New Dinghy- Hypalon or PVC

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CJ13

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We need a new dinghy to replace our worn out YAM 280Sti.

Should we be looking at Hypalon or PVC?

I think i read somewhere that modern PVC was the equal of Hypalon in hot conditions - does anyone know the true situation?

John
 
Hypalon is still superior but PVC has improved hugely. The range of boats available in Hypalon is small and shrinking as folks are not prepared to pay the premium.

Within the PVCs there are some that are better than others, usually indicated by price - for example a Lodestar is nearly twice the price of a basic Wetline type, but still substantially less than an Avon.

As always it is difficult to justify the additional price unless you have very long time horizons - a PVC boat looked after could easily last 10 years.
 
Tranona said:
Hypalon is still superior but PVC has improved hugely. The range of boats available in Hypalon is small and shrinking as folks are not prepared to pay the premium.

Within the PVCs there are some that are better than others, usually indicated by price - for example a Lodestar is nearly twice the price of a basic Wetline type, but still substantially less than an Avon.

As always it is difficult to justify the additional price unless you have very long time horizons - a PVC boat looked after could easily last 10 years.
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Just as an aside to this, Zodiac boats who now own Avon, make their boats out of PVC, but their own material, which is very good. One of the reasons, actually the main reason Hypalon boats are expensive, is they are glued together, which is labour intensive and skilled to get it right, not welded.
 
My PVC (Duratex HD) Quicksilver has been towed astern of us for six months of the year since 2004, in the Med since 2005. The tubes appear not to have deteriorated in the slightest, without any sunscreen covers. The old Airdeck, the quilted material used by many manufacturers, went sticky after a few years. I know of three or four others that did the same, on Avon, Quicksilver and another make(?). Most seem to have replaced this material with a smooth one that has two or three non-slip diamonds attached to it. So far, and one assumes for many years yet, that one has proved to be resistant to sunlight.
 
ccscott49 said:
Just as an aside to this, Zodiac boats who now own Avon, make their boats out of PVC, but their own material, which is very good. One of the reasons, actually the main reason Hypalon boats are expensive, is they are glued together, which is labour intensive and skilled to get it right, not welded.
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Zodiac also offer premium range of tenders in Hypalon with welded seams recommended for the sun.
I think the problem with PVC inflatables in the sun is not that the fabric degrades but the glued seams deteriorate. I doubt that's much of a problem in the UK but in sunnier climes its an issue.
I have a PVC zodiac fastroller that's 14 years old and as good as new.
 
The AB dinghies with the ally bottom made in Colombia are the boat of choice in the Caribbean on all scores, especially UV resistence. But possibly not available in EU.
Peter
 
BlueChip said:
Zodiac also offer premium range of tenders in Hypalon with welded seams recommended for the sun.
I think the problem with PVC inflatables in the sun is not that the fabric degrades but the glued seams deteriorate. I doubt that's much of a problem in the UK but in sunnier climes its an issue.
I have a PVC zodiac fastroller that's 14 years old and as good as new.
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You have now confused me! I thought mine was PVC, but its a yachtline deluxe, which is designed for the meddy really., so may be Hypalon!! But I dint think hypalon could be welded? Bogger! I will have to check with Zodiac now!

Just checked, mine is PVC. or some other plastic, duotex, decitex, sharc. Not hypalon.
But I see the cadet fastroller is available in Hypalon, maybe Avon make this dinghy?
 
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I have had several dinghies deteriorate fast in the Med. However our current Suzumar is just over ten years old and so far, despite scratches, the tubes are doing better than the alloy oars, which now contain wooden rods.
 
pW2 said:
The AB dinghies with the ally bottom made in Colombia are the boat of choice in the Caribbean on all scores, especially UV resistence. But possibly not available in EU.
Peter
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Ribeye make the same sort of boat with either a double or single hull aluminium and hypalon fabic at a good price. I understand that they plan to be at this years SBS
 
Tranona said:
Hypalon is still superior but PVC has improved hugely. The range of boats available in Hypalon is small and shrinking as folks are not prepared to pay the premium.

Within the PVCs there are some that are better than others, usually indicated by price - for example a Lodestar is nearly twice the price of a basic Wetline type, but still substantially less than an Avon.

As always it is difficult to justify the additional price unless you have very long time horizons - a PVC boat looked after could easily last 10 years.
Click to expand...

I don't know where Honda came in the price scale but our rather old one's glued pvc seams are coming unstuck.
 
25931 said:
...our rather old one's glued pvc seams are coming unstuck.
Click to expand...

My understanding is this is the main problem with glued PVC dinghies in hot climates - I had the same problem with one in Greece. It can also be more difficult to make a puncture repair last long term than with a hypalon dinghy.
PVC boats with welded seams have potential to last longer than their glued counterparts, although repair can still be a problem.
 
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