Inflatable dinghies

[zxc123]

Anyone willing to make a recommendation? I'm looking for a tender that will take 4 people at a pinch, copes well with a small outboard, and will pack easily for stowage in a locker. Wetline and XM seem to at the lower end of the price range, Zodiac a little more expensive. Are any of them any good?

Do Avon still sell small inflatables (Redcrest &c)? I certainly don't see any advertisments for them in the magazines any more.



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[StephenW]

The Compass dinghy with inflatable floor is good, Made of Hypalon (which is guaranteed for 25 years for roofing so can't be bad). Thats Compass from Konexion rather than the German Compass catalogue company.

Avon do still make them - see their website.

Recommend you get something with an inflatable keel to enhance handling.

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[Robin]

Avon are still very much around but pricey, last for ever (we have a 1973 Redcrest in the garage, still useable).

We have just bought a Zodiac Fastroller with inflatable floor and keel. The dinghy is excellent, the floor a big improvement and it rows and motors very well. I have to question why Zodiac chose to have different valve sizes on the floor and tubes though, the pump comes with so many separate bits you need a rollcall afterwards to avoid losing any! The inflatable floor adds a lot to the price though compared to the otherwise similar slatted floor Zodiacs, so if you don't need this you might find them closer in price to the Wetlines and so on. We bought ours from Ron Hale Marine in Portsmouth, they gave us the best price, about 18% off 'list'.

Avon and Zodiac are the same company now.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Talbot]

I have a Zodiac 260 Fast Roller as well. The inflatable floor and keel do increase the weight by comparison to the slatted version, but the improvement in handling under power or rowing, and the fact that if some water does get splashed into the boat, you still dont get wet feet definitely make the fast roller version worth the extra money.

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[claymore]

I have a zodiac too with inflatable floor - its really good except for one of the captive rowlocks which has managed to become uncaptive

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[Robin]

Do you mean the bit that goes on the oar? Because I looked in the repair kit box and there was a spare one in ours.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Aja]

Bought a Wetline with inflatable floor. Excellent value for the price although it is PVC and not Hypalon. I store mine out of the sun in the garden shed (big shed) when not in use but also rolls away very easily - I use an LVM electric pump.

Light and easy to use with motor.

Regards

Donald

ps - dont like red dinghies. Grey looks smart.

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[LORDNELSON]

I have the easy stowage for locker problem too. This rules out inflatables with a solid attached transom. So I decided on a doughnut type. My previous experience with Avons long life persuaded me to buy a new Avon (Redcrest)which has so far been in use for three years and looks like new. The drawback to the Avons is the very badly designed toggles used for attaching the centre thwart to the floor and the difficulty and time used in inserting the floor, so I do not use the floor.




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[mirabriani]

I use a backpackers inflatable airbed. quick to blow up and just tuck it in. Does the job for me. Briani

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[pandroid]

We decided to replace our 20 year old Redcrest (still serviceable) last year and did the trawl at the London boat show, looking for a similar spec to you. After much trying and deliberation we settled on a Lodestar. We'd originally been reccomended a Bombard, but the Lodestar folded up smaller, seemed to be better built, and we negotiated a better price. Comes with a 5 year guarantee, as I guess many others will.

Avon and Zodiac are still top line, but are more expensive and you have to ask whether the difference means much to you. (Hypalon is superior to PVC, but do you need it for a yacht tender?) Many of the other names are made by the same people, but are just 'economy' versions of the posh ones.

The inflatable floor is a must.

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[charles_reed]

Avon are part of Zodiac now.

I would advise looking at the Plastimo range - there's one there which will carry 4 at a pinch, has a high-pressure inflatable keel and inflatable floor, from memory it's 3.6m long and will take up to a 10hp motor.
Mine planes with a 3.5 Tohatsu with 1 person up.

I would avoid the basic Avons - though long-lived they're impossible to row because of flat bottoms, wet due to small diameter side tubes and the outboard bracket is inadequate in strength and buoyancy.
Look, if you have the space, at one of the small RIBs. You get a far wider choice and more economical prices for annexes in France.

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[charles_reed]

And of course, very

relaxing to row. You just lie on it and paddle with your hands.

Trouble is - however much you try - it won't support 4 people

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[Ric]

Contrary to others, I would not bother with an inflatable keel. On a small 4 person dinghy with low power outboard, the difference in ease of handling is miniscule but the difference in cost is significant. Also, it is just more pumping.

The feature I would definitely buy is built in bellows pumps (as on the Bombard AX range). They are indespensable when you come back to your dinghy after a nice meal ashore, and find that it has gone soft with a slow puncture, or has been deflated by mischevious kids.

Another nice feature is a see through bottom. Keeps kids amused, also is useful for checking anchor etc (assuming you sail in places with clear water).

I have a Bombard AX which has been super.

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[claymore]

Hmm - never thought of looking there!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[mirabriani]

Re: And of course, very

Sorry if I did not make it clear. I meant use the backpackers inflatable as a floor.
Yours amusingly Briani

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[BlueSkyNick]

I never thought I would say this but I totally agree with Robin, Claymore and Talbot. We bought the Zodiac 260Fastroller this year, and in addition to what others have said about the performance with an inflatable floor, it is a great deal more comfortable if you have to kneel down. For example, putting the engine on or generally moving my 230lbs of ballast (but reducing!) around for stability.

<hr width=100% size=1>It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

 

[Mike21]

Have a Bombard AX4 2.8m with an inflatable floor and keel, will take 4 peeps. Can also get them with slatted floor ,but find inflatable floor and keel more comfortable.
Made by Zodiac , but at cheaper end of range

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[charles_reed]

I used to be

on the inshore relief crew.
If the local CG knew I was out in myy own boat it appeared i was always the first to be called, when an indeterminate emergency occured - the number of times I had to rescue offshore-blown li-los are well into double figures...

So my post was redolent with feeling

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[bradshaw]

I know this thread is now very out of date, but FYI, like an earlier correspondent, I also owned a 15 year old Avon Redcrest which was excellant, and therefore paid the premium price to replace it 2 months ago with a new Redcrest. It is not the same. Made in Hungary (though this is not apparent until you purchase it and open it up!), corners have been cut everywhere (e.g. lanyards are held on with plastic cable ties-mine fell off before it was launched, bits fell off the pump and the outbooard bracket within 10 minutes of use, and there is exposed glue everywhere). I would no longer recommend Avon Redcrests unless you can find a little used secondhand one about 2 or 3 years old.