Avon 7 tender - Wise buy?

[Ru88ell]

I just made a snap decision to put in a low bid on an Avon 7 inflatable dinghy / tender on Ebay - and won it. It doesn't look like it's been used much; having apparently been stowed for emergency use.

I can't find much on the net about the Avon 7. There's stuff on the Redstart and the Redcrest, and that's it.

Does anyone know anything about them? Good? Bad? I'm guessing it's 7' long, but would really like to know the beam, weight and packed size.

Any help appreciated.

Russell

 

[PlankWalker]

I believe it was the budget version of the Redstart.

Same tubes, valves and black rubber bits, but it had a thin red rubbing strake instead of the thick yellow one, and a red plywood seat instead of the inflatable one.

I've had my Avon 9 for more than 30 years and its still going strong

 

[Pye_End]

and a red plywood seat instead of the inflatable one.

My Avon 7 has a yellow grp seat!

Good boat, and still going strong - about 20 years old.

 

[VicS]

Congrats on getting an Avon at a low price. Very wise buy!

As suggested above produced as a budget version of the Redstart. Introduced I believe in about 1991.

A little shorter with a square bow rather than the pointed bow that the Redstart had.
No bow-dodger was available .
It had a single GRP thwart rather than an inflatable one and optional rigid one.
Ply floor-boards were not available. ??

From a 1991 (?) catalogue

 

[Ru88ell]

That's brilliant Vic. Thanks!

It doesn't have the GRP thwart though. Pye_End is going to get me the dimensions of his and I'll try and make one out of ply.

You can never ask the wrong question on this forum. Thanks again.

 

[VicS]

That's brilliant Vic. Thanks!

It doesn't have the GRP thwart though. Pye_End is going to get me the dimensions of his and I'll try and make one out of ply.

You can never ask the wrong question on this forum. Thanks again.

I think you can buy the GRP thwarts from Polymarine ( I have not checked though) but they wont be cheap I guess.

 

[Ru88ell]

I collected this Avon 7 from the seller today. I can't believe my luck - it's barely been used. Once I've given it a wipe down tomorrow it'll look like new, as it seems to have spent most of its 11 years in a locker.

Definitely one of my best Ebay purchases.

 

[VicS]

I collected this Avon 7 from the seller today. I can't believe my luck - it's barely been used. Once I've given it a wipe down tomorrow it'll look like new, as it seems to have spent most of its 11 years in a locker.

Definitely one of my best Ebay purchases.

You never told us how much you paid for it!

 

[Ru88ell]

£116

 

[VicS]

£116

You didn't buy it .... you stole it!

You did better than me. I bought a 5 year old Avon Typhoon 240 that had only been used 4 times as beach toy for £99 but of course its not hypalon.

( Still only been used 4 times its too big and too heavy for me )

 

[Ru88ell]

You didn't buy it .... you stole it!

That's what I think too. It was badly described, and in the wrong section. I would have paid double.

 

[V1701]

I paid £260 for a lightly used Redcrest which I consider was a good buy, will last much longer than a new cheapie & someone probably paid a 4 figure sum for it...

 

[floebs]

That's what I think too. It was badly described, and in the wrong section. I would have paid double.

I was watching this too, looks like you got a great deal!! I already own a Redcrest, so for me it was clearly a case of Ebayitus! Mine (luckily) came with the boat, but looking at it now, I reckon it wouldnt be too difficult for you to fabricate that fibreglass seat yourself, once you get the measurements - its a simple slot in thing. Good luck and enjoy your new toy!