Zodiac white inflatable, durability!

[seumask]

I believe that most of the cheaper Zodiac's are PVC. I’m thinking of taking on a secondhand one from 2000 which has had a sheltered life but I’m worried that it might deteriorate (ie go off white and sticky) as I've seen some of the less well known makes go. Has anyone had this experience with a white zodiac or are they similar to the normal ones.

 

[VicS]

Zodiac are at least one of the better makes ... perhaps. The secret with PVC is to keep it out of the sun except when actually in use.

With the exception of some pre 1968 models and their commercial range Zodiacs are PVC according to Polymarine

 

[JamesFrance]

My red Bombard is PVC too and the materiel still looks as good as new after 15 years, it too has had a sheltered life and not used every year.

 

[pcatterall]

Well ther's good PVC and Bad PVC ( I.E lots of filler, cheap plasticisers etc) I guess that Zodiac will be using good quality stuff. White should help delay aging through sunlight/heat and sun;ight. Beware repeated tight folding esecially at low temperatures.

 

[themons]

We had a grey PVC Zodiac. It was stored inside a garage. We only took it out a few times. Within five years, the plasticizer was leaching out of the material making the inflatable "sticky".

Either go hard or go Hypalon.

 

[asteven221]

I bought a Zodiac (cadet I think it's called) in about 1988 and binned it a few weeks ago, as it just had too many patches. There was no signes of stickyness or any breakdown of the PVC so I wouldn't worry about the quality of Zodiac. I bought a white Zodiac Yachtline 340 about 6 years ago and it was stored on davits 24/7/365 since new. It's in perfect condition the last time I looked in my garage, where it's gathering dust now that I have moved from a mobo to rag & stick.

 

[ccscott49]

I had a zodiac furtura, first one was a 4.2 meter, was great and is still going strong now, 17 years old!! I bought another smaller one 3.6 meter, in 2000 it lasted 7 years and literally fell to pieces, was going sticky after 2 years, tried to get it replaced under warranty, no go, just got shooed away, then left UK, and it just got worse until the bionding to theb transom gave up the ghost and it fell to bits, Crap!
Bought a second hand yachtline 3.4, white, this one is fine! Only reason I bought zodiac again, was it was very cheqap!! And my old Avon 3.4 rib was seriously damaged in a storm.