Airdeck tender info

[harvey38]

Hi all,

I have an old, aluminium. 2.7m RIB that is quite tired and has to be manhandled onto the coachroof of the boat so quite heavy and awkward.

I'm looking at getting a new 2.5m/2.7m airdeck with inflatable keel that can be completely deflated to store easily but so many different brands , Seago, Waveline, Talamax, Waveco etc. Most offer a three or four year warranty on material and seams but is there any particular brand to avoid or recommend?

I'm kicking myself as I didn't spend enough time at a stand at Boatlife who had a good range of tenders on show and I didn't even get a card so don't know the suppliers name

I have a max. budget of £600.

Thoughts and comments would be most appreciated.

 

[oldgit]

Have at present couple of airdeck inflatables from different manufacturers plus have fairly recently disposed of another couple of slatted floor type dinghies.
Would suggest that price is very good indication of build quality.
A further observation, choice of size ?
Smaller of our two airdecks fits on the swim platform , is fairly easy to manhandle and does not take up the entire platfrom. Its bit skittish to get in or out.
The bigger dinghy is far more stable and with heavier materials , however its heavy and takes up all the space on the platform.
Both are secured by snap davits ,a vast and simple improvement on the normal PITA davits on previous boats.

 

[harvey38]

Have at present couple of airdeck inflatables from different manufacturers plus have fairly recently disposed of another couple of slatted floor type dinghies.
Would suggest that price is very good indication of build quality.
A further observation, choice of size ?
Smaller of our two airdecks fits on the swim platform , is fairly easy to manhandle and does not take up the entire platfrom. Its bit skittish to get in or out.
The bigger dinghy is far more stable and with heavier materials , however its heavy and takes up all the space on the platform.
Both are secured by snap davits ,a vast and simple improvement on the normal PITA davits on previous boats.

Thanks for the info.

When we are on the boat, it will be stored on the coach roof as I don't like davits due to the layout of the boat, we have a 2.5HP four stroke I plan to use.

 

[Sandy]

I played with one of these last summer and was impressed.

Talamex Aqualine QLA 2.7m Air Deck Inflatable Dinghy

and have just bought one for the boat, just in your budget.

 

[vyv_cox]

I owned a Quicksilver 280 for more than 10 years. For most of that time it was kept inflated in the Mediterranean sunshine. I only sold it because it was a bit too big for our foredeck, forcing us mostly to tow it.
I replaced it with a SunSport 230, nominally the same dinghy under a different name. It was dreadful, always leaked despite valve changes. After two years I sold it and bought a Quicksilver 240. An excellent dinghy.
All were Airdecks.

 

[oldgit]

Thanks for the info.

When we are on the boat, it will be stored on the coach roof as I don't like davits due to the layout of the boat, we have a 2.5HP four stroke I plan to use.

The smaller inflateable can and is hauled out onto the foredeck roof and on occasion even up onto the sun pad at the rear of the flybridge.
The big one goes nowhere.
A previous dinghy (Honwave) sold with last boat did split along a seam at the rubbing band, it proved almost impossible to repair properly.
Another dinghy failed at the sticky out bit at end of tube.
It was otherwise a well constructed stable beauty of a dinghy.
My collection of stuff is now down to two inflatables and a only two kayaks.
The car of course is homeless.

 

[doug748]

Hi all,

I have an old, aluminium. 2.7m RIB that is quite tired and has to be manhandled onto the coachroof of the boat so quite heavy and awkward.

I'm looking at getting a new 2.5m/2.7m airdeck with inflatable keel that can be completely deflated to store easily but so many different brands , Seago, Waveline, Talamax, Waveco etc. Most offer a three or four year warranty on material and seams but is there any particular brand to avoid or recommend?

I'm kicking myself as I didn't spend enough time at a stand at Boatlife who had a good range of tenders on show and I didn't even get a card so don't know the suppliers name

I have a max. budget of £600.

Thoughts and comments would be most appreciated.

I would buy used. This is on Ebay at the moment at £330:

Avon Rover 2.60 Air inflatable dinghy | eBay

There is a larger one as well, they come up regularly and would probably last you for twenty years.

.

 

[harvey38]

I would buy used. This is on Ebay at the moment at £330:

Avon Rover 2.60 Air inflatable dinghy | eBay

There is a larger one as well, they come up regularly and would probably last you for twenty years.

.

Not keen on Ebay and was hoping to buy new but appreciate your input

 

[Graham376]

I played with one of these last summer and was impressed.

Talamex Aqualine QLA 2.7m Air Deck Inflatable Dinghy

and have just bought one for the boat, just in your budget.

A couple of friends have the aluminium floor version of that and they're well satisfied, only reason I didn't buy one is the limited engine size. Our last Waveline lasted us 10 years but with chaps to protect tubes, still in service with another owner. Now have Arimar Classic 270 with aluminium floor and happy with it so far, I think they do an air-deck version as well.

 

[CJ13]

We‘ve had a Zodiac 2.7 air deck, new in 2012, in the Med Sun. Still in great condition, but probably over your price range. You do tend to get what you pay for!

 

[ashtead]

Is weight a consideration ? We have a Quiicksilver dating from 2001 no issues to date but it’s kept deflated in a locker most of time but it is heavy to manoeuvre although we use a halyard to winch into the locker. We also have a smaller seago , far lighter but much smaller and really only takes 2 plus a dog .

 

[DipperToo]

I played with one of these last summer and was impressed.

Talamex Aqualine QLA 2.7m Air Deck Inflatable Dinghy

and have just bought one for the boat, just in your budget.

I bought a Talamex Comfortline (Airdeck) 250 last year and am very pleased. I think these are made at the same factory in China as Quicksilver?

 

[harvey38]

I played with one of these last summer and was impressed.

Talamex Aqualine QLA 2.7m Air Deck Inflatable Dinghy

and have just bought one for the boat, just in your budget.

Just purchased the 2.5M version for £519.00 new so very happy.

Thank you all for you input.

 

[Beneteau381]

Just purchased the 2.5M version for £519.00 new so very happy.

Thank you all for you input.

I bought one of these last year. Seems v good. Lighter than the old Plastimo. Had an issue with the thread of one of the rowlocks, it was too small in diameter! The plastic threaded knob just span around. I kept it in its wrap bag on the sugar scoop in the marina in Portugal. The straps turned to dust in less than three months! I contacted the dealer in Ayamonte, she was superb. We had a new bag and rowlock immediately. My wife had a bit of blue dodger material so she made a simple duffle type bag which it now is stored in. The wrap bag is kept in a locker for best!