Is it worth the extra £100 - £130 for an airdeck?

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zambant

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I'm looking to buy a new inflatable( about 2.4m ) and cant decide on an airdeck or a slatted floor. I have never owned an airdeck so have no experience of them.
It will be used primarily for going ashore whilst at anchor and with our 2.5hp outboard and 2 people.
Many thanks
 
Yes, undoubtedly. The airdeck is easier to operate and gives a good stable floor. Most airdecks incorporate some element of "keel" shape on the bottom of the dinghy, contributing to better directional stability.
 
Airdeck scores a plus for the keel . But you need bigger fatter side tubes to avoid having a shallower interior. For oldies like my crew with knees that don't always work, the deep interior was very useful.
 
I have found that when you want to plane a slatted floor dingy just tries to fold up. A inflatible floor offers more rigity and keeps your bum warm if sat on it
Tiny @ 2.3 m? Mine is 1.9m , huge tubes and inflatible floor and keel.
 
I have also moved from a slatted floor to a v-bottom airdeck and would never go back. Dry feet and much more directional stability, also when not planing, it is an easy choice.
 
Have a PVC Wetline 265AD bought in 2011. It has a removeable airdeck which you lay on the dinghy floor and pump up - the dinghy floor is then pushed into a v-form by the two sides of the the airdeck pushing down. It's 2,65m long.

It forms a good v-shape hull which with a 6hp short shaft planes 2 up and is directionaly stable. Rows well too.

Last few years it's been a pain to keep the airdeck hard enough - needs pumping up regularly, think it's the valves.

It has started to let in water at the transom along the edge where the outer floor is glued to the transom - due to abuse and sharp Croatian rocks.

Sun has caused the rubbery logos to go sticky to the touch and degrade.

Next tender will be a light aluminium RIB ..... if I can find an affordable one.

I'd go for a v-form airdeck again if I can't find a suitable RIB. Big side tubes (42cm +) are a benefit.

My current dinghy: WETLINE 265AD
 
Loadstar claim or suggested they are one of the best ?
Very expensive though. I found mine on ebay, used once and got it for £200. Rrp was over £800. I like the safety release valve so it can't be over inflated or pop when you hit something. They are very nicely built.
 

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For a yacht tender with 2.5hp and 2 people, I am happy with the simple light Bombard which I have.
The slats all; broke about 8 years ago. So it's just a flat floor now.
Less weight to carry up the beach or to haul aboard.
Keel is more draft when coming into beach. Also, possibly concentrates the wear at a few points?
I'd like a nice little RIB, if I could afford an Oyster 56 to hang it off the back of.
 
Quandary said:
Interested in the comments here, anyone want to discuss going on to a beach or rocky foreshore?
Click to expand...

We moved from a slatted floor to airdeck this year and definitely agree with the consensus in favour of the airdeck.
Also our Waveline 270 has been a great purchase.

The V floor on ours is not very steep, so not been an issue going ashore on a beach or any other type of foreshore. And doing island bagging this summer, we landed the dinghy sometimes 2-3 times a day so well tested.

Fitting SUPROD HD200 wheels made a huge difference pulling a long way up a beach single handed (though does make the dinghy heavier and more bulky to store - not an issue for us with davits, and the combination transforms rapid shoregoing)
 
The air deck floor is really worth having, I will never have another one with inflatable hull, they sit to high out of the water, and tip over if you sit on a side tube, and also it is a long step down to climb in from bathing platform.
 
rich said:
The air deck floor is really worth having, I will never have another one with inflatable hull, they sit to high out of the water, and tip over if you sit on a side tube, and also it is a long step down to climb in from bathing platform.
Click to expand...
Yes Honwave have inflatable hull... very heavy and did not seem that stable - and you get wet feet.
I had a small Highfield Air Deck paired with a 4 stoke 3.5hp and it was very good, light and stable and dry feet.
 
The inflated floor adds rigidity and insulates as well. An inflatable keel section is very worth while - helps directional stability otherwise missing from some flat bottomed dinghies. I would not go back to old school designs.
 
The airdeck is also great as a sunbathing mattress and provides an extra flotation chamber should the worst happen.

W.R.T. planing, mine (Wetline 3.60, ~8hp permitted with inflatable keel IIRC) is not as good at supporting the shape of the boat as my old Avon 250's (25hp permitted, on smaller diameter tubes) rigid wooden sole, but way better than a slatted one.
 
zambant said:
I'm looking to buy a new inflatable( about 2.4m ) and cant decide on an airdeck or a slatted floor. I have never owned an airdeck so have no experience of them.
It will be used primarily for going ashore whilst at anchor and with our 2.5hp outboard and 2 people.
Many thanks
Click to expand...



It's something else to pump up and they are tricky to repair. I would go for the slats but they won't keep your feet as dry as the air deck.

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