Could this be the answer to inferior tenders?

Steve C Cronin said:
What do you make of this?

"Recon"? Will these Avons really go on forever?


http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/superbasket/product/1545/Zodiac_MilPro_M9_Recon_Dinghy_Hypalon
Click to expand...

Whilst the old Avons lasted for ever, they were almost impossible to row, successfully, had an abortion of an outboard bracket which was only good for about 3bhp, before self-detaching and lasted about 1/3 the life of the dinghy. They were also the wettest (short of swimming) way of getting ashore. I have one at home, but wouldn't consider it as an appropriate tender for any cruiser.
Still, to ensure affection one must have many failings.
 
They are Zodiacs, not Avons. A copy of the original Avon design, probably made in Rochefort, France. The Hypalon material is very similar to the original Avon, and yes, it will outlast any other inflatable. My Avon was made in 1976 and still going strong, but as Charles says are not the best "boats", but adequate for a tender and personally I prefer the design to the hard transom types now popular - and they can motor well if you have the correct Seagull that was designed for them!
 
Tranona said:
They are Zodiacs, not Avons. A copy of the original Avon design, probably made in Rochefort, France. The Hypalon material is very similar to the original Avon, and yes, it will outlast any other inflatable. My Avon was made in 1976 and still going strong, but as Charles says are not the best "boats", but adequate for a tender and personally I prefer the design to the hard transom types now popular - and they can motor well if you have the correct Seagull that was designed for them!
Click to expand...

Get the best of both worlds! I've just bought an Avon Rover 280Air on eBay since my chinese PVC dink blew up in July and appears to be suffering from internal lesions. The Avon just needed a good clean and I would be happier with a new airdeck but otherwise it has come up "like new".
 
Mad Pad said:
Don't you love it,the old Seagull keeps cropping up well into the 21st century.So after the nuclear meltdown it will be Swiss,cockroaches and.......10/1 Seagulls.
Click to expand...
Won't all the 'roaches be exterminated by the excess oil in the water when they try to swim aboard?
 
Thanks Steve,
good probabability there allright!
Makes an otherwise good basic duck a dangerous proposition if rowing is the only option!
I also have a Brig 2.6 airdeck stashed under the stairs at home.Ukrainian build I remember.used twice!
I'm somewhat reluctant to bring it to the Med in case the material fails in the high 30C temps here from time to time?
 
Steve C Cronin said:
What do you make of this?

"Recon"? Will these Avons really go on forever?

http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/superbasket/product/1545/Zodiac_MilPro_M9_Recon_Dinghy_Hypalon
Click to expand...

I reckon the old Avon dinghy fitted certain military niches very well, and the military does like to standardise so that training, logistics, and compatibility between different kit is as stable as possible. Various obscure planning books will give figures for how many men can carry an Avon how far, how much ammunition you can float in one, how many you can fit in a certain locker on a submarine, etc etc etc. All that falls apart if every crate of "Dinghy, Inflatable, 3 Metres" you open contains a different Chinese PVC affair depending on when it was procured. So when they found that Avon no longer made their standard dinghies, they tendered for a new supplier to make copies. Said supplier thought they might as well offer to the civilian market too, and here we are.

Pete
 
Tranona said:
They are Zodiacs, not Avons. A copy of the original Avon design, probably made in Rochefort, France. The Hypalon material is very similar to the original Avon, and yes, it will outlast any other inflatable. My Avon was made in 1976 and still going strong, but as Charles says are not the best "boats", but adequate for a tender and personally I prefer the design to the hard transom types now popular - and they can motor well if you have the correct Seagull that was designed for them!
Click to expand...

Avon and Zodiac and all stations in between are now made in china. We have just bought a west Marine branded Hypalon RIB made in the same factory, We had one on our last mobo here but sold it with thatit was excellent despite being exposed to tropical UV Hopefully it will last OK because PVC in the tropics is a wakky noo noo!
 
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