Inflatable advice please

[clb1970]

Hi everyone

After another disapointing (and very expensive) year with our bowrider I've decided that just buying an inflatable I can transport to a slip, attach an engine and potter around local rivers and esturies might be the move for me.

It will be mainly used in Plymouth sound, the Tamar, around Salcombe the Dart etc.
Usual load will be two, maybe three adults and a picnic, or two blokes and some fishing gear.

I was looking for something which will go in the boot of my car (reasonable sized boot with the seats down)

A RIB would be nice, but I don't want the hassle of towing and storage is at a premium.


So far I've been considering around 3.5 metres from Honda with either an air, or aluminium floor.

Does anyone have any experience or reccomendations?
Also engine size advice please, don't want to set the world alight with performance, but move well against the tide. Id prefer something with an integral fuel tank, just for convenience really, but an external wouldn't be out of the question.

Any advice and comments would be welcomed.

Chris

 

[DAKA]

these are like the honda but cheaper, about £600 http://www.wetline.co.uk/300AR.html (its 3.1m)

the air deck (310AD) is cheaper , folds up smaller but will only take an 8hp and hasnt got such a deep V.

separate fuel tanks are better really as you dont have the added weight of the 3l of fuel 3kg added to the outboard which makes a 5hp as heavy as a 9.8hp tohatsu.

 

[doug748]

I do a lot of boating around Plymouth Sound in an inflatable, an ancient Avon Supersport 3.1m - c 10.5ft, with bottom boards and inflatable keel. It would easily take 3 plus kit. It is superb and I have been out in very poor conditions. However to put this sort of thing into the boot of a car each time would be a labour of love, and not to be taken lightly. It is getting a bit long in the tooth, and as a replacement I have bought an Avon 2.8 airdeck, this size might suit you and would be far easier to pack away, but three + a lot of stuff would be pushing it in bad weather.
I think the Avon RIB, here, would be far too small but I have no experience of Ribs so I am clueless really (I think Avon do a larger one with the fold down transom):
http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/superbasket/category/10/Used_Inflatables_&_RIBs
How about the Zodiac, I am sure it would be man enough?
For an engine I use a 3.5 Tohatsu 2 stroke which is very reliable, frugal and has adequate power. No planing though and no street cred. If you go up to 5hp you won't plane either and might lose some of the virtues of the smaller engine. Anything above 5hp would be a right pain to lug around.
As always it comes down to a compromise.

 

[gjgm]

I think the aluminium floor Honwaves are a "better" boat, but at that weight, you arent going to put it up/take it down too often, so I think the airdeck type floor makes more sense. You really need a 2 stroke for weight, but even by 15hp, it isnt something you are going to want to lift/carry any distance AT ALL ! And thats quite alot of clobber in your car.. you arent going to get it all into a smaller car, for example. Some people set up a trailer with electric air pump/engine storage etc to make the whole thing easier to transport, but then you are more or less back to the rib situation with storage.
So, Honwaves are a good idea, but just think about the inflating/deflating EVERY time;they take up alot of room; and although the weight itself doesnt sound alot, both the engines and boat are pretty unwieldy when packed/stored. I think you would need two to get the thing in and out of your boot...

 

[clb1970]

All very good points, thank you.

I would not envisage going solo at all and to be honest, it would probably only be used a handful of times a year, so the hassle of setting up and taking down regulalry isnt too much of an issue.

Would 2.7 or 2.8m be enough space? It seems very small..... but then I suppose I wouldnt be carrying to much extraneous kit.

As for engines, I'd want a four stroke, carriable by one person somewhere between 4 - 8 hp should be good weight wise. Is that about right? Man enough for the job?


Chris

 

[gjgm]

All very good points, thank you.

I would not envisage going solo at all and to be honest, it would probably only be used a handful of times a year, so the hassle of setting up and taking down regulalry isnt too much of an issue.

Would 2.7 or 2.8m be enough space? It seems very small..... but then I suppose I wouldnt be carrying to much extraneous kit.

As for engines, I'd want a four stroke, carriable by one person somewhere between 4 - 8 hp should be good weight wise. Is that about right? Man enough for the job?


Chris

The 3.7/3.8m Honwave is about 40kg from memory; if you can lug that about, I would go for this larger size, coz its going to seem alot smaller on the water.
4 strokes are of course quieter, but I wouldnt worry about fuel efficiencies bcz one way or the other I cant think you are going to be using alot.
2 st have the advantage in that they'll take more abuse, wont leak fuel all over the place if you put it wrong way down,cheaper to maintain,lighter.
4hp might be ok on a fishing lake, but I'd like a bit more grunt re wind,tides and other vessels anywhere else.
You can often find a set up on ebay...

 

[clb1970]

Thanks for all that, I'll be certain to keep asking more questions!


Chris

 

[whisper]

Thanks for all that, I'll be certain to keep asking more questions!


Chris

Have a look at the Lodestar range - decent quality at a reasonable price.
Big tubes are a must.
As others have said, 4strokes are considerably heavier than 2str for the same output - I find that 4hp 4strs are as heavy as I can manage on my own. If you'll be 2, then 6-8hp would be ok to manhandle - they are usually the same blocks so weigh the same. Therefore I'd go for the 8 if that doesn't exceed the dinghy's capability.

 

[El Bee]

I had a Zodiac S131 for years and would recommend them to anyone.

They're 3.1 metre and the floor is marine ply in 5 sections with locking bars, there's an inflatable keel under the floor which is very rigid and they take up to a 10hp motor.

I had a 9.9 Mercury 2 stroke on mine and it would plane easily with 4 adults or 2 adults, a dog and all the clobber for a day out. The boat packed into a valise about the size of a medium suitcase, the floor into a similar sized bag about 6" thick. And the whole lot packed into a medium sized car boot.

Lee B