research when they made it the best buy in the tests. Infl. keel and airdeck. Rows good, planes with me and a load of kit (or my daughter) using a Johnson 3.3hp xl shaft (Old Sailmaster 4). Will take up to 8 hp which is a guide to the strength of build.

It's roomy, bigger tube diameter than most, very bouyant (has carried me, daughter, 2 X grandparents and a springer spaniel - equivalent to 3 adults and 2 children say) with no panic.

HOWEVER

It is built like a brick whotsit. It is still large when folded, weighs a ton.

It has been hammered up the slip and beached loads without undue damage. The protective keel strips are well placed. It has spray rails all round and spray deflectors at the transom (particularly important, even if you don't plane). V. strong ropes all round and well placed carrying handles.

Thwart and oars are well positioned for rowing.

I doubt you will better this one (except for the weight), but check out all the options from engine makers (SUZ, YAM, Quicksilver). They make well spec'ed inflatables, at good prices, built to take a decent motor. Reason? They want to sell horsepower. They are almost loss leaders. Wetlines Quaylines Plastimo etc. don't have the same agenda. I found them far less substantial £ for £. Avon and Zodiak are on a different planet price wise.

Hypalon may be the stuff for high UV exposure resistance. Mine (PVC) has been outdoors almost all it's life and shows no sign of degradation.

Stunning value.

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[andyball]

lodestar do an ultralight model w/inflatable floor/keel. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.lodestardirect.co.uk/index.php> lodestar</A>

the 220 weighs 19Kg & has surprising space inside presumably 'cos no pointy bits on tube ends so more of the 220 is actual space.

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[gasax]

Think about the models without a flat transom - they are generally very much lighter, size for size. Obviously they will barely plane and generally need(?) smaller engines. But if weight is the enemy....

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[Robin]

If this is a tender to be used on your Silhouette then I would think your first consideration has to be stowage on board, both size and weight.

The smallest and lightest will be ones (doughnuts) without a rigid transom, keel or floor such as the Avon Redcrest type. These have the added advantage that with their compartments front and back as opposed to running fore and aft, they can be carried on deck folded in half with one half deflated saving re-inflation time and effort and giving some safety as well (will support 2 or 3 people). We had Avons for years and have just given away a pefectly serviceable Redcrest bought in 1973 for use on a Tucker designed Debutante. We still have a Redseal (10ft) which has only been relegated to spare this year, in favour of an inflatable floor Zodiac.

Next up will be the rigid transom models. The smallest & lightest will be the slatted floor models, inflated floors surprisingly are heavier and heavier still with an inflatable keel. The rigid transom will decide the size when deflated although Plastimo do one with an inflatable transom like the floor.

You get what you pay for pretty much. A secondhand Avon might be a good buy even though they hold their prices. If you want to make a Redcrest row better all it needs is longer oars, jointed ones take up little space, these are 'proper' oars too not the aluminium toys that others come with. If you must have a rigid transom type then look at Bombard, Zodiac, Plastimo and so on but the inflatable floor and keel options will add to both weight and cost.

This is an area where everything is a compromise, we were well served over 30 years with Avon doughnuts but have now gone rigid transom inflated floor & keel Zodiac, but we have space on deck if required to carry it fully inflated. It rows OK, but no better than the Avons did (crap aluminum oars don't help) but it motors better and the rigid floor is a definite plus.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Plastimo and Zodiac both have inflatable keel dinghies in their ranges, though small RIBs tend to be all the rage now.

I doubt you'll find what you're looking for in the cheapy ranges though.

Why not go for a plastic inflatable boat? They have the major advantage of low cost.

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[Brian_B]

We've used a Zodiac Cadet 200 with a slatted floor for the past 18 months for trips to the pub and running the dog ashore.
I'm having the valves replaced as I've cross threaded one but apart from that it's been very sturdy.
It's also comparatively light, about 25kg when packed.

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[Cantata]

It seems that 'light' and 'inflatable keel' do not go together.
In 'Sailing Today' December issue there was a short review of the Quicksilver 240 'roll-up' with slatted floor (and hard transom). It weighs only 17kg. We bought one of these this year, precisely because of the light weight. Inflatable keel/floor jobbies mostly seem to weigh in over 25kg and often at least 30kg. Too much for this old couple to heave out of a locker. Very pleased with the Quicksilver altho pricier than some.

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[pandroid]

We did the rounds at last years boatshow trying to get the best deal. We ended up with a Lodestar as they negotiated on price and threw in some xtras.

We previously had a redcrest, and I wanted something with a rigid floor that drained properly and ideally would be smaller to fit into the locker, so one main criteria was how small it folded up (we tested it at the boatshow).

In practice, its a better tender, but its not much smaller (in fact slightly more difficult to stow) and the effort of getting it up and down (inflatable keel, inflatable floor etc) means you once up, you tend to leave it up.

My advice is wait till the boatshow and then play the vendors off on price. There's not a lot to choose between the smaller (PVC) ones in terms of frills and build.

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[seumask]

We bought a Wetline 230 R, Cheap at £400, is the donught type with an air deck floor, no keel though but your feet tend to stay dry. For us it was important that it folded small which it does as it has no built in transom only as plank seat. We have had it for two years now and are very pleased with it, takes 4 at a push, 3 comfortably, and goes well with our Honda 2 HP.

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[m1taylor]

Some really useful replies in this thread - thanks to all the contributors as ever. I guess the consensus is that inflatables keels, in general, add significant weight over slatted floors, and also cost. So, if I went for a slatted floor, what would I be missing out on? Would I really notice?



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[Robin]

Slatted floors were in fact the recommended option when one of the French mags did a huge tender test, although they liked the blow up floors the extra price they said was out of proportion to the benefit, and they were heavier. The slatted floor gives a stable platform but any spray coming over will still puddle in the bottom. The inflated floor is higher and spray will go under it leaving the floor dry. In our case and hang the extra expense, we bought a Zodiac Fastroller with inflatable floor and keel which also has a self baler valve which when opened lets any water out whilst under way.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[richardabeattie]

New one? I still have a serviceable Avon with brass valves and a wooden belows type air pump.

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[samuel]

Whatever you do, do not buy a Wetline ( deathtrap 2000 would be a better name) I have a 30 year old redcrest but as I wanted to go on long cruise I my new yacht I thought I ought to get a new dinghy. The Avon I have is my second & the first lasted at lasted 12 years.
When I bought the wetline I was assured it was OK for 2 persons. This is rubbish when my son sat in the back it sank below the water & flooded the dinghy.
I got the rubber transom rather than the rigid one as the rubber transom gives more leg room for rowing. The seat on the wetline is wood & is placed rather high( In an Avon you can deflate the seat a bit to sit lower down. This is important as when you go to row the oars have to be lifted clear of any waves on the back stroke. The oars have a fixed pivot point so the hand grips cannot be pushed apart. As a result the handles hit my knees. I cannot sit lower, I cannot push the handles apart wide enough to miss my knees. So I cannot row in rough water.
I have a mooring 400 yds offshore & hardly ever use an outboard to ferry crew back & forward ( I do have one) & enjoy the row-- But not in a wetline
The next problem is thatin rough water on the mooring if the dinghy hits the side of the yacht hard the side flexes & the seat jumps out of its mounting.
As a motor boat it goes much faster than the Avon with a seagull 40+ but it is so dodgy that I still use the Avon & the wetline now sits in the garage as a waste of money.
If you buy a dinghy inflate it in the shop & try a practice row & see how far you can lift the oars from the water. & if they foul your knees. I notice none of the magazines seem to address the problem of rowing in rough water
I chose a rubber transom as apart from leg length I thought there would be more volume. Not sure if this was correct.
The next tender will be an Avon but only when the present one wears out in 20 years time.

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[ditchcrawler]

The Wetline 230 with inflatable floor weighs circa 19kilos & has a straight transome.I store the floor separately which makes it even easier to lug about with my bad back.I paid £449 for mine this year.

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[machurley22]

Have to agree with Richard. Dinghies are definitely a case where "buy cheap buy twice" is the rule unless you can buy secondhand. My elderly Avon Redstart cost £150 with wooden floor, outboard bracket, and beautiful 2-part wooden oars and it still looks like I'll be able to leave it to the grandchildren.

Dave

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[ex-Gladys]

Couldn't agree more... bought a used Redcrest fro £180, at least 25 yrs old, looks good for several more years. HAd a Narwhal that came with the boat and was only 10 yrs old, inflated it pre-season and the main seam on one side gave up.... That gave me loads of issues so it got binned

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[joecham]

I bought a Bombard AX3 2.6m with inflatable floor and keel about 4 yrs ago. It has had quite a lot of use but still looks like new - very pleased with it. Bombard is the Zodiac cheap range, and I'm told it uses the same quality of materials. The inflatable floor and keel adds about £150 to the price, but is worth it - the floor curves upwards slightly so all water inside runs to the edges and underneath (no more wet feet) and the whole things stands out of the water much higher than a normal floor, so you get a drier ride. The Bombard folds up very easily and has a clever bag arrangement - it is also acceptably light for humping about - and folds to a reasonably compact size (for a 2.6 anyway). It has nice large tubes and I have had 5 adults in it - probably unadvisably - in a fairly choppy harbour - without a problem (although it is really rated for 3.5 people). I did have a problem with one of the rowlock attachments, which I replaced, but they have changed the design of this now. They also make a 2.3m version called the AX2 - I have been in one of these once, quite cramped, just about ok for 3 people on a calm day.

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[joecham]

If you go to the Channel Islands or the Scillies, you will see a lot of Bombards, not many XMs or Wetlines...

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