I am shopping for an inflatable and have looked at West Marine, Avon, Mercury and Zodiac. I believe about a nine foot inflatable would fit my wife's and my needs. We're sailors. Most boaters at our marina say buy only a West Marine brand; however, I can save may be $400 buying Mercury or a used Avon or Zodiac. I'm looking for opinions of those owning an inflatable. Also, I seriously thinking about powering said infaltable with the new Mercury 3.5 four stroke. Any suggestions on outboards? Thanks, Art
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Any one should be fine
Most of the West Marine inflatables are made by Zodiak. So is Avon. We recently purchased a 10' 2" semi-rigid inflatable from Bombard (also made by Zodiak) and am very happy with it. We like the solid bottom, as it's better for beaching. We have a 2HP Honda, which works well for us. We'd need a much larger engine to get a dingy to plane, so lighter in weight won out.
Most of the West Marine inflatables are made by Zodiak. So is Avon. We recently purchased a 10' 2" semi-rigid inflatable from Bombard (also made by Zodiak) and am very happy with it. We like the solid bottom, as it's better for beaching. We have a 2HP Honda, which works well for us. We'd need a much larger engine to get a dingy to plane, so lighter in weight won out.
Purchased a Zodiak Zoom 260
through the internet from Boaters World. 8'6" roll up with wooden slats under $950. It replaced and older 11' Zodiac that had seen better days. I used it a couple of times with a 5HP four stroke Tohatsu and it did very well but the engine was a little heavy to get up and down the boat. Now have a 3.3HP two stroke Mercury which weighs in at 29 lbs with gas. It powers the boat just as well as the Tohatsu did. The selling price included shipping and they do not charge any tax but if you register it with your state they will probably get the sales tax. I think I paid like $70 includying the one year tag fee. I move the boom to one side and inflate the boat on deck on top of the companionway. When ready I attach the main halyard to a bridle and lift the boat up until I can pick up its stern and swing it over the lifelines. I lower the boat unto the water and tie of the painter unto a cleat and remove the halyard. To retreive I reverse the operation using the halyard. The boat weighs 74 lbs but with the aid of the halyard I just need to muscle like 30lbs. When moving from one anchorage to the next I just tow it. Inflatables have a lot of stability when stepping in and out of the boat and they can carry a lot weight but they are hard to row and you have to be careful with the surfaces it comes in contact with. On passages we carry it on deck at the bow.
through the internet from Boaters World. 8'6" roll up with wooden slats under $950. It replaced and older 11' Zodiac that had seen better days. I used it a couple of times with a 5HP four stroke Tohatsu and it did very well but the engine was a little heavy to get up and down the boat. Now have a 3.3HP two stroke Mercury which weighs in at 29 lbs with gas. It powers the boat just as well as the Tohatsu did. The selling price included shipping and they do not charge any tax but if you register it with your state they will probably get the sales tax. I think I paid like $70 includying the one year tag fee. I move the boom to one side and inflate the boat on deck on top of the companionway. When ready I attach the main halyard to a bridle and lift the boat up until I can pick up its stern and swing it over the lifelines. I lower the boat unto the water and tie of the painter unto a cleat and remove the halyard. To retreive I reverse the operation using the halyard. The boat weighs 74 lbs but with the aid of the halyard I just need to muscle like 30lbs. When moving from one anchorage to the next I just tow it. Inflatables have a lot of stability when stepping in and out of the boat and they can carry a lot weight but they are hard to row and you have to be careful with the surfaces it comes in contact with. On passages we carry it on deck at the bow.
Nothing wrong with an Avon
Art: There is nothing wrong with an Avon. I would also suggest that you take a look at the AB & Caribe units. They also make light weight RIB's with a single ply bottom. If below deck storage is not a major concern, these are some really great units. The weigh just a little more than an inflatable and are much better for motoring.
Art: There is nothing wrong with an Avon. I would also suggest that you take a look at the AB & Caribe units. They also make light weight RIB's with a single ply bottom. If below deck storage is not a major concern, these are some really great units. The weigh just a little more than an inflatable and are much better for motoring.
Try Defenders
Try www.defender.com thay have various brands and great prices. Many times you can grab a leftover for a conisderable savings. That's where I got my Achilles. It's made of hypalon which is resistent to virtually all chemicals. Just dont buy a white one as the dirt and mildew spots can be a lot of work to remove.
Try www.defender.com thay have various brands and great prices. Many times you can grab a leftover for a conisderable savings. That's where I got my Achilles. It's made of hypalon which is resistent to virtually all chemicals. Just dont buy a white one as the dirt and mildew spots can be a lot of work to remove.
Check Out BRIG
I bought a BRIG at the Newport show two years ago. Hard Bottom w/integrated hard transom. But it is made of PVC. So you may need to keep it covered. A lot cheaper than AVON/ZODIAC. I had an Avon (hypalon) for 11 years. You'll have to Google them to find them.
I bought a BRIG at the Newport show two years ago. Hard Bottom w/integrated hard transom. But it is made of PVC. So you may need to keep it covered. A lot cheaper than AVON/ZODIAC. I had an Avon (hypalon) for 11 years. You'll have to Google them to find them.
Avon Rover 280
I have an Avon Rover 280 ( 9' 4")with a 4HP Yamaha 4 stroke. My floor is high pressure air and the dingy weight is 66 lbs. Easily launched using my spinnaker halyard. I would recommend you purchase Hypalon and not PVC. The PVC is less resistant to UV radiation and also will dissolve in gasoline, Hypalon is gasoline resistant. The 4HP will not plane with two in the dingy. With one, it will plane if you move forward and barely have control of the motor handle. Half throttle with two is almost as fast as full throttle. It works fine for us on Kentucky Lake. With the 3.5 you should have similar results with a 9' dingy. If you want a fast dingy, get a hard fiberglass bottom with inflatable tubes and an 8HP motor. It will plane well loaded and will keep you dryer. It also weighs a lot more and takes more storage room.
I have an Avon Rover 280 ( 9' 4")with a 4HP Yamaha 4 stroke. My floor is high pressure air and the dingy weight is 66 lbs. Easily launched using my spinnaker halyard. I would recommend you purchase Hypalon and not PVC. The PVC is less resistant to UV radiation and also will dissolve in gasoline, Hypalon is gasoline resistant. The 4HP will not plane with two in the dingy. With one, it will plane if you move forward and barely have control of the motor handle. Half throttle with two is almost as fast as full throttle. It works fine for us on Kentucky Lake. With the 3.5 you should have similar results with a 9' dingy. If you want a fast dingy, get a hard fiberglass bottom with inflatable tubes and an 8HP motor. It will plane well loaded and will keep you dryer. It also weighs a lot more and takes more storage room.
WM has a great Advisors
on choosing a dinghy. We don't know where you sail or what you intend to do with the dinghy. Short little boat to island stuff? -- small dinghy, tiny engine, maybe just oars. Longer sprints and being out there? BIGGEST dinghy you can find with a BIG motor. Size of your boat? Info needed for your storage needs. Art, there's lots out there. Unless you KNOW what you are looking at, I would suggest new. Any motor can be handled with a Garhauer dinghy lift. We have a Zodiac -- bought new -- 10'-2" w/ 9.9 used Evinrude 2 stroke. We like ti. Anything small wouldn't be right. High pressure air floor is great. Slats and plywood floors are bad news and too much work. An RIB is way expensive. Your boatS, your choice.
on choosing a dinghy. We don't know where you sail or what you intend to do with the dinghy. Short little boat to island stuff? -- small dinghy, tiny engine, maybe just oars. Longer sprints and being out there? BIGGEST dinghy you can find with a BIG motor. Size of your boat? Info needed for your storage needs. Art, there's lots out there. Unless you KNOW what you are looking at, I would suggest new. Any motor can be handled with a Garhauer dinghy lift. We have a Zodiac -- bought new -- 10'-2" w/ 9.9 used Evinrude 2 stroke. We like ti. Anything small wouldn't be right. High pressure air floor is great. Slats and plywood floors are bad news and too much work. An RIB is way expensive. Your boatS, your choice.
What Are You Waiting For!
Get your butt to a West Marine store this weekend and "I" know you will save 10% on a boat. All in your marina say to get one, why wait!!! 3.5 4 stroke what is that? Its either a 4-5-6, 4stroke, maybe a 3.3, 2stroke? mt .02$ worth. Rob Hessenius
Get your butt to a West Marine store this weekend and "I" know you will save 10% on a boat. All in your marina say to get one, why wait!!! 3.5 4 stroke what is that? Its either a 4-5-6, 4stroke, maybe a 3.3, 2stroke? mt .02$ worth. Rob Hessenius
Achilles
Stay outta Worst Marine whenever possible. The days of them being a 'real' chandlery are done and gone. They have mucho crap now, sell some real garbage PVC 'inflatables' that won't last three years. Japan's Achilles is best, lotta good ones, Avon, Bombadier, Boston Whaler (yes, inflatable, I had one), but you get more for your money with the Achilles, good quality all hyperlon. Keep it outta the sun it will last ten to 15 years. Nissan - Tohautsu (same engine) is best bang-for-the-buck.
Stay outta Worst Marine whenever possible. The days of them being a 'real' chandlery are done and gone. They have mucho crap now, sell some real garbage PVC 'inflatables' that won't last three years. Japan's Achilles is best, lotta good ones, Avon, Bombadier, Boston Whaler (yes, inflatable, I had one), but you get more for your money with the Achilles, good quality all hyperlon. Keep it outta the sun it will last ten to 15 years. Nissan - Tohautsu (same engine) is best bang-for-the-buck.
New O/B, get at least an 8HP
My O/B is a 2 STROKE Johnson 4HP on 10'-6" INFLATABLE. I bought it when i had a smaller sailboat. My instincts told me to get a 6 or 8HP but my final decision was based on engine weight. Depending on where and what you are sailing on should determine the engine size. My 4HP was a mistake. It will take me and GF at 6 Knots in calm water and just miss getting into a plane with me alone ( 200+ lbs). Now I wish I had gotten the bigger engine. I hate to sell the one I got since it is only 3 years old. Where we sail on the northern Gulf Coast, there are many uninhabited islands to explore and camp on. Dont repeat my mistake. Get at least 8HP. When you need to get back in a hurry, the extra speed will be good to have. Also, when anchored out and gunkholeing, Its nice to get past whatever you saw yesterday, in a hurry , and to new territory today. Unless of course, you are young, you have no job or obligations and can stay somewhere a for a long time. Best of luck in whatever you decide.
My O/B is a 2 STROKE Johnson 4HP on 10'-6" INFLATABLE. I bought it when i had a smaller sailboat. My instincts told me to get a 6 or 8HP but my final decision was based on engine weight. Depending on where and what you are sailing on should determine the engine size. My 4HP was a mistake. It will take me and GF at 6 Knots in calm water and just miss getting into a plane with me alone ( 200+ lbs). Now I wish I had gotten the bigger engine. I hate to sell the one I got since it is only 3 years old. Where we sail on the northern Gulf Coast, there are many uninhabited islands to explore and camp on. Dont repeat my mistake. Get at least 8HP. When you need to get back in a hurry, the extra speed will be good to have. Also, when anchored out and gunkholeing, Its nice to get past whatever you saw yesterday, in a hurry , and to new territory today. Unless of course, you are young, you have no job or obligations and can stay somewhere a for a long time. Best of luck in whatever you decide.
Having owned quite a few..
I can tell you DON'T buy a PVC boat especially one made by Zodiac which includes the WM brand. Zodiac does NOT stand behind warranty issues period! This time around I purchased an AB Ventus Light series made of Hypalon not PVC. I have not even had to put air in it, except in the early spring when it's very cold, and then by June I actually have to let some out. I've now owned it for two and a half seasons and it has never leaked a drop of air. The AB VL series is priced very competitively for a RIB and nothing has gone worng with this boat. The best part is that it only weighs 95lbs.. Zodiac had a problem a few years back with the PVC compound causing sticky floors and hull tubes. They knew they had a problem but tried to run away from every warranty issue they had. It took me almost two years of badgering and still I got nothing. I finally took my story to every online boating forum I could find with dates, times, people I spoke with etc. etc. and within two days I had an e-mail from the president of Zodiac North America wondering what he could do. Hmmm it's okay to treat one customer poorly but when that customer stands to impact your bottom line by telling thousands of boaters haw bad your company is to deal with the story changes?? My neighbor had the same exact issue with a WM branded Zodiac and he gave up trying and never did get a new hull and floor. West Marine pawned him off on Zodiac and they did nothing for him just like they tried to do with me. Don't be fooled by the WM name the warranty is still handled by Zodiac and they suck!
I can tell you DON'T buy a PVC boat especially one made by Zodiac which includes the WM brand. Zodiac does NOT stand behind warranty issues period! This time around I purchased an AB Ventus Light series made of Hypalon not PVC. I have not even had to put air in it, except in the early spring when it's very cold, and then by June I actually have to let some out. I've now owned it for two and a half seasons and it has never leaked a drop of air. The AB VL series is priced very competitively for a RIB and nothing has gone worng with this boat. The best part is that it only weighs 95lbs.. Zodiac had a problem a few years back with the PVC compound causing sticky floors and hull tubes. They knew they had a problem but tried to run away from every warranty issue they had. It took me almost two years of badgering and still I got nothing. I finally took my story to every online boating forum I could find with dates, times, people I spoke with etc. etc. and within two days I had an e-mail from the president of Zodiac North America wondering what he could do. Hmmm it's okay to treat one customer poorly but when that customer stands to impact your bottom line by telling thousands of boaters haw bad your company is to deal with the story changes?? My neighbor had the same exact issue with a WM branded Zodiac and he gave up trying and never did get a new hull and floor. West Marine pawned him off on Zodiac and they did nothing for him just like they tried to do with me. Don't be fooled by the WM name the warranty is still handled by Zodiac and they suck!
Mercury Inflatable and Tohatsu motor
Art, I purchased the murcury brand inflatable with inflatable keel (sports model - can't remember number, something like 260 or 280) and the tohatsu 3.5 4 stroke last season. I did it at Defender's warehouse sale and got a great deal because it was last years models. According to the folks at defender, tohatsu makes the smaller motors for Mercusy as well as nissan. We used the boat a ton last season and it worked great. We did buy the cover since it was PVC. The motor is prtty light to hump around and the inflatable we left inflated all season long....it can be a chore to deflate and disassemble and reassemble in a cockpit.
Art, I purchased the murcury brand inflatable with inflatable keel (sports model - can't remember number, something like 260 or 280) and the tohatsu 3.5 4 stroke last season. I did it at Defender's warehouse sale and got a great deal because it was last years models. According to the folks at defender, tohatsu makes the smaller motors for Mercusy as well as nissan. We used the boat a ton last season and it worked great. We did buy the cover since it was PVC. The motor is prtty light to hump around and the inflatable we left inflated all season long....it can be a chore to deflate and disassemble and reassemble in a cockpit.
Save a TON
I have been tracking the sales of inflatables on E-bay and several models for 3 months now, one boat,those from Baltic for a 9-10-11' model are selling for $500-$700. I have now seen these boats at Catalina and they are as nice and well made as any from West Marine etc.. For the price you pay at WM or other fine retail outlet, you could buy 3 or 4 of these. No contest. Check it out -no reason to buy retail.
I have been tracking the sales of inflatables on E-bay and several models for 3 months now, one boat,those from Baltic for a 9-10-11' model are selling for $500-$700. I have now seen these boats at Catalina and they are as nice and well made as any from West Marine etc.. For the price you pay at WM or other fine retail outlet, you could buy 3 or 4 of these. No contest. Check it out -no reason to buy retail.
Baltic inflatables
I purchase an 11' Baltic inflatable on eBay and am very satisfied so far. It came complete with 2 seats, pump, valve and repair kit. For the money i couldn't find a better deal. Ralph "Wolfhelm" Catalina 350
I purchase an 11' Baltic inflatable on eBay and am very satisfied so far. It came complete with 2 seats, pump, valve and repair kit. For the money i couldn't find a better deal. Ralph "Wolfhelm" Catalina 350
Rich Stidger?
You indicated that you had problems with your fsirly new dink. Did you, by chance, use Armor-All (or similar) on the dink? This is a no-no because it attacks the glue and renders it useless. Just curious.
You indicated that you had problems with your fsirly new dink. Did you, by chance, use Armor-All (or similar) on the dink? This is a no-no because it attacks the glue and renders it useless. Just curious.
Paul Akers, no Armor-All or anything like it
The only cleaner I ever used was Amazon Inflatible Cleaner. It was recommended to me by a Zodiac dealer in Essex, CT as being the best to use because it contains no silicone. Silicone is bad because future repairs are more difficult to get the glue to adhere.
The only cleaner I ever used was Amazon Inflatible Cleaner. It was recommended to me by a Zodiac dealer in Essex, CT as being the best to use because it contains no silicone. Silicone is bad because future repairs are more difficult to get the glue to adhere.
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