Excel Ventura SL230 Inflatable

[brians]

Still deciding which inflatable to buy and have come across this one. It is of particular interest as it weighs only 18kg and this is important to me.

It would appear similar to the 3D and O2 Lite models available but slightly cheaper.

Has anyone experience of these boats?

 

[Stemar]

I have a 200SL and it's several kilos lighter than my old flubber, which is a definite bonus. However, one of the stowed oars caught on the pontoon as we were leaving and the bridle towing rings ripped out of their patches. This was near the beginning of the holiday, so I carried on, towing from the single handle on the bow. By the end of the couple of weeks of not exceptional weather, the handle was starting to tear from its patch

I took it to Ron Hale Marine and they replaced them with much heavier Zodiac patches.

Unfortunately, Light=flimsy

I also find it next to impossible to row because the oars are fixed to the rowlocks, like most flubbers, and the inboard bit is so long I struggle to lift the blades out of the water 'cos my knees get in the way. I've made up a couple of soft shackles to attach them, which may solve the problem, but haven't tested them yet. This problem may well limited to the tiny ones and common to any inflatables with pin type rowlocks. My old Zodiac's rowlocks weren't fit for purpose either, so you pay's yer money and you takes your choice of problems, I suppose.

Would I buy another? Only if light weight was more important than any other consideration.

 

[kenyates]

Your experience does surprise me. I owned an Excel SD230 as a towed tender for some five years but as I was getting older it was getting heavier. I came away from the London Boat show 2014 with an order for the new Ventura 230 which I continue to tow to this day. No issues with fittings or fabric giving way. I understood that the bow handle is just for lifting! Surely if you want a heavy duty boat then the Excel Volante range would be more your thing! First class service all through.