Quicksilver or Tohatsu inflatable?

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I had some good responces to my post on choice of outboard - thanks. I am asking a similar question on choice of inflatable. I am concidering a 380 Quicklsiver at £1099, and 96kgs, or the simillar Tohatsu 380, less money and lighter. My question is - is the "heavy duty" wording on the Quicksilver spec worth the extra cost and money?
The boat will be used for family use down on the coast, with a little diving thrown in.
Thanks in anticipation.......
 
Being realistic I think the trailer option is the better way to go as it is quicker and easier to get onto the water. Which leads me onto another thought - what do people do with their trailers in a car parking scenario - do they unhitch them somewhere out of the way or pay two lots of carpark charges, one for the car space and one for the trailer space?
So which boat is the better buy? Assume a 15-20hp motor. Would you part with £900 for a Tohatsu 380 at 54kgs, or the Quicksilver 380 at £1099 and 96kgs?
Would the weight here be an issue getting the boat back up the slipway with front wheel drive?
 
If money wasn't the deciding factor then Quicksilver, for reasons already mentioned. They are well built boats.

With regards to towing on fwd, don't worry. 96kg is the weight of a large bloke. if your car can't pull that, you have bigger problems than getting your boat out of the water.

I towed my 270 on a Mirror dinghy trailer, and when parked I put it in front of the car, which in my case was woodland, and just because the car was full to the brim and I happened to have the trailer. If you are planning in trailing often though, perhaps a RIB would be a better choice.
 
Go for the Quicksilver, its a more substantial boat and as long as you are towing it you should have no problems. There are some excellent prices for second hand inflatables on Ebay at the moment.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Would you part with £900 for a Tohatsu 380 at 54kgs, or the Quicksilver 380 at £1099 and 96kgs?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Tohatsu 380 is a good boat, but as the weight suggests it is a lighter build than the Quicksilver. For the usage you describe I do not think it matters too much and both will go very nicely with a 15HP.

You should be paying no more than 800 for the Tohatsu though.

There are also some very good deals on 15HP four-strokes at the moment.

If you do decide that you do not need the extra robustness of the Quicksilver Heavy Duty model, you could consider a Quicksilver Sport - same solid floor and keel and the biggest is a well proportioned 3.4m.
 
Thanks for the replies. A couple of questions have come up with them now. The boat is essentially for family use on the coast, with occassional scuba. Family of two adults and two teenagers, all average build. Would a 340 inflatable realistically be big enough?
If I was to look at RIBs, am I right in thinking that the cost of the boat would probably double? Any suggestions on what to look at there too.
Thanks.
 
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