Avon tender advice sought

[Kukri]

I am slowly getting round to getting a secondhand second tender - have a very nice Nutshell and I want to add an Avon - specifically an Avon - as a second tender. I have developed a lot of confidence in Avons after decades with Redstarts/seals/crests, including an Ancient Black One. But this time I think I want a solid transom type that can plane, as my mooring is seven leagues from the clubhouse. I am not in a hurry and would prefer to get the dinghy/outboard combination right.

I am now baffled by the range of choices on offer and by the seeming change of material.

So far as I can see, there are "proper RIBs" (stowage issues) there are "RIB Lites" which pack away to some extent and which I could accomodate on board (but they seem as scarce as hen's teeth!) then there are inflatables of which some have soft floors with ply floorboards, some have inflatable keels with ply floorboards and some have inflatable keels and an inflatable floor.

At some point Avon were taken over by Zodiac, at some point the diameter of the tubes increased, at some point the Hypalon material changed colour from dark grey to pale grey or white. I recall from somewhere that someone said that the newer material might not survive quite as well as the older dark grey material. Is this right?

Could some kind people tell me what I should be looking for?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Avon Aero R260 or R280 with an outboard of about 6HP although I guess you are correct about secondhand ones, likely as rare as hens teeth. With the inflatable deck and stiffer tube beneath it they give a good ride and row respectably, comfortable for 4 people will plane with the correct size engine, now made by Zodiac. I had problems with the rubbing strake on my R280 but after one unsuccessful repair I got it replaced FOC and the 2nd one was fine. They are heavy though but stowable and come with a wraparound bag as opposed to trying to put an oversized heavy sausage in an undersized bag, like the old Redstarts.

 

[Kukri]

Thank you. I know what you mean about the old bags - the bag was commonly in better nick than the dinghy, because the dinghy was so seldom in the bag - just rolled and with the painter wrapped round, as the owner gave up the struggle!

 

[jac]

NOt an expert on the Avon bit but spent some time doing the same as you, getting a decent inflatable tender / o/b combo.

As you say, the issue with proper RIBS is the stowage. Fine on davits or on a boat with a lot of deck space but otherwise IMHO not practical as a carry on board type tender. A different matter of course for club to boat transfer but personaly I think it's a waste of money to get a decent rib and then just use it for that.

There is Folding RIB - FRIB. but fairly new. Looks good but no idea re longevity so personally I would avoid.

That leaves you with conventional inflatable dinks and SIBS - Soft RIBS basically. SO an inflatable with a keel and a floor. From your options above, you missed inflatable keels and aluminium floors.

Conventional inflatable - i.e. no keel. You probably know very well from your time with Redstarts etc. They need a floor to make them useful but are a nightmare to row, and anything on the floor will get wet if more than an inch of water in them. Finally they are not that rigid so not really suitable to get on the plane.

SIBS - have the advantage that the keel / floor creates a bilge so things stay drier. I got in ours in Salcombe last year after a morning of rain chucking it down. The floor was dry but on closer examination there was gallons in the bilge. The floor also provides a much firmer footing for getting in and out and for carrying luggage. It also makes the boat much more firm so planning is practical.

An aluminium floor has the advantage that it is light, low maintenance, greatest rigidity but needs careful insertion to avoid damage to the hull. It also provides a secure base for fitting a console if you want one. Performance ( I,e speed )wise it's the best but stowage is a pain.

Wooden floor is similar to the aluminium but is heavier, needs more maintenance. Depends on design but also a pain to stow.

The Inflatable floor is most flexible so not as good for planning but still doable if you pay attention to pressure. Not easy to mount things like consoles but easy to use. Ours stays in and is just rolled up with the rest of the dink but folds small anyway so no real stowage issues. Key thing is the pressure. Get a good pump. the standard bellows is not strong enough. Get a stirrup type pump with a pressure gauge. An electric pump is also recommended but unless you spend a lot £120+ it will need finishing off with the manual pump.

SIB enthusiasts spend a lot of time reviewing engines. Consensus seems to be that for smaller SIBs - 2.7-3.4 that we might use as a dinghy, the 2 stroke 9.8 tohatsu is the mutts nuts as an engine and will get the dinghy on the plane with maybe 3 adults and some luggage. Prepare to pay though. You will need to go to about 15 hp 4t to get the same performance and may SIB transoms may struggle with the weight of those so pay close attention.

I went for a Tohatsu 2t 5hp. It will get our 3.1 SIB onto the plane with just me and some luggage ( 15 stone) and push us fully loaded, 2 adults, 11 year old and 9 year old along at about 6 knots with ease.

Look for decent sized tubes to give you greater seaworthiness & dryness. I would also suggest something with two thwart positions and an extension for the OB if more that about 2.7m as if you're on your own, you will want to move forward to balance the dinghy when getting on the plane. You don't mention how many crew but 2.7 will be comfortable for 1 or 2 plus luggage, 3.1 will take 4.

Hypalon does last a lot longer but it is much more expensive. PVC seems to last if looked after but beware of leaving it in bright sunshine, There are sprays to help protect PVC which may be snake oil but probably no harm in trying and protecting from UV is not a revolutionary science so suspect they do work at the margin. If leaving out semi permanently then I know liveaboards fit canvas protectors to their tubes. Both of those may be cheaper than going for hypalon ( which is also much rarer second hand now.) I suspect that for our climate PVC with some care will be fine.

If buying second hand, the things to watch out for are pretty self evident - patches are fine if done properly, no bubbles underneath or lifting. Look for abrasion damage on the keel. Make sure you see it inflated and leave it inflated for a while before buying. Valves seem to leak more commonly but are easily serviceable if the seating is fine.

Most things can be stuck to the tubes if you want so don't get too hung up by lack of handles etc, easily retrofitted.

Finally - a real Dinghy killer is the transom. Many of them are plywood so if there is any damage to the join between fabric and transom then it's pretty much a write off for an oldish dinghy as rot can enter and once in, it's hard to treat. A skilled person can fix it by replacing the transom but if done commercially then it may cost more than just buying another PVC dinghy. Bear this in mind if adding something like transom wheels. Make sure you add plenty of sealant.

 

[Kukri]

Thank you for such a careful answer.

What a minefield! I did think about a RIB just for club to mooring but it seems a huge extravagance. I do have deck space for a 9ft tender but that is occupied by the Nutshell, which I love, and won't discard, as there are times when one doesnt want an outboard and she rows and sails well. Beside the Nutshell weights 90lbs and 2.6 metre RIBS are heavier than that! So SIBS it must be.

 

[Capt. Clueless]

If you have a facebook acct...This site is for RIBS & SIBS https://www.facebook.com/groups/RibsforSale/

 

[Kukri]

Thanks!

 

[TQA]

Be cautious and do some online research before buying a RIB with an ALI floor. A fair number have had problems with corrosion and seam failure out here in the Carib.

 

[Kukri]

Thanks. And I assume that Hypalon is still better in the tropics?

 

[lw395]

I would not be looking at a rubber boat for a '7 league' club to boat tender.
Equally I would not be without some sort of tender on board, with a strong preference for something I can carry up a beach.
If you are serious about the tropics, get some sun covers made from an old dacron jib or something, Avon grey is too hot to sit on for one thing!.

 

[Kukri]

Thanks; I have a very nice rigid tender (http://www.barrowboats.co.uk/new/nutshell.htm) which stows on board if wanted and otherwise can sit on the mooring. What I am looking for is a tender that can live on board. I am pretty sure that I can stow a packed Avon Riblite 3.1 on deck (on the coachroof or, case need, on the foredeck under the 9ft Nutshell, as the packed Riblite is 7ft and odd inches) so that might be one answer. The other answer is the inflatable keel type.

Sun covers noted.

 

[Tranona]

Modern PVC tenders are much more durable than earlier ones. Just been looking at Seago tenders, prompted by another thread on the subject.

A PVC with air floor and inflatable keel, 2.9m is £700 and a 2.8m Hypalon version is £1000. Both will take up to 10hp.

Obviously more expensive than a used Avon - if you can find one but still good value.

 

[dash300]

Worth remembering to let a bit of air out on a hot day.

 

[Kukri]

Worth remembering to let a bit of air out on a hot day.

I have just been reminded of that by having to fit new inner tubes to tender launching trolley wheels!

I think I can stow the 3.1 metre folding transom RIB ("Rover lite") which allegedly packs down to 89" x 39" x 12" and weighs the same as the Nutshell glued clinker ply tender, so that goes on the "wish list", unless this model has a Dark Secret...

I spotted a rather unloved pale grey Avon RIB lurking in the undergrowth which actually had moss and lichen growing on it - but was still valiantly holding pressure, so my worries about the durability of the newer Hypalon have been laid to rest...