Mikedefieslife
Well-Known Member
Just wondering who here has an Excel dinghy and how it's been holding up?
I bought one in July last year on the back of a decent review in one of the mags, and a good spec list.
Had mine just over a year now, only used for half of that (due to being a marina in winter), but ran into a few problems.
First issue was the air floor. This developed a leak around a seem that has continued to get larger. It was still in guarantee, but there's no stock so spares have to be shipped (yes shipped as in on one of those big steel things us cruisers try to avoid at sea) from China. Wait time is a good 10 weeks or more, still not got mine.
Secondly, an oar snapped in two whilst rowing. I first thought it was the plastic bracket covering, but it turns out the aluminium itself was badly corroded inside and snapped. Replaced it with a 4 year old from an old dinghy.
Third is UV resistance. You should of course alway keep your PVC dinghies covered up. That being said, no chaps type covers are available, and many have had PVC dinghies last a good few years or more in Med/Carib sunshine before they start leaking plasticiser and eventually become scrap.
The type of PVC and the protection applied to it help. Some are better than others. Mine started getting brown and sticky within a month of use in this spring.
Anyway, just sharing. The guy importing them is friendly and helpful, but presumably limited in what comes over from China and the quality control there.
I bought one in July last year on the back of a decent review in one of the mags, and a good spec list.
Had mine just over a year now, only used for half of that (due to being a marina in winter), but ran into a few problems.
First issue was the air floor. This developed a leak around a seem that has continued to get larger. It was still in guarantee, but there's no stock so spares have to be shipped (yes shipped as in on one of those big steel things us cruisers try to avoid at sea) from China. Wait time is a good 10 weeks or more, still not got mine.
Secondly, an oar snapped in two whilst rowing. I first thought it was the plastic bracket covering, but it turns out the aluminium itself was badly corroded inside and snapped. Replaced it with a 4 year old from an old dinghy.
Third is UV resistance. You should of course alway keep your PVC dinghies covered up. That being said, no chaps type covers are available, and many have had PVC dinghies last a good few years or more in Med/Carib sunshine before they start leaking plasticiser and eventually become scrap.
The type of PVC and the protection applied to it help. Some are better than others. Mine started getting brown and sticky within a month of use in this spring.
Anyway, just sharing. The guy importing them is friendly and helpful, but presumably limited in what comes over from China and the quality control there.
