New inflatable

[Kendal]

Happy new year all.

My Zodiac fastroller has been suffering from transom rot so this season I am looking to buy a new smallish (2.5m or so) inflatable. We boat on Windermere and usually use the inflatable for pottering about, driven by a Yamaha F4. The rib will be left in the water during the season so I need something which will stand up to the elements. I have my eye on the new Mercury inflatable floor models. Does anyone have experience of these, or any other suggestions? I want to keep the budget to a max of £900 if possible.

Thank you for you help.
David

 

[12 Year Plan B-)]

I have been doing some recent research on this very old thread/topic. Mercury tenders have a good reputation. I have just bought an Excel Volante with inflatable floor: I was surprised a) how solid the floor is and b) how much rigidity it gives the dinghy - much more than slats. I looked at light/cheap tenders (with thinner PVC skins): unless used very carefully and very rarely, I couldn't see them lasting more than a couple of seasons. Somebody else on here said 'buy cheap, buy twice'. With tenders, buy cheap, make it 3, 4 or 5 times! This may suit some people. You can indeed buy 5 disposable Chinese tenders for the price of one Zodiac. What it came down to for me was the risk of a) being stranded ashore or aboard, or worse b) finding myself in the water hanging on to to a half inflated dinghy. That could really ruin a good days sailing...

 

[No Regrets]

I have an Excel Volant 290, but a 260 would suit your size range better.

Absolutely splendid thing, astonishingly planes 1 up with a 3.5 Mercury 4 stroke, with 14mph available, so the Hull is well sorted.

It's another inflatable floor V hull version. Speak to Terry at excel boats, nice chap!