Recommendations for inflatable dinghy's!

[Zagato]

I am looking for a cheap inflatable to carry 2 adults and 2 children (4 & 6 years old but growing). It will be used as a tender and stored in/on a 26' boat whilst sailing. I notice that some roll up to quite a manageable size. Could you give me some advice on slatted/inflatable ribbed etc. I will buy the dinghy second hand probably but will buy an engine new! What engine would you couple it with? What is the better make at the moment?

Thanks in advance

 

[Seajet]

'Round Tail' inflatables roll up MUCH smaller than solid transom ones, and still have outboard brackets.

Try to get a dinghy with a large tube diameter, though most modern cheap ones are much the same.

Slats are fine; thin slats roll up better than a few big wide ones.

Nothing wrong with air floors but maybe more vulnerable to puncture from above & below.

If you should come across an affordable Zodiac which fits this description ( 240 etc ) A, ask why it's cheap, B, if satisfied grab it ! Very good kit.

Engine - I have a 1988 Yamaha 2hp which has survived 3 dunkings ( properly serviced straightafter each, and every witer ) - runs perfectly, fantastic little engine. I think it's 2'2hp now, whatever I'd go for it.

The 3.3 Yamaha 'Malta' is a different matter, big & heavy & last I heard not a good reputation.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for that. I have looked at Marinas but they don't seem to do small 2 strokes I have just sold my Honda 6HP lovely engine, as new but at 36kg empty it is just too heavy!

I presume a small 2 stroke is the way to go rather than four storke?

Just looked Honda don't make a small 2 stroke either - new regs must have killed them off!

 

[Tranona]

2 strokes have not been available new for some time, so if buying new it has to be a 4 stroke and they are all much the same.

As for a dinghy, probably better to buy this new as well unless you get a real bargain - but people tend not to sell good ones!. Best to go for a solid transom if you want to do serious motoring although an original Avon is quite reasonable to motor. However, the latest "budget" models are really excellent value and you get a big choice. A 2.6m is probably best size, but get a bit heavy with floors and keels.

All tenders are a compromise. Good carrying capacity and motoring performance adds up to size and weight which becomes a problem to stow on a 26ft. Personally I would get the lightest roundtail and forget about motoring. In fact an Avon Redcrest which was the "ideal" tender for years, but very expensive new.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks again - 4 stroke it is then, will go Honda as usual - I'm a brand boy !

What are the better makes of inflatable to buy and which budget ones should I avoid?

 

[Seajet]

You can still get outboard brackets for roundtails.

I'd tend to say a new dinghy & maybe secondhand 2-stroke engine, if looked after, might be best combo if trying to keepprices down - certainly easier to refurb' an engine than a dinghy!

I forget the make, begins with 'W' but I was going to buy an inflatable this summer, did some looking but didn't in the end; at the time Piplers of Poole ( big mail order now ) were doing a good deal, and when I bought lifejackets from them they went out of their way to give me excellent service.

I would have said something around the 230 -240 size should do you, but no smaller.

I tried an XM inflatable and sold it on without it touching the water, if that's a guide !

Have fun,

SJ

 

[BAtoo]

Thanks again - 4 stroke it is then, will go Honda as usual - I'm a brand boy !

What are the better makes of inflatable to buy and which budget ones should I avoid?

I've got a Bombard & had a Zodiac; both good IMHO. The current one is an air-deck - much prefer it to the slatted.floor and probably lighter length for length.

 

[VicMallows]

I'd tend to say a new dinghy & maybe secondhand 2-stroke engine, if looked after, might be best combo if trying to keepprices down - certainly easier to refurb' an engine than a din

I'd certainly endorse that - especially if you are going to need to transport the engine regularly in the car on its side. The problem may be that most people who own decent 2-strokes will be hanging on to them.

Dingies: it's a case of one extreme or the other....either pay top whack or just look for the cheapest of the type you want .... they mostly all look as if made in the same Chinese factory. Should easily last 5yrs and probably at least 10yrs.

Vic

 

[maelstrom99]

Dinghy

PM sent to Zagato

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for the replies and pm's.

Zodiac have bought out Avon and Bombard so are currently restructuring their lines to fit within the three name brands. All three brands are at the quality end of the scale.

The Bombard Max 3+ 2.7m can be got for £530 new so I will probably go with that (VERY good price!!).

Engine are a bit more tricky, The suggestion is that a 2.5 hp 4 stroke is not really going to be powerful enough for 4 people. I would like a Honda but they only do 2.5hp or 5hp, the latter being big and expensive. A Marina or Mercury 3.5 hp can be had for £570 so will probably go with the former. Does anyone know if Mariners are any good - I would really like a Japanese engine if possible.

Thanks

 

[aquaholic]

I recently bought a new Z-Ray from Germany via ebay and very pleased with it, good quality with slatted floor, takes upto a 5 hp, also bought an air cooled 2.3hp honda new very pleased with it and no worries about mixing oil or worrying about water running through it, or not as the case maybe. All in came to £750

 

[Seajet]

Err, re. the 2.3 Honda OK it doesn't need water cooling, how does it get on being stowed on its' side, lubrication oil wise ?

As you will know but for the benefit of the OP, a lot - indeed majority - of 4-strokes suffer when stowed horizontally or anything except 1 approved position, as lubrication oil can flow into the combustion chamber, at best a pain to start, at worst an hydraulic lock bending shafts...

 

[davidfox]

Thanks again - 4 stroke it is then, will go Honda as usual - I'm a brand boy !

What are the better makes of inflatable to buy and which budget ones should I avoid?

Hondas are air cooled but quite noisey, there are some very good 4 strokes out there, suzuki do a nice quiet one, 2.5hp is plenty big enough for a tender for 4, my 2hp honda drives a 2.8m Avon along easily albeit not on the plane!

 

[davidfox]

Err, re. the 2.3 Honda OK it doesn't need water cooling, how does it get on being stowed on its' side, lubrication oil wise ?

Not great, but pretty much all 4 strokes are like this and as you cant get new 2 strokes you dont have much choice, you just have to be a bit careful.

 

[fastjedi]

Our Honda 2.3hp makes circa 15 trips to and from the boat p/a flat in the back of the car without any issues. I do make sure it has been upright for 5 mins before starting.

We use ours on various inflatables

- Zodiac 3.1m hard tail, full plywood floor, inflatable keel + 4 people + sailing gear .... Plenty of power, faster and better handling than the smaller inflatables, even with 4 people!

- Compass 2.0m round tail ..... Great for the cockpit locker, still just about O.K for 2x adults + 7 y/o (Rated for 2x but have run with 4x adults on occasions)

- Plastimo 2.2m hard tail, slatted floor .... Bigger tubes, better on the water due to tube extensions behind the motor. We might run this in the cockpit locker next year as much safer for 2.5 people (rated for 2x People)

On balance, I would recommend an economy 2.3m roundtail (Seago or Wetline) + Honda 2.3hp

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I would recommend the Mercury 3.5, 18kg and gets my Honwave 2.4 (air v-floor) on the plane 1 up and although only rated for 3 adults, carries 4 quite happily (large diameter tubes) steers AND rows very well. I was lucky, bought mine ex display with a small leak, easily fixed, for £300. Ron Hale did a good deal on the engine last year, £535 I think, probably a bit more now, though. A good combination, very happy........except the weight of the dink and to be honest, it doesn't roll up very small..........I live with it, if you can run to a decent 'leccy inflater (about £65) blowing it up is an 8 minute job, including finishing off with the footpump for the floor. They tow behind my boat well, too.

 

[whisper]

Thanks for the replies and pm's.

Zodiac have bought out Avon and Bombard so are currently restructuring their lines to fit within the three name brands. All three brands are at the quality end of the scale.

The Bombard Max 3+ 2.7m can be got for £530 new so I will probably go with that (VERY good price!!).

Engine are a bit more tricky, The suggestion is that a 2.5 hp 4 stroke is not really going to be powerful enough for 4 people. I would like a Honda but they only do 2.5hp or 5hp, the latter being big and expensive. A Marina or Mercury 3.5 hp can be had for £570 so will probably go with the former. Does anyone know if Mariners are any good - I would really like a Japanese engine if possible.

Thanks

I've got both a Honda 2.3 and a Mercury 3.5. 4 stroke.
The former is lighter, louder and has an annoying centrifugal clutch that means that when you start up from cold you can lurch forwards.
The Mercury is a rebadged Tohatsu, as is the Mariner 3.5. It's heavier, quieter, noticeably more powerful but has been less reliable than the Honda.
By choice I'd buy a 2nd hand Tohatsu/Mercury/Mariner 3.5hp 2 stroke which will have IIRC a reverse gear.