Another tender question

[harvey38]

The dealer called me to say the Talamex 2.5m airdeck is temporarily out of stock but the aluminium floor version is available. I like the thoughts of one as I did question the robustness of an inflatable floor system but assume they must be OK as they seem so popular, I realise the aluminium version will add a bit of weight but for the additional £120, should I go for it?


I'm in no rush so happy to wait for the airdeck and no pressure from the dealer to buy either so your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

 

[Sandy]

If you are happy to wait why waste beer tokens?

 

[Stemar]

Assuming the ally deck is much the same as the wooden offerings, you'll get wet feet fairly regularly. The air deck has the advantage of keeping your feet out of the water that always collects in the bottom if it's breezy or rainy.

 

[dankilb]

The alu gives extra confidence and robustness if you’re a heavy tender user (25L jerrycans, spare outboard, toolboxes, etc.). It also feels a bit more ‘orderly’ if you’re loading to the max with adults, in outdoor shoes - that sort of thing…

We’ve got an air (V not deck) floor and that’s the only feeling I’ve been left with when comparing others’ alu floors. Purely subjective of course - and we’re totally marina based so very rarely does the tender need to carry heavy or awkward loads.

 

[vyv_cox]

We have owned Airdeck dinghies since 2004. Living aboard for half the year they have been well-used. No question in my mind about their robustness.

 

[dankilb]

Assuming the ally deck is much the same as the wooden offerings, you'll get wet feet fairly regularly. The air deck has the advantage of keeping your feet out of the water that always collects in the bottom if it's breezy or rainy.

It shouldn’t - because there’s an inflatable sausage below the floor and water drains into that space. All the ‘decks’ are designed to do the same job (flat surface above the sausage) on these designs.

 

[ash2020]

I now have a large-ish Yamaha with an airdeck floor and it is the best decision I ever made. I would never, ever go back to slats any more, aluminium or ply.

 

[James_Calvert]

Experience as an occasional scrambler over the 5 or so deep tender rafts at Whitestrand, Salcombe is that a softly inflated airdeck guarantees wet feet as you pass across it. Other stiffening systems give you some chance (if you are agile enough) to keep deckshoes dry.

But none of the contributors above will ever leave their dinghy in that condition, will they?

 

[harvey38]

I forgot to add its an inflatable, air v hull if it makes any difference

I've currently got a 2.7 aluminium hulled RIB, too heavy and too big, I had a 2.4 Seago with a slatted floor, it felt like I was standing on a Pannacotta, all wobbly, a tad too small and felt like bottom of the boat stuck to the water, ie too much drag for the 2.5hp,four stroke.

I thought the air deck would wear quite easily but as we only use it to transport people and not tools/fuel etc, it seems an aluminium floor might not be worth the extra spends after all.

 

[doug748]

Rigid floors are only a challenge to your ingenuity if you regularly deflate and store the thing. Aluminium for me, zero maintenance can't deflate. last forever will shrug off poor treatment.

 

[vyv_cox]

Experience as an occasional scrambler over the 5 or so deep tender rafts at Whitestrand, Salcombe is that a softly inflated airdeck guarantees wet feet as you pass across it. Other stiffening systems give you some chance (if you are agile enough) to keep deckshoes dry.

But none of the contributors above will ever leave their dinghy in that condition, will they?

An airdeck inflated to the recommended pressure is remarkably stiff. I find I cannot reach much more than half the recommendation using a stirrup-pump type inflator. No doubt if I used my similar style bike pump I could reach it , or use one of the two-stage foot pumps although I don't own one.

 

[dankilb]

As an air floor owner - I do agree that they're remarkably rigid and usable. I don't think robustness is an issue in terms of damage/longevity.

I do think there are a combination of factors in which the alu has an edge - as alluded to above - inc: If kept inflated/on davits; if often loaded towards the max with things like fuel cans; if you think you might feel the need to hurl sharp tools in or walk straight off a broken glass/metal swarf strewn surface in your work boats...!

I appreciate these are quite niche requirements (but might come into their own if - say - on a mid-stream mooring).

 

[Bodach na mara]

I had an air floor for my last Avon Redcrest but that dinghy was sold with my last boat. My current Redcrest has a plywood floor and I relived the wet shoes experience in the first year with it. Then I was in a pound shop and saw swimming noodles. I invested £4 and now place the 4 of them below the floor to create a sump for any water that collects. The system works well but with limitations on the volume of water that it can cope with.

I still miss my airdeck though.

 

[Graham376]

We prefer the ally floors to airdecks, they stand up better to bikes and other abuse. If you need to deflate/roll it up, stay with airdeck.

 

[harvey38]

Thanks all,

Reckon I'll wait for the airdeck to come back in stock.

As always, I appreciate you all taking the time to respond and share your knowledge

Cheers
Rob

 

[rotrax]

Thanks all,

Reckon I'll wait for the airdeck to come back in stock.

As always, I appreciate you all taking the time to respond and share your knowledge

Cheers
Rob

We are very happy with our Talamex inflatable floor model. Only 14kgs so it is easier to lift on our pilothouse roof where we store it.

We have dry feet and a stable ride.

Barrus are the UK Distributor and when we noticed a tiny defect in the material, no leak, just a tiny white mark, they replaced it really fast.

The Weymouth Chandler from whom it was purchased was useless. Kept promising call backs which never came.

 

[DipperToo]

We are very happy with our Talamex inflatable floor model. Only 14kgs so it is easier to lift on our pilothouse roof where we store it.

We have dry feet and a stable ride.

Barrus are the UK Distributor and when we noticed a tiny defect in the material, no leak, just a tiny white mark, they replaced it really fast.

The Weymouth Chandler from whom it was purchased was useless. Kept promising call backs which never came.

I bought mine from Marine store ( https://marinestore.co.uk/ ) - very good price and excellent service as I had a very slow leaking valve in one of the chambers. They not only arranged for Barrus to replace the suspect valve but Barrus also sent me the overpressure release valve as well.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have also had excellent service from Barrus. When I told them of our poor experience and dissatisfaction with our SunSport tender, not bought direct from them, they offered a substantial discount on a new Quicksilver.

They had previously replaced foc the Airdeck on our earlier Quicksilver when it went sticky more than five years after our purchase.