Wot No Hypalon Dinghies?

Bilge Rat

Bilge Rat

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Thinking about buying davits and a suitable dinghy to hang on them, I've noticed after a not exactly exhaustive search that none of the usual suspects seem to sell brand new rubber dinghies made of anything other than PVC I always thought that Hypalon was resistant to UV whereas PVC basically isn't and so, if we're going to hang a dinghy on davits and we actually see some sunshine at some point, one made of Hypalon would last much longer and therefore be a better investment. Am I out of date, just plain wrong or is it the all pervasive "throw away society" at work? What say the experts on the forum?
 
Most of the established makers offer Hypalon, although it's unlikely that you'll find them stocked by chandlers. I believe you're right that it will resist UV for longer, still worth putting a cover on it if it's going to be left out for years. Presumably most people buy the PVC as apart from being cheaper, the material is more flexible so it's easier to fold the beast up.

Rob.
 
Thanks, Rob. Looks like we'll have to go direct to the manufacturers. Does anyone have any recommendations / experience of buying a new hypalon dinghy? (I know we could enter the fleabay lottery for an ancient Avon but that could be a high risk strategy.)
 
Hypalon is more than twice the price of even the more expensive PVC boats. PVC has improved out of all recognition in recent years to the point that it is difficult to justify Hypalon - or even find a good choice. Latest PVCs are much more UV resistant, and a simple cover when they are hanging on davits will prolong their life even more.
 
Bilge Rat,

Perhaps looking for a used Avon in good condition might be a possible alternative. I prefer the rubber rowlocks fitted to traditional Avons as well.
The inflatables with fixed oars are so difficult to row.
 
Ed Banyard of Tamar Inflatables in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, made me a custom 3-man Hypalon dinghy some years ago which is still going strong and which I have been very pleased with. They will carry out repairs and replacements of any worn parts and I highly recommend their services, which includes liferaft hire, lifejacket servicing, etc. You can reach him on 01208 873777 and there is a website www.liferafts-inflatables.com. Good luck with your search.
 
My PVC Quicksilver 270 is just ten years old. It has been largely towed all the way from Holland to Greece for that period. On longer crossings we will usually deflate and stow it but otherwise it sits in the Med sun constantly. Its hull tubes remain in excellent condition, no sign of UV degradation whatsoever.

The Airdeck failed by going sticky, apparently a recognised material fault. It was replaced under guarantee by the manufacturers, even though it was then six years old. It had a quilted appearance and is common to many makes, including Avon. Avoid that sort, make sure yours is smooth with two or three non-slip patches attached, and you will have no problems.

As said above, modern PVCs are greatly improved and IMHO as good as Hypalon.
 
rob2 said:
the material is more flexible so it's easier to fold the beast up.

Rob.
Click to expand...

Having just bought an Excel PVC dinghy and comparing it with my old Avon of much the same size, you are mistaken. The PVC is much harder to fold. Heavier too by some margin.
 
Twister_Ken said:
Lodestar do both. The Hypalon ones are an eye-watering price. I reckoned I could buy PVC and have enough leftover to buy another PVC years down the line, compared with getting a mortgage for a Hypalon one in the first place.

http://www.rochemarine.co.uk/products/NSA-Hypalon-Range.html
Click to expand...

I've got one of the older Lodestar dinghies (slightly narrower) with inflatable floor and keel, that were made in Korea - I believe they are made in China now.

They (or at least mine) are in a heavier pvc to other dinghies, and slightly heavier, but well worth having even if a bit more expensive.

It hangs on the davits all summer with no cover over it. The only bit of stickiness has been on the two triangles of material that prevent outboard splashes over the transom. To get rid of the stickiness, I cleaned just the triangles with acetone, and then painted them with matching grey Polymarine Superflex pvc paint. That was three years ago, and no deterioration since.

I had a Bombard AX3 before, and the inflatable floor went completely sticky. I did the same with that - acetoned and painted it with Superflex. Cure.
 
I went through the new dinghy exercise earlier this year, our last PVC one was UV knackered after 5 years uncovered in the sun. There are Hypalon ones around but at 2-3 times the price of PVC. Ended up with a Waveline PVC 2.9 (which has the Avon type rowlocks on the lates models) but have made tube covers to keep the sun off.
 
I have a large (bigger than Redcrest, more like Redshank) Lifeguard Hyperlon inflatable with wooden seats and wooden slatted floor. Certified for 5 Adults. Easily takes 4 people and their gear in one go. Its now 23 years old and has been used for every trip to my swinging mooring. What amazes me is how neat a package it rolls up into making stowage of an awkward object as simple as possible.

Its just a real shame they no longer make them. I believe Lifeguard now only make commercial liferafts.
 
wotayottie said:
Having just bought an Excel PVC dinghy and comparing it with my old Avon of much the same size, you are mistaken. The PVC is much harder to fold. Heavier too by some margin.
Click to expand...

+1 .... Our Y2K Avon Compact 2.5 is
- a similar size to our Plastimo 2.2m packed away
- half the size of our no name 2.7m packed away
Not to be confused with weight though .... the Avon is the heaviest!
 
fastjedi said:
+1 .... Our Y2K Avon Compact 2.5 is
- a similar size to our Plastimo 2.2m packed away
- half the size of our no name 2.7m packed away
Not to be confused with weight though .... the Avon is the heaviest!
Click to expand...

Weight - err maybe, maybe not.

Lodestar 230 PVC, 27kg
Lodestar 230 Hyp, 24kg.

Probably means Lodestar (at least) is using really beefy PVC to match Hypalon's extra strength.
 
wotayottie said:
Having just bought an Excel PVC dinghy and comparing it with my old Avon of much the same size, you are mistaken. The PVC is much harder to fold. Heavier too by some margin.
Click to expand...

PVC is rigid in when cold. I reckon my old PVC dinghy started to leak because of the number of times it was packed away in cold weather.

Does hypalon have similar problems?
 
We had an Avon Hypalon dinghy with an inflatable floor. We were told the whole dinghy was Hypalon but as we were to find out the floor wasn't. It went sticky with UV damage. We complained to Avon and they sent a new floor to Veneula free. Jane made a canvas cover for the floor.
 
I picked up an Avon Rover 2.50 from eBay as I fitted davits on my boat a few years ago and I'm very pleased with it.

I purchased it off a motorboater retiring from the water, it was about 5 years old but had very little wear and even came with davit lifting points fitted and a number of extras.

It's been great and I paid about the same as buying a new cheap PVC inflatable -much less than a new PVC Zodiac or Honda

The Avon Redcrest, which it replaced, was sold on eBay and it made good money.

The Rover is a super dinghy, I've never had any trouble with it or it's inflatable floor and it just about planes with my son in it with a Mercury 3.3hp motor. It's a shame they don't make them anymore.

If I look after it, I reckon it will see me out!
 
Hypalon is no longer made by DuPont, so I suppose the alternative Hypalon-like fabrics are more expensive, due to lower supply, which adds to the already more costly manufacturing process to account for the increasingly large difference in price over pvc.
Or I may be completely wrong.
But it does look as though Hypalon dinghies are pricing themselves out of contention.
 
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