Is a 1.85 m inflatable too small?

[dgadee]

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

 

[Jcorstorphine]

I think it is too small.

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

I am not sure I would feel safe in a dingy that small. My Seago 2.7 feels a bit small with two adults and one child in a bit of a swell.

 

[saltylegs]

I agree my 2.6 is as small as I would go for me and mrs saltylegs

 

[VicS]

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

Capacity given as two person. max 165kg ( approx 26 stone)

Id not want to use it in anything other than calm conditions.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Too small

 

[Mistroma]

I'd agree it's probably too small. Many years ago we went shopping at LBS for a very small inflateable. We were fed up deflating/inflating ours and wanted something tiny. Fortunately, it was the first year Lodestar were at the show and we spoke to the guy on their stand. Very helpul and no pressure selling but he did put us off buying a tiny model from anyone.

After looking around we settled on a Lodestar 2.2m model as the smallest we could get away with after looking at all other makes on display. We still have it and it sits across the stern of our current boat. The sponsons (tubes) are much larger than those of any other make I've seen. It is well made and has lasted for several years without any sign of wear. It takes 2 + stores with ease and 3 at a push (We've managed 4 in calm conditions).

So I'd suggest 2.2m min. with large sponsons (assuming you aren't very large, we are appox. 9st each).

 

[Greenheart]

Anybody ever tried one of those heavy-duty Sevylor kayaks? I saw one at a Nauticalia store (not the last word in serious chandlery, I know) but the tougher ones look like an interesting variation on the ordinary inflatable, and they might be helpfully narrower, despite being double the length of small rubber tubs.

View attachment 21969

 

[Chris_robb_ndota]

I have used a Sevylor inflatable Kayak, and while perhaps not as stable as a fiberglass offering, it was fairly rigid and I was actually quite impressed with the way it tracked.

 

[lustyd]

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

I have a quite old roundtail and tried a small outboard on it in the marina. Despite being well inflated the outboard bracket moved about quite a bit and the whole experience felt unsafe. I'm now looking to upgrade to something bigger despite the lack of space on the boat.

 

[rivonia]

We had a RIB which became to heavy as well as delaminating(waveline) it wa s2.5 meter.

We now have a 2.3 Meter and it is a inflatable V with a rigid insertable aluminium deck. I can lift it and it planes easily. It is called an Ex-cape bought it in Marmaris Turkey.

It is ideal for the two of us and shopping.

Peter

 

[Zagato]

Anybody ever tried one of those heavy-duty Sevylor kayaks? I saw one at a Nauticalia store (not the last word in serious chandlery, I know) but the tougher ones look like an interesting variation on the ordinary inflatable, and they might be helpfully narrower, despite being double the length of small rubber tubs.

View attachment 21969

I really like the look of these, they do a tiny £215 sit on top one as well 7KG

http://www.aquascene.co.uk/#/shop-kayaks/4556561216/Reef-240---WITH-PADDLE-PUMP/265614

I was all set to get a sectional kayak from Nestaway but these have got to be worth a try, even the 2-3 man ones fold down to almost rucksack size which are probably a better bet...

I used to step up out of my 17' Sea Kayak to get onto the boat but think you would need a boarding ladder with the little one in the link.

 

[Jabamusic]

Prime issues have to be type of usage and frequency of usage.

Mine sits on the foredeck most of the time and is only called into action 3 or 4 times a year. On those occasions small is certainly adequate - it is usually used by one of either of the children to buzz off to shore or to get us back from the bar when there are more than a few of us, again the children enjoy skippering us back and forward.

I've gone for small for convenience sake i.e. <2m

 

[bedouin]

We've got the 2.4m round tail Redstart - and I really would not like anything smaller. I would have thought 1.8 would be very difficult to row in anything other than calm/flat no current/wind and an outboard on a boat that size would be very hairy

 

[jakeroyd]

i swapped a 2.4 for a 2.1 (Bombard AX1)
mainly cos I could not get the 2.4 in my locker when rolled up.
The 2.1 just makes it.
We used to have to store the 2.4 in the bow of the boat which meant a struggle to get it out and pump it up.

Not tried the 2.1 yet but I think it will be OK used in harbour only.
It has a capacity for 2 people.

 

[James_Calvert]

...wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters

You'd row it I assume? Much too small for an outboard.

I've got a 2.4m Bombard AX2 (not my main tender). Quite compact, rather skinny tubes and rather small inside because the tubes extend beyond the wooden transom. Works OK as a one person dinghy, but will carry more.

My main tender is now a Bombard Max 3+, which I think is just a bit bigger than the one you now have.

I understand your problem. There's a huge difference in ease of inflating/deflating, launching etc between the two. However the bigger one is so much more stable and much fatter tubes so safer when boarding.

I don't think any inflatable is much good for rougher water until you get to 3m or so length. And shorter/smaller ones like my AX2 can pitchpole, as I did in getting off Sunny Cove beach in Salcombe when a big wave came along at the wrong moment. (No other passengers at the moment of pitchpoling, my young son saw it coming and jumped out!)

 

[VicS]

I have had a couple of small inexpensive inflatable about this size. OK for one or one + child in sheltered waters/ calm conditions.
One had an outboard bracket... not satisfactory.

would actually like another as I dont have room to stow anything larger, but not at the price of the WavEco ones.

I bought a barely used 2.4m Avon 10 years or so ago..... took it on board no room for it.. took it home again ... its been sitting on the garage floor ever since.
Probably been chewed to bits by the mice now.

 

[wotayottie]

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

Been through the same debate and bought an Excel 2.3m to keep on our 36 footer. It is in many ways too big - I have to lift and launch using the spinny halyard and a winch, and it wont fit in any of the cockpit lockers. But it does keep SWMBO's ar*e dry on the way to the club and as you know there is nothing worse than a wet gusset.

It replaced an Avon round tail which was lighter, would fit into the locker, and was better quality fabric. And that is the purpose of this post really - if you arent hung up about a bit of water getting in, then look for a second hand Avon as a way of getting a lighter weight and easier stow from whatever length you want. My Avon ( I'm not selling it) is now 30 years old with no patches no leaks and tbh as good as new.

 

[Lodesman77]

I have an Excel SD200 - great one up (my major usage) and OK for two in most conditions, although I'd avoid using it for two when rough. My friend has the SD235 which is used regularly for two adults and a child. We bought them together and went to the showroom to compare them all side by side, and it was instructive to see how big a difference there is with a relatively small change in size. I had the intention of getting the SD180 as I was focussed on weight but it was just too small...

.

 

[Seajet]

I've had a Zodiac 240 round-tail since 1983 and it's been brilliant for 3 adults, as it has a much larger tube size than standard nowadays; also being orange is a safety plus point I think, rather than warship camouflage grey !

Round tails are much easier to stow than solid transom jobs, but you might still need to put the pump on reverse and suck the air out to get the thing small enough.

 

[nevis]

I have a 2.6m inflatable which is a bit of a nuisance - big to store and awkward to get space on deck to pump up (even with an electric pump). WavEco do a 1.85m roundtail. Usually only me or one other on board but wonder if that would be too small a choice to have as an alternative for anything but calm waters.

Any views?

I have an Adec Marine 1.85 tender. I bought it this year as my other dinghy at 2.4m is too big to go on the foredeck.I find it ideal as i sail singlehanded (mostly). i use it with a small honda outboard it also rows very well even when its choppy.