My 43 year old Avon

[30boat]

Blew it up last night in preparation for this years sail away.I've been considering buyng a smaller PVC one with a rigid transom but a friend's Quicksilver failed after only 4 years.Not a good prospect.
Anyway I always row so as long as mine keeps going I'll hang on to it.

 

[[10753]]

Made before the throwaway world we live in today. I too have an old British inflatable, only a baby at 23 years compared to yours. I'll definately keep it going as long as possible.

 

[Nigel-in-Oxford]

I don't know how old my Avon is but well in excess of 20 years. I also have A 23 year old Tinker traveller. Both made from Hyperlon I dit have a PVC QuickSilver lasted 6 Years

 

[Hobnob]

Blew it up last night in preparation for this years sail away.I've been considering buyng a smaller PVC one with a rigid transom but a friend's Quicksilver failed after only 4 years.Not a good prospect.
Anyway I always row so as long as mine keeps going I'll hang on to it.

I have good reason to believe that mine was bought in the early 60's for children who are now approaching retirement.
It spent a decade under a rock, just above the high tide mark, on the coast of west Scotland before my father rescued it (with the owners' consent). Think a bottle of whisky changed hands.

It was then re-valved at an Avon Service Centre. This was in the 80's.

It is more reliable than any other boat I've ever owned!

 

[30boat]

I have good reason to believe that mine was bought in the early 60's for children who are now approaching retirement.
It spent a decade under a rock, just above the high tide mark, on the coast of west Scotland before my father rescued it (with the owners' consent). Think a bottle of whisky changed hands.

It was then re-valved at an Avon Service Centre. This was in the 80's.

It is more reliable than any other boat I've ever owned!

Mine was unfortunately chewed in places by a rat some years ago.I patched it with some Hypalon and a CT1 like sealant.Stays inflated for days,what more could I ask?A slightly smaller one perhaps...

 

[Chanquete]

I own a 23 years old Avon. Here un South America at 34 degrees S latitude the sun is quite strong but our Avon still looks and performs very very well.
We use it every summer with family and friends.
We are very happy with our Avon.

Saludos

Chanquete

 

[Zagato]

They are such a classic, loads around still, over 90% of tenders in my dinghy/tender park are old Avons They have to be tough for the sharp/flint stones in the area!

'Curlew' is 19 years old and I'm very pleased with her, slatted floor and no problems rowing her, not sure what the fuss is about when rowing with a flat floor dinghy, in fact I'm quite glad of it as I always seem to hit the strong tide when rowing on & off the boat. The kids are looking foward to playing in her in the summer hols...

 

[vyv_cox]

Blew it up last night in preparation for this years sail away.I've been considering buyng a smaller PVC one with a rigid transom but a friend's Quicksilver failed after only 4 years.Not a good prospect.
Anyway I always row so as long as mine keeps going I'll hang on to it.

What did your friend do to kill his Quicksilver in four years? Mine will be ten years old next week, mostly towed behind us in the Med and still pretty much perfect. A neighbouring boat scrapped theirs last week, about 15 years old and still holding air but all the glued seams had failed (rubbing strakes and the like, the tubes are welded.)

 

[30boat]

What did your friend do to kill his Quicksilver in four years? Mine will be ten years old next week, mostly towed behind us in the Med and still pretty much perfect. A neighbouring boat scrapped theirs last week, about 15 years old and still holding air but all the glued seams had failed (rubbing strakes and the like, the tubes are welded.)

He left it in the sun fully inflated here in the Algarve.The glued seams failed.