Does anyone have experience with some of the newer high-pressure inflatable floor boats? How do you like them? Thanks.
- Status
We have a zodiac
The RICH WANDER-ER has been sailing with a infl. floor zodiac for 2 years and we love it.It stows easy ,is light,and goes well with a 9.9. We had a wood floor model befor ,I will not go back.Gilligan the sailing Beagle is the biggest fan.
The RICH WANDER-ER has been sailing with a infl. floor zodiac for 2 years and we love it.It stows easy ,is light,and goes well with a 9.9. We had a wood floor model befor ,I will not go back.Gilligan the sailing Beagle is the biggest fan.
High Pressure Floors
We have had a Zodiac high pressure floor inflatable for about three years now. It is absolutely a great improvement over the Achilles we used to have wiith the wooden floors that had to be maintained, took up more space on the boat and weighed about thirty pounds more. I can easily handle the Zodiac myself. I simply take it out on the deck, inflate it with the high speed inflator, top off the pressure of the floor with the pump that comes with the inflatable and then singlehandedly toss it overboard. The only downside is that the pump is designed for high volume and using it to get the floor inflated to the proper pressure is a trial. The boat performs fine and the floor is comfortable when it is necessary to kneel on it.
We have had a Zodiac high pressure floor inflatable for about three years now. It is absolutely a great improvement over the Achilles we used to have wiith the wooden floors that had to be maintained, took up more space on the boat and weighed about thirty pounds more. I can easily handle the Zodiac myself. I simply take it out on the deck, inflate it with the high speed inflator, top off the pressure of the floor with the pump that comes with the inflatable and then singlehandedly toss it overboard. The only downside is that the pump is designed for high volume and using it to get the floor inflated to the proper pressure is a trial. The boat performs fine and the floor is comfortable when it is necessary to kneel on it.
Ditto
With two seasons on my Zodiac 285 with the high pressure floor I've got to say I'm very pleased with it. It tows fine and at 55 lbs. I can haul it up on deck myself. 2 1/2 HP is enough to get it up on plane with just me aboard. We've had 5 adults in it and towed a second inflatable with 4 more with the 2 1/2. That drew some stares and laughter in the anchorage! You won't do badly with the Zodiac.
With two seasons on my Zodiac 285 with the high pressure floor I've got to say I'm very pleased with it. It tows fine and at 55 lbs. I can haul it up on deck myself. 2 1/2 HP is enough to get it up on plane with just me aboard. We've had 5 adults in it and towed a second inflatable with 4 more with the 2 1/2. That drew some stares and laughter in the anchorage! You won't do badly with the Zodiac.
Me too, Zodiak
I had the Zodiak fast cadet Roller 310 I think it was called. 9'4" with roller floor and 4hp HP johnson. Dink was great especially with kids. Not tippy at all, and saftey was our main concern. Light enough to carry on one shoulder INFLATED! 4HP was not enough motor though, always wished I had an 8HP. Just sold it (1996) model for 1800.00 to get a RIB dink with a larger motor. Great floor, nice on the knees too when using the dink to slide along side SERENITY and clean the bottom or boot stripe it didn't wreck you knees! Good Luck Bob Knott S/V Serenity
I had the Zodiak fast cadet Roller 310 I think it was called. 9'4" with roller floor and 4hp HP johnson. Dink was great especially with kids. Not tippy at all, and saftey was our main concern. Light enough to carry on one shoulder INFLATED! 4HP was not enough motor though, always wished I had an 8HP. Just sold it (1996) model for 1800.00 to get a RIB dink with a larger motor. Great floor, nice on the knees too when using the dink to slide along side SERENITY and clean the bottom or boot stripe it didn't wreck you knees! Good Luck Bob Knott S/V Serenity
me three, zodiac
We have a fast roller 310 w/ 5 hp nissan. Very fast with just me (200 lb), goes to displacement mode with kids. The HPIF makes for easy stowage and deployment, but it does undulate over waves. I dont know if my pump just doesnt get the pressure high enough or what, but I could not carry a loaded cooler and other junk like the advert shows.
We have a fast roller 310 w/ 5 hp nissan. Very fast with just me (200 lb), goes to displacement mode with kids. The HPIF makes for easy stowage and deployment, but it does undulate over waves. I dont know if my pump just doesnt get the pressure high enough or what, but I could not carry a loaded cooler and other junk like the advert shows.
Quicksilver
We have had a Quicksilver 8.5 foot inflatable floor and keel for 2 years. It is great. 75 pounds. Tows great. planes with one adult and out 3.5 hp mercury engine. carries 4 adults easy. We stow it on the deck and keep it inflated all season. Occasionally have to top off pressure, particularly as the weather gets colder.
We have had a Quicksilver 8.5 foot inflatable floor and keel for 2 years. It is great. 75 pounds. Tows great. planes with one adult and out 3.5 hp mercury engine. carries 4 adults easy. We stow it on the deck and keep it inflated all season. Occasionally have to top off pressure, particularly as the weather gets colder.
Zodiac Cadet 8.5'
I have a Zodiac Cadet 8'6" with the high-pressure floor. It is just small enough (barely) that I can stow it inside the port transom locker on a 410. This boat doesn't plane as easily as the larger models because of its short waterline, and I am unable to get my 200 lbs on a plane with a 3.5 horse engine. That said, it is a marvelous boat in terms of how easily I can blow it up once anchored. I have a little 12v pump, which needs to be topped off with a manual pump to get the boat all the way up to pressure. The floor/keel combination makes this Zode plenty stiff to go through light to moderate surf to a beach. My only complaint is about the oarlocks, which are somewhat fragile. I rarely tow it, because the boat is so light that it's easy to flip up onto the fordeck. Makes a great place to sit when you're watching the dolphins ride the bow wave.
I have a Zodiac Cadet 8'6" with the high-pressure floor. It is just small enough (barely) that I can stow it inside the port transom locker on a 410. This boat doesn't plane as easily as the larger models because of its short waterline, and I am unable to get my 200 lbs on a plane with a 3.5 horse engine. That said, it is a marvelous boat in terms of how easily I can blow it up once anchored. I have a little 12v pump, which needs to be topped off with a manual pump to get the boat all the way up to pressure. The floor/keel combination makes this Zode plenty stiff to go through light to moderate surf to a beach. My only complaint is about the oarlocks, which are somewhat fragile. I rarely tow it, because the boat is so light that it's easy to flip up onto the fordeck. Makes a great place to sit when you're watching the dolphins ride the bow wave.
Zodiac Downside
I have a 1997 Cadet Fast Roller 285 (9'4") that I bought new. It is great for storage although I keep it inflated all year. Also great on the knees for kneeling and very light (55#). However, I find there are some downsides. Although I pump it to rated pressure, I find that the floor is nowhere near as stiff as a wooden floor model and it flexes over the waves. I have a 3.5hp kicker and it will not get me on plane by myself (220#). It steers badly and does not track at low speeds. I have noticed that there are some (possibly newer) models that have twin plastic blades about 15" long and 2" deep attached to the bottom. I am going to investigate those to see if they will help the tracking problem. When turning at low speed, the boat just slips sideways. The inflatible keel is not effective. My previous Achilles had a similiar keel but was a wooden floor boat and it steered great. I only tow it short distances, but this year after 3 seasons, I found a defect in one of the side tubes that looks like separation of the plys. I am taking it to a Zodiac repair facility in January for evaluation and repair. Bottom line, I'm not sorry I bought it, but I am disappointed in some performance features that I took for granted and expected.
I have a 1997 Cadet Fast Roller 285 (9'4") that I bought new. It is great for storage although I keep it inflated all year. Also great on the knees for kneeling and very light (55#). However, I find there are some downsides. Although I pump it to rated pressure, I find that the floor is nowhere near as stiff as a wooden floor model and it flexes over the waves. I have a 3.5hp kicker and it will not get me on plane by myself (220#). It steers badly and does not track at low speeds. I have noticed that there are some (possibly newer) models that have twin plastic blades about 15" long and 2" deep attached to the bottom. I am going to investigate those to see if they will help the tracking problem. When turning at low speed, the boat just slips sideways. The inflatible keel is not effective. My previous Achilles had a similiar keel but was a wooden floor boat and it steered great. I only tow it short distances, but this year after 3 seasons, I found a defect in one of the side tubes that looks like separation of the plys. I am taking it to a Zodiac repair facility in January for evaluation and repair. Bottom line, I'm not sorry I bought it, but I am disappointed in some performance features that I took for granted and expected.
Avon Good Too
We've used an Avon 9 footer with an inflatable floor for two years. There are many things I like about it, however, towing it is one of the best. It doesn't slow us down one bit. And it is less tipsy then anything I've had. Haven't bought a motor for it so I appreciate all the comments so far on this thread. Oh, yes, when it rains the water says under the floor so you stay dry. Amazing. And its easy to pump dry by sitting in the bow and pumping from there. It is a good dinghy.
We've used an Avon 9 footer with an inflatable floor for two years. There are many things I like about it, however, towing it is one of the best. It doesn't slow us down one bit. And it is less tipsy then anything I've had. Haven't bought a motor for it so I appreciate all the comments so far on this thread. Oh, yes, when it rains the water says under the floor so you stay dry. Amazing. And its easy to pump dry by sitting in the bow and pumping from there. It is a good dinghy.
Just bought 285FR
We recently purchased a 285 fast roller, and are impressed so far. Really flies with Mercury 8hp(15-20knts), and is very easy to handle on and off the dock. Originally we were looking for a good used dink, but after checking used supply in Annapolis, decided to buy new. To my suprise, Zodiacs really hold their value.. We will be storing the boat deflated so we did not need a hypalon boat. Zodiac seemed to be the best of the PVCs. Stephen Dawes H260 Tender morsel
We recently purchased a 285 fast roller, and are impressed so far. Really flies with Mercury 8hp(15-20knts), and is very easy to handle on and off the dock. Originally we were looking for a good used dink, but after checking used supply in Annapolis, decided to buy new. To my suprise, Zodiacs really hold their value.. We will be storing the boat deflated so we did not need a hypalon boat. Zodiac seemed to be the best of the PVCs. Stephen Dawes H260 Tender morsel
Air floor..285FR
Zodiac 285FR continued.. The air floor is quite stiff when inflated, but you can feel the waves under the boat. Its kind of neat to feel the bow wave move under the boat as you get on plane! The boat takes about 15 minutes to inflate with the zodiac foot pump which has 3 pressure settings for the different chambers. Our boat has two veins on the underside to improve turing at low and high speeds. My friend who had an older Zodiac said that they made a big difference when cornering. Hope this helps.. Stephen Dawes
Zodiac 285FR continued.. The air floor is quite stiff when inflated, but you can feel the waves under the boat. Its kind of neat to feel the bow wave move under the boat as you get on plane! The boat takes about 15 minutes to inflate with the zodiac foot pump which has 3 pressure settings for the different chambers. Our boat has two veins on the underside to improve turing at low and high speeds. My friend who had an older Zodiac said that they made a big difference when cornering. Hope this helps.. Stephen Dawes
- Status