removehtml]Does anyone have any other than the obvious positives or negatives to each of the 3 floors available in inflatable dinghies? Air and slat seem the easiest to store, which one would be better and for what reasons? Any help appreciated. Thanks, MikeError: Error: expected [/URL], but found [/removehtml] instead[/removehtml]
Inflatable dinghy floor, slat, wood, or air floor
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dinghy floor, slat, wood, or air floor
Slat is the cheapest. Air floor is better for plaining off. If you are buying a dingy to go fast get the air floor. If you are buying one to make it to the beach get the slats. I have the Honda HP2 and slat floor. I am not pgoing anywhere fast!
Slat is the cheapest. Air floor is better for plaining off. If you are buying a dingy to go fast get the air floor. If you are buying one to make it to the beach get the slats. I have the Honda HP2 and slat floor. I am not pgoing anywhere fast!
Air floor
I purchased a high pressure air floor model last spring and am very pleased with it. It gets on plane quickly and tracks very well. I was somewhat concerned about stability when standing as for boarding, however the floor is amazingly stiff with very little deflection when you stand up or move around. Frank
I purchased a high pressure air floor model last spring and am very pleased with it. It gets on plane quickly and tracks very well. I was somewhat concerned about stability when standing as for boarding, however the floor is amazingly stiff with very little deflection when you stand up or move around. Frank
No Air Floor
I had one and gave it away. Got a Rib to replace it. You cannot pump up the air floors enough to keep them stable. Jimbo
I had one and gave it away. Got a Rib to replace it. You cannot pump up the air floors enough to keep them stable. Jimbo
I have a mercury Marine
I have a Mercury Marine Inflatable with an air floor. I find it stiff enough when properly inflated. I really like it. Tony B
I have a Mercury Marine Inflatable with an air floor. I find it stiff enough when properly inflated. I really like it. Tony B
Air floor
I have an Achilles with an air floor. Easy to install and then remove for cleaning. No need to deflate the hull tubes to do so. Important if you carrying a dog, visiting sandy beaches, etc. Comfortable to stand or kneel on yet stable enough to stand on. Not as much as a rigid floor type but that's an easy trade off. You have to make sure the floor is properly inflated to get on plane. Not normally a problem but requires checking when the temps change. Won't get on plane as quickly as a rigid hull though. Biggest plus is I can pack the whole thing up in it's soft sided case and transport it in the trunk of my mid sized car. Given the price, convenience and performance I don't think it can be beat. BTW try checking Defender for leftovers. They have very good prices on last year's models.
I have an Achilles with an air floor. Easy to install and then remove for cleaning. No need to deflate the hull tubes to do so. Important if you carrying a dog, visiting sandy beaches, etc. Comfortable to stand or kneel on yet stable enough to stand on. Not as much as a rigid floor type but that's an easy trade off. You have to make sure the floor is properly inflated to get on plane. Not normally a problem but requires checking when the temps change. Won't get on plane as quickly as a rigid hull though. Biggest plus is I can pack the whole thing up in it's soft sided case and transport it in the trunk of my mid sized car. Given the price, convenience and performance I don't think it can be beat. BTW try checking Defender for leftovers. They have very good prices on last year's models.
If you get an air floor
put outdoor carpeting down on the floor, it saves the material and is better underfoot. The three or four piece wooden floors are nonsense - just not sustainable to use unless you keep the dinghy inflated all year. Either air floor or the built in slats, and the way you (plan to ) use it will easily determine your choice.
put outdoor carpeting down on the floor, it saves the material and is better underfoot. The three or four piece wooden floors are nonsense - just not sustainable to use unless you keep the dinghy inflated all year. Either air floor or the built in slats, and the way you (plan to ) use it will easily determine your choice.
Air Floor
I have a 10 ft Avon with the air floor. Much of the time it is rolled up in the shed. It rolls up tighter than with the slats, it's lighter, and meets my needs. I have a 3.5 hp Tohatsu which moves the boat at abou 4 - 5 kts enough for getting to the beach. It's light weight is easy to haul up on the davits.
I have a 10 ft Avon with the air floor. Much of the time it is rolled up in the shed. It rolls up tighter than with the slats, it's lighter, and meets my needs. I have a 3.5 hp Tohatsu which moves the boat at abou 4 - 5 kts enough for getting to the beach. It's light weight is easy to haul up on the davits.
"Insert" floor
Totally removable when you roll-up the boat for storage/stowage .... thus can make a tighter 'roll'. Easily Replaceable ... non-skid. Usually the boat has an inflatable vee section under the bow section for good tracking when on a plane. Made of 'masonite' type hard pressed-board and the sections are held stiff by aluminum 'side rails'. (Dogs prefer this type of 'non-skid' flooring plus their nails cant penetrate into the inflatable sections/bottom. Such flooring traps a lot of sand/mud below it. ) To me 'air floors' are like walking on a dead body/corpse. ;-O
Totally removable when you roll-up the boat for storage/stowage .... thus can make a tighter 'roll'. Easily Replaceable ... non-skid. Usually the boat has an inflatable vee section under the bow section for good tracking when on a plane. Made of 'masonite' type hard pressed-board and the sections are held stiff by aluminum 'side rails'. (Dogs prefer this type of 'non-skid' flooring plus their nails cant penetrate into the inflatable sections/bottom. Such flooring traps a lot of sand/mud below it. ) To me 'air floors' are like walking on a dead body/corpse. ;-O
Rich! So you know what if feels like to walk on dead bodies!?
We did as Jim Rushing, gave away our pump-up floor and bought a R.I.B.. Still have it after 14 years and it's going strong. Storage? Forgetaboutit.
We did as Jim Rushing, gave away our pump-up floor and bought a R.I.B.. Still have it after 14 years and it's going strong. Storage? Forgetaboutit.
I was looking at the Sea Eagle RIBs
They have a 8-10 YT (Yacht Tender) that has air floors. I kinda like the 9.2 SB though.
They have a 8-10 YT (Yacht Tender) that has air floors. I kinda like the 9.2 SB though.
Consider a Sea Eagle with
aluminum floorboards that roll up. Provides stable footing-- nothing to install; nothing to remove; nothing to paint, rot, etc. Just unroll and inflate; deflate and roll it up. I bought their 8'1/2"-- has 3 air chambers which is a plus. The Admiral likes the solid feel underfoot too.
aluminum floorboards that roll up. Provides stable footing-- nothing to install; nothing to remove; nothing to paint, rot, etc. Just unroll and inflate; deflate and roll it up. I bought their 8'1/2"-- has 3 air chambers which is a plus. The Admiral likes the solid feel underfoot too.
Inflatable Keel
The inflatable air floor I have also comes with an inflatable keel to help it track better and keep the floor stiffer and formed. Makes for easier storage and deployment but also adds more chances for damage as the airfloor will rip on rough bottoms.
The inflatable air floor I have also comes with an inflatable keel to help it track better and keep the floor stiffer and formed. Makes for easier storage and deployment but also adds more chances for damage as the airfloor will rip on rough bottoms.
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