Tender quality

[itsonlymoney]

Currently pricing a tender mainly for my 11yr old daughter to row around the marina. A couple of mail order chandlers are advertising Plastimo inflatables 2.4M
for around £332 in 500 demisomething. And £380 for 1100 demisomething. Obviously the latter is the better quality but by how much better. Will the former be ok bearing in mind the required usage. Alternatively if anyone has any other reccomendations feel free to voice them.
Thanks in advance of a reply.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[PaulF]

Had a Metzela ' Jolly M' for about 12 years with much abuse from large dog as its most enthusiastic passenger, withstood sand, claws, including then SWMBO's handbag, and general abuse.Withstood it well, but eventually had to go, the dinghy and SWMBO that is! BUT IT WAS 10 yrs before any leaks appeared in dinghy.

Most inflateables made from this Hypalon stuff, and it seems as tough as hell. Have had 2.4m Plastimo for 4 years no probs. Your 11 yr old unlikely to destroy one!
Good luck. Paul

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[Planty]

Don't know if its of any interest but I have a small 2m+ "Typhoon" (Avon/Zodiac by another name), which is now surplus to. Couple of years old, good nick,Nice little thing, for our kids to row around anyway. They're too big now and insisted on a 3.5 Jet Rib!!
Send me a PM if interested. Paul

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[itsonlymoney]

Paul
Is your Plastimo the 500 demisomething or the 1100.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[itsonlymoney]

Paul check your pm's

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[PaulF]

Hiya, Sorry, How do I check my pm's? Have I got a button to press, or just a screw loose?

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[Talbot]

Your metzler would have been Hypalon, as are the Avon dinghies and avery few other makes. The majority of the lower priced ones are made of a PVC material which obviously will not last as long. The Plastimo 500/1100 material is PVC.

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[Talbot]

The main advantage of the Plastimo 500 material is the weight of the tender. However, It will not last nearly as long, and will be prone to damage. If it is to be used for rowing, strongly suggest that you consider one with an inflatable keel as it will be a lot easier to row in a straight line.

I would suggest that stowage and weight might be a consideration. You might consider a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2474422720&category=384>Seahawk</A> from Ebay

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[PaulF]

Hi Guys,
To be honest dont know what denier it is, but have just checked some marketing guff, they say the 1100 denier has a 4 year warranty, with 2 years for 500 denier. They do not state type of fabric, so as Talbot says prob 'it's PVC' Certainly it has woven fabric reinforcing the outer skin, and they tell you not to let it come into contact with alcohol(eh? that should almost render it useless shouldn't it?) Maybe its ok as long as you dont use IT to actually store the beer in. Doesn't say anything about not breathing out.

Checked pm's and nothing found yet, maybe system delay,

Pass me the paddles, and a beer while you are at it!

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[adarcy]

Re: PM\'s

<<Checked pm's and nothing found yet, maybe system delay,>>

He was replying to Planty who is also a Paul

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[Jim44]

Think they sell a similar boat in Costco for under £100

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[BarryH]

Seems cheap. I got a Bombard ax3 for the kids/tender for 400 quid. 'sposed to be made by Zodiac so I've been told, dunno if its true. Had it for about 4 years now and its lasted well. The kids run it up the beach, turn it upside down and jump off of it. No major scuffs and has never punctured............yet!

Its a slatted floor one, wish I had gon for the aerodeck now but hey ho. Directional stability rowing is ok once you get the knack. I run a little 4 hp 4 stroke mariner on it which is the max it can take. Ok if you like skimming across the water on a soap dish!

The only gripe is the pump, its rubbish. The pipe keeps breaking where it pushes onto the pump and the pump fabric is starting to leak thru cracking. Came with a repair kit too. Lots of patches and glue 'n' stuff. never used it so its still sealed up in its plastic.

How long are these things 'sposed to last before the fabric degrades. There have been some posts about certain dinghies going "sticky" when left in the sun for a period of time.

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[longjohnsilver]

Stickiness

Well if it's the sun that causes it then we won't have any problems here!!

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[Nauti Fox]

Barry,I've got an XM260 with a 6hp ermintrude on the back,the slatted floor almost folds in half as as it comes up,great laugh unless you hit any ripples.
Al

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[jhr]

I've got an ax3 as well. Only in our second season with it but going well so far, meets our needs and seems reasonably robust. I seem to recall that it was best budget buy in a (PBO?) test a while back. Agreed that the pump is rubbish but happily I only use it for topping up after I've inflated the dinghy with a low pressure whatsit pump. Best 70 quid I ever spent, and it inflates the dinghy in a couple of minutes - though at 25 amps you wouldn't want it to take much longer /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I've also got the slatted floor version and I agree that if I knew then what I knew now, I'd have gone for the blow-up floor.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[BarryH]

Did you get the inflatable seat with yours or was it extra?

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[jhr]

It was extra and I didn't get it. I use my elderly Mariner 2hp, which gets us around OK (mostly to and from the mooring and occasionally a mile or so downriver to Buckler's Hard) and didn't think it was worth it. On the one occasion when I have had to row (possibly due to my not having checked the petrol tank before I set off /forums/images/icons/blush.gif) I managed OK from the floor. I'm thinking of getting one, now that the kids have reached an age when I want to teach them to row.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho