Inflatables

Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds a good buy bit I think that 2.8 m is a little bit on the large and heavy side both for my boat and for single handed luggability.

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Re: Materials that different?

In UK, PVC is probably OK, but not in the med and I'm not goi8ng to buy one for the UK and one for warmer climes. The reason they use PVC, is cheapness, they can machine weld PVC, hypalon has to be glued=labour intensive=expensive.

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Re: Materials that different?

Alth0ugh probably expensive to buy in Europe, there are a number of manufacturers of hypalon dinghies based in Asia. I can highly recommend one in Phuket, Thailand - he has been making them for some years now using a heavyu dutyb hypalon fabric. The best testament is the local charter fleet which uses his dinghies exclusively - even the punters haven't been able to destroy them. They stand up to the tropic sun and heat extremely well. His 2.7m RIB is just over GBP 1,000 delivered locally (includes a 7% GST) and the 3.1m about GBP 1,500. Regarding size as raised by others, I would recommned nothing less than 3.1m - lots of room for 4 or more, can take plenty of baggage and is rated for at least 15 hp engines, possibly 25! The problem for many people is storage but itv should be able to fit on most foredecks.

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Re: Materials that different?

!500 for a 3.1 RIB, is not cheap. I only paid 2000 for my 3.8 meter zodiac futura 2C.

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As CCS says, no inflatable is that good to row but an inflatable keel will definitely help to give some directional stability. I'd also go for an inflatable floor as the boats with strips of wood on the floor are horrible to move about in. Those with solid or alloy floors whilst being more stable are a pain to put together and are also much heavier. If you won't use it a lot I would go for one of the middle price ones.

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I went through the excercise last year and chose a Suzumar (2.8m model). The tubes are fatter than most and widly spaced giving loads of space inside and we are much drier than in the old Bombard. Copled with an airdeck and inflatable keel make it more stable to step into and it rows far better. Handles at the back and front are well balanced for carrying, eyes inside for a bridle / davits and at the front for towing bridle. It has spray shields either side of the transom to stop water splashing in from the engine when you crank it up a bit, and a spray rail all round the top of the tubes, with very strong rope rigged all the way round too. All brands don't have ALL of these and most have very few of these features.

I found the price / spec. ratio good on Sukumar (Suzuki) Yamaha and Quicksilver (Mercury) brands. I figure they must be loss leaders to sell more motors in packages through the dealerships.

The Suzumar was by far the best value and I got mine from Yachts of Dartmouth when I was passing, who did a P/X on the old one.

It's PVC but has good rubbing strips on the bottom and we've hammered it up shingle beaches and I've launched and recovered it single handed on concrete slips and there is hardly a mark on it. The powder coating on the ally transom pad hasn't lasted a season however.

As I said, it rows great, in a straight line and with comfy position, and goes well under power too, planes great with one up (14 stones) and a 15 year old 3.3hp Johnson on the back. If you are mob handed and need to ferry crew in shifts, it is useful (where permitted) to blast back empty for the next load.

Last months YM confirmed all this by voting it best buy. I concur wholeheartedly.

If you are hanging it on davits all year, being PVC it will pay to have a cover to keep the UV off it and make it last a bit longer. You will still be quids in vs an Avon.

I should be on commission, which I would add, I am not.

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