Inflatable Dingies

[sigbear]

Any opinions on West Marine vs. Aqua Max inflatable Dingies?

I want an inflatable to go with my sailboat that is on a lake and will probably be used about 6 weeks a year and then stored. I saw one at west Marine for $850 last month but didn't like the floor. Aqua Max has one with a inflatable floor for just a few bucks less but I know nothing of this company or if their boats are better/worse/same as West Marine.

I will also be buying a 4-6hp outboard for the boat.

Sigbear

 

[Chuck Creel]

the ru-260 rollup is a great little inflatable

 

[Steve Dion]

Just be sure that you buy hypalon. PVC is much better than it was many years ago, but still cannot compete with hypalon.

If you store it each year it may last longer than you will.

 

[Ken Cross]

I don't use one of those because we don't dinghy much. They are heavy and difficult to stow.

For occasional use I keep an inflatable from Costco on board. It works great on the rare occasion we use it.

We store it on the bow in it's stuff sack. It weighs about 15 or 20 lbs.
Homemade motor mount. Inflated length is 10 feet 6.
Cost new $85 including pump, bag, and oars. (The motor was extra.)
It rows badly, but it works. With the motor it's great, plus I have a spare motor that could push me into a slip if the diesel fails or take me fishing on a small lake.

 

[Ken Cross]

It is about 16X16X20 inches in the bag. I keep it in the cabin or tied at the bow pulpit when on long trips. In the photo is my sister (center), niece, and nephew.

 

[Ed Schenck]

The right dinghy and motor combination is a conundrum for me. My eight foot Avon with 2hp has been adequate for anything I have ever done. Mostly getting to shore from an anchorage or visiting another boat for drinks. But many on this board want and have much more. If you are on a mooring with possible high winds and/or a big chop then more horses and, maybe, a better dinghy are in order. If you cruise a lot where you have to anchor far out where conditions vary a lot, same thing. But I don't anchor unless in very protected waters so for me the rubber boat with 2hp is fine.

 

[dscribner]

I had an inflatable and I hated it. Maybe it was the brand, but it was hard to tow. The bow would dive down into the water but about 100 lbs of drag on the stern of mt 25 footer. No, that didn't cost me a knot or two. So, a friend of mine hooked me up with a piece of junk fiberglass dinghy. I evicted a few mice, then sealed up their front door in my skeg, a few coats of paint and it looks like . . . ok, it still a piece of junk with some paint on it, but it tows great, takes my trolling motor. And gives me access to the islands. My lovely bride really didn't like getting into the inflatable either. Even though it had a "hard" bottom, it took a few disco moves to get settled.

 

[DougM]

Be careful of West Marine... there have been postings on this site with issues of the floor separating from the tubes.

I went ahead and spent the money for a Zodiac 310 with an air floor, I store it in the winter inflated and hanging in slings from my garage ceiling. It has held air over 2 winters.

I have an 8hp 4cycle Yamaha outboard which is great, but no doubt more than necessary. It really runs quietly though and planes the dinghy easily with 2 of us in it.