What type of inflatable boat floor do you like best, wood or high pressure? I know RIBs are the best, but are out of my budget.
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Convience
I use to have inflatable with a wood floor and can still remember trying to get the floor panels to fit correctly. Also, high on the remember list is the finding a place to store the panels not to mention refinishing them several times and how heavy the dang thing was. Needless to say I now have a Zodiac Cadet Fastroller ACTI-V series and what a differance. Storage is no problem since it rolls up in one piece, inflates guickly, can be launched with one man and retrieved on deck with a small amount of efford. I have found that the floor remains hard and the proformance both with an outboard and via oars is much better then then the wood floor models. Which would I want to purchase again? Surely not the wood floor model.
I use to have inflatable with a wood floor and can still remember trying to get the floor panels to fit correctly. Also, high on the remember list is the finding a place to store the panels not to mention refinishing them several times and how heavy the dang thing was. Needless to say I now have a Zodiac Cadet Fastroller ACTI-V series and what a differance. Storage is no problem since it rolls up in one piece, inflates guickly, can be launched with one man and retrieved on deck with a small amount of efford. I have found that the floor remains hard and the proformance both with an outboard and via oars is much better then then the wood floor models. Which would I want to purchase again? Surely not the wood floor model.
Air Deck
I've had plywood floors... Hard to work with. Left the floorboards in all time even when deflated. Last dingy was a Quicksilver/Mercury Air Deck. Great dingy. Got on plane with two adults with a 8hp engine. Now have a RIB. Have to use davits. Runs faster with the 8hp than the air deck. Bottom line the inflatable floor dingys are great. They store easily and when the floor is up to pressure are as hard as wood. Bill
I've had plywood floors... Hard to work with. Left the floorboards in all time even when deflated. Last dingy was a Quicksilver/Mercury Air Deck. Great dingy. Got on plane with two adults with a 8hp engine. Now have a RIB. Have to use davits. Runs faster with the 8hp than the air deck. Bottom line the inflatable floor dingys are great. They store easily and when the floor is up to pressure are as hard as wood. Bill
Inflatable Floor for Sure
Go with the inflatable floor. I've had both and the inflable is sooooo much better. Believe it or not it is also firmer under foot
Go with the inflatable floor. I've had both and the inflable is sooooo much better. Believe it or not it is also firmer under foot
Wood Floors
My original floor boards on my 1990 achilles failed after about 5 years. I replaced them with epoxied marine plywood and they are still going strong with 15 total years on the boat. Not sure how an inflatable floor will hold up over that time...can you put heavy things on them that might gouge and ding the floor? Like a fluke anchor? I've never had an inflatable floor so just wondering if some owners can comment on the durability. They also seem to have less interior volume since the floor is much thicker? dave
My original floor boards on my 1990 achilles failed after about 5 years. I replaced them with epoxied marine plywood and they are still going strong with 15 total years on the boat. Not sure how an inflatable floor will hold up over that time...can you put heavy things on them that might gouge and ding the floor? Like a fluke anchor? I've never had an inflatable floor so just wondering if some owners can comment on the durability. They also seem to have less interior volume since the floor is much thicker? dave
A friend had a choice
between an inflatable floor and wood floor for a Cadet Zodiac. He took the wood floor because he fished a lot from his dinghy. I chose the inflatable floor because of its convenience. We also put in an outdoor carpet which really helps. Stu
between an inflatable floor and wood floor for a Cadet Zodiac. He took the wood floor because he fished a lot from his dinghy. I chose the inflatable floor because of its convenience. We also put in an outdoor carpet which really helps. Stu
The Biggest Problem
with an inflatable floor dingy is finding a good high pressure pump. You need at least 10 lbs/ square inch. That is a lot of pumping with the foot pump high pressure model.
with an inflatable floor dingy is finding a good high pressure pump. You need at least 10 lbs/ square inch. That is a lot of pumping with the foot pump high pressure model.
Inflatable
We use an inflatable Avon 280 with 4hp Yamaha. We keep it on the deck in front of the mast and can launch with the spinnaker halyard in just a few minutes. The 4hp will plane with 1 person, but with two it will not. We are very happy with the rigidity of the floor. When initially inflating the dingy, I use an electric pump. I use the foot pump to top off the high pressure floor and it only takes 40 to 50 strokes to get it firm with the Avon pump.
We use an inflatable Avon 280 with 4hp Yamaha. We keep it on the deck in front of the mast and can launch with the spinnaker halyard in just a few minutes. The 4hp will plane with 1 person, but with two it will not. We are very happy with the rigidity of the floor. When initially inflating the dingy, I use an electric pump. I use the foot pump to top off the high pressure floor and it only takes 40 to 50 strokes to get it firm with the Avon pump.
cost
As I recall, the H.P. Air Floor models cost about 40-50% more than the wood floor models - or has this changed since their introduction?
As I recall, the H.P. Air Floor models cost about 40-50% more than the wood floor models - or has this changed since their introduction?
I had wood floors
in my Avon Rover 310 for the past 14 years. I finally bought a new dinghy with a molded fiberglass, hard bottom at the boat show last year because the Avon was getting tired. I always towed it and left it set up for the season. She served me well for 14 years and was used when I bought her. I think she will be 20 years old this year. Anyway, the deck was constructed of 3 interlocking marine plywood sheets. I replaced 1 section 3 years ago and still going strong. If you plan to leave it set up for the season, fine, but frequent breakdown and setup are a pain in the neck. She will not deploy fast in an emergency.
in my Avon Rover 310 for the past 14 years. I finally bought a new dinghy with a molded fiberglass, hard bottom at the boat show last year because the Avon was getting tired. I always towed it and left it set up for the season. She served me well for 14 years and was used when I bought her. I think she will be 20 years old this year. Anyway, the deck was constructed of 3 interlocking marine plywood sheets. I replaced 1 section 3 years ago and still going strong. If you plan to leave it set up for the season, fine, but frequent breakdown and setup are a pain in the neck. She will not deploy fast in an emergency.
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