Air-deck inflatables - stability problem?

[cliffb]

I've decided to bite the bullet and replace my 2.6mt Avon roundtail slatted floor inflatable. I was leaning toward a similar sized air-deck, but a guy I spoke to recently reckoned he preferred the slated floor as he found the air-decks not so stable. Anyone got any views on this?
Of course... if I'm honest I'd rather have a rib type, mainly because my usual use for the inflatable involves beaching it on shingle or rock and I think this may have led to the demise of my Avon. But the weight..(and cost) of rib types is a bit of an issue. Am I being silly here? Is the rib type the only feasible way to go?
Also.... whilst asking... Any recommendations on makes gratefully received.
Thanks all.

 

[ChrisE]

Well for once I'm the expert here, as I have a fast roller 3.4 m with an air deck and an Avon 2.8 with a slatted floor. Both make stable platforms, both plane. Clearly you have to be a *bit* circumspect with both when dragging up the beach as they have rubber/ plastic rather GRP hulls but both have been subject to a fair bit of abuse by yours truly over the past 5 or so years and other than the odd patch still as good as new.

In short I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[nickcred]

Have a 2.7 metre quicksilver airdeck and its been great. Not had any stability problems and its lighter into the bargin

 

[michael_w]

On my old boat I had an air deck Zodiac bought at a boat jumble.

No more soggy feet and shopping more of a solid feel than a slatty one, except when the whole bottom of the boat started to come away from the tubes.

I'd have another without hesitation, though probably not a Zodiac.

 

[billgray]

I have a slatted floor Avon 2.5 purchased approx 6 years ago. Two of the slats snapped about 2 years ago so while considering my options to replace the slats realised that I could buy an inflatable floor. Although pricey we have never looked back. Dry knees and luggage, better stability when standing to get in or out and no issues with towing, rowing or motoring. The downside is the slight increase in weight for handling ashore. I also have to drag the dinghy up the often jaggy beach myself, but depend on the hardwearing properties of Avon fabric.
Maggie (Bill's SWMBO)

 

[boatmike]

I have an Avon RIBLite which is superb and similar weight to an inflatable. More expensive certainly but well worth the extra

 

[pappaecho]

If you are going froma roundtail, which stores easily on board to a rib type which usually does not, it may be worth asking where you will store it and will it fit? ( bearing in mind that the actual storage volume will be 20% more than when you get it from the maker, and it has not be uncompressed before....)

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I have a waveline 2.7 air deck with inflatable keel, the latter I dont use if on my own and using outboard as I find it raises the bow too high unless well ballasted with gear etc. but will use infl keel if rowing.
Can only take it out when there is enough water to get alongside the jetty at my mooring place, or else it would be cut to peices on rocks, shells and of course buckfast bottles.

 

[Gazza]

I got a small Waveline round-tail with an air deck last year, and have found it fine in terms of stability. Need to take care dragging it up the beach, but it's pretty light, an important issue if you're singlehanding.
The only slight criticism is that it seems to be a little light at the bow, making sitting centrally vital (great fun with a 2hp Honda that requires turning around to get reverse!)
On a broader issue, I've been told that the engine brackets need to be stainless steel rather than powder coated as they are much more durable.

 

[Billjratt]

had an avon rover 2.5 with home-made slatted floor, planed with a 5-horse- exciting, (for an over-60s person). it was easy to pull up on the shingle and never had a puncture in about 18 yrs. Now have a 2.75 rib which is more stable and SWMBO swears by it. BUT we frequently go into cardiac arrest on the beach.......and need davits on the boat.

 

[waterboy]

One point is that the airdeck is so much dryer should any water get in the boat especially if the boat has an inflatable keel.

 

[KevB]

[ QUOTE ]
but a guy I spoke to recently reckoned he preferred the slated floor as he found the air-decks not so stable

[/ QUOTE ]

He hasn't inflated his to the correct presuure I would imagine. They are designed to be fairly hard and not soft and squidgy..

 

[rhumlady]

Pump up the airdeck then the keel, if you have one, and it will be pretty rigid.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Not just fairly hard, think they're supposed to be very hard, harder than the foot pump can get them. Need to be finished off with a suitable higher pressure hand pump. Makes a big difference.

 

[Robin]

Yes they need to be very hard. Our Zodiac Fastroller instructions say inflate the floor and keel first (the two are linked), then the tubes. We use a LVM electric thingy which does nearly all the work on the tubes but the floor does need to be finished off with the foot pump. The standard Zodiac pump works, as does our old 2 gear Avon 'Bravo' one, but we bought a Zodiac 3 gear footpump when in France that in low gear makes getting the floor really hard that much easier. I have to say for occasional use for short trips I'm lazy and don't get the floor right up, it is still streets ahead of a slatted floor and plenty stable. If the dinghy is staying up for longer or used for a longer trip under motor then the floor gets the full treatment.