with another inflatable one. The one that came with the boat is a 1995 quicksilver 330 (pink Hypalon?), it is leaking air all over the seams, tried to repair it but to no avail. I'm interested in an 8 foot long for a 5 to 10 HP engine. Can anyone recomend or discourage from certain brands, ones that last longer? Thanks in advance Ozana Halik
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Hypalon vs PVC
Ozana, There are really only 3 factors you'll want to consider when looking at inflatables: 1. PVC or Hypalon 2. Rigid, inflatable floor or floor boards 3. Brand I went with Hypalon over PVC. PVC is easier to manufacture and, therefore, cheaper to purchase. It has good durability characteristics, but it's very difficult to repair if you get a leak. Hypalon is more expensive but it will last longer & is much easier to repair. Hypalon kits are readily available at West Marine, et al. I went with a hypalon. The second factor is what kind of floor you want. I have a traditional floor with 3 wood floor boards + an inflatable keel. It's so-so. I wish it were a little more rigid when the boat is loaded and I wish it was lighter. It's a 9.5' boat & it weighs around 85 pounds. Getting it on deck, deflated & stowed is such a pain I usually end up just towing it. Also, the ride is very wet. It any wind whatsoever I'm getting spray on me & it's tough to go out to dinner while on the hook without being soaked with salt water by the time I reach shore & again when I return to the boat. A RIB might be better, but that's too heavy for me, impossible to stow + a LOT more $$. Last is brand. There is a BIG difference in price between the various manufacturers. I liked the idea of getting an Avon because it had a great reputation and a long warranty, but it was twice the price & I figured I wasn't getting twice the life out of it. I may be proved wrong. Ask me in 5 years. In 2001 I bought the BoatUS brand called Seaworthy. It's held up very well. I leave it inflated 100% of the time, except during the winter when it's deflated in the basement. No leaks, no problems. It's got a 5 horse 2-stroke that has no problem getting on a plane with 1 person, but barely does with 2. I don't know if this helps your decision. Anybody else have good luck with inflatables? Has anyone found that the RIB's make for a dryer ride? Maybe I'll look at that for next time. Good Luck, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Ozana, There are really only 3 factors you'll want to consider when looking at inflatables: 1. PVC or Hypalon 2. Rigid, inflatable floor or floor boards 3. Brand I went with Hypalon over PVC. PVC is easier to manufacture and, therefore, cheaper to purchase. It has good durability characteristics, but it's very difficult to repair if you get a leak. Hypalon is more expensive but it will last longer & is much easier to repair. Hypalon kits are readily available at West Marine, et al. I went with a hypalon. The second factor is what kind of floor you want. I have a traditional floor with 3 wood floor boards + an inflatable keel. It's so-so. I wish it were a little more rigid when the boat is loaded and I wish it was lighter. It's a 9.5' boat & it weighs around 85 pounds. Getting it on deck, deflated & stowed is such a pain I usually end up just towing it. Also, the ride is very wet. It any wind whatsoever I'm getting spray on me & it's tough to go out to dinner while on the hook without being soaked with salt water by the time I reach shore & again when I return to the boat. A RIB might be better, but that's too heavy for me, impossible to stow + a LOT more $$. Last is brand. There is a BIG difference in price between the various manufacturers. I liked the idea of getting an Avon because it had a great reputation and a long warranty, but it was twice the price & I figured I wasn't getting twice the life out of it. I may be proved wrong. Ask me in 5 years. In 2001 I bought the BoatUS brand called Seaworthy. It's held up very well. I leave it inflated 100% of the time, except during the winter when it's deflated in the basement. No leaks, no problems. It's got a 5 horse 2-stroke that has no problem getting on a plane with 1 person, but barely does with 2. I don't know if this helps your decision. Anybody else have good luck with inflatables? Has anyone found that the RIB's make for a dryer ride? Maybe I'll look at that for next time. Good Luck, Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Choices are very personal.
I own a hard dinghy and wanted to replace it with an inflatable due to the sugerscoop transom on our C-320. After much soul searching and research, I decided to list and priortize dinghy issues based upon the way we typically cruise. I'll share my logic for my decision with you, it may be helpful in analyzing your needs. Where we sail, a dinghy is not always needed for cruising, but often one is very handy and for us it is a 'gotta own'. The winds here often exceed 20 knots, so towing is a hassle and flipped/submarined dinghies or parted tethers are common. These were high priority issues and dictated a stowable dinghy for us. I essenially singlehand (even with the Admiral aboard), so that ruled out foredeck stowage... I need to be able to move around fast and require an uncluttered deck for security. The swim platform is our back porch and heavily used, plus we sail at night, all of which made davits undesirable for us. This decision dictated locker stowage and ruled out a RIB. Boards are heavy and awkward but slats and HPRF's are not paricularly rigid for someone weighing in at 230lbs. I noted that when we used a dinghy, we regularly loaded it with heavy stuff (like water, beer, fuel, beer, ice and beer) while standing so we opted for the rigidity of traditional floor boards. With the additional stability of the tubes, it feels far more secure than a hard dinghy and you can walk around (carefully) carrying stuff in ours. I wanted a four stroke engine after owning one on my prior sailboat. We rarely go very far in the dinghy, so speed wasn't a big factor. I could hoist a 2.5 hp., Yamaha four stroke over my head with one hand. Since I am on the big numbers side of 50, weight and ease of handling was an important consideration. I like the features and price of the Zodiac 310. Hypalon/PVC was less of a consideration since it is stowed most of the time. I got an extra bag and stow the dinghy in one, boards and hardware in the other. This lightens the load, facilitates handling and even makes for more compact stowage. Zodiacs are common in this area, but used ones are hard to come by. I weighed this observation in as being complimentary. So far (six months), I have been well pleased with the choice and have hauled five, large adult males in it and found it very stable (after checking the load limits on the label the next morning in daylight, we started making two trips, <grin>).
I own a hard dinghy and wanted to replace it with an inflatable due to the sugerscoop transom on our C-320. After much soul searching and research, I decided to list and priortize dinghy issues based upon the way we typically cruise. I'll share my logic for my decision with you, it may be helpful in analyzing your needs. Where we sail, a dinghy is not always needed for cruising, but often one is very handy and for us it is a 'gotta own'. The winds here often exceed 20 knots, so towing is a hassle and flipped/submarined dinghies or parted tethers are common. These were high priority issues and dictated a stowable dinghy for us. I essenially singlehand (even with the Admiral aboard), so that ruled out foredeck stowage... I need to be able to move around fast and require an uncluttered deck for security. The swim platform is our back porch and heavily used, plus we sail at night, all of which made davits undesirable for us. This decision dictated locker stowage and ruled out a RIB. Boards are heavy and awkward but slats and HPRF's are not paricularly rigid for someone weighing in at 230lbs. I noted that when we used a dinghy, we regularly loaded it with heavy stuff (like water, beer, fuel, beer, ice and beer) while standing so we opted for the rigidity of traditional floor boards. With the additional stability of the tubes, it feels far more secure than a hard dinghy and you can walk around (carefully) carrying stuff in ours. I wanted a four stroke engine after owning one on my prior sailboat. We rarely go very far in the dinghy, so speed wasn't a big factor. I could hoist a 2.5 hp., Yamaha four stroke over my head with one hand. Since I am on the big numbers side of 50, weight and ease of handling was an important consideration. I like the features and price of the Zodiac 310. Hypalon/PVC was less of a consideration since it is stowed most of the time. I got an extra bag and stow the dinghy in one, boards and hardware in the other. This lightens the load, facilitates handling and even makes for more compact stowage. Zodiacs are common in this area, but used ones are hard to come by. I weighed this observation in as being complimentary. So far (six months), I have been well pleased with the choice and have hauled five, large adult males in it and found it very stable (after checking the load limits on the label the next morning in daylight, we started making two trips, <grin>).
Allen is right but...
I bought a West Marine Dinghy in 1997. It was made by Zodiac and it's PVC. I knew when I bought it that Hypalon is way more durable than PVC but I needed to be able to lift the dinghy up on top of a pilot house and PVC boats are significantly lighter than Hypalon. Mine is only 59 pounds. The boat has worn well and we've used it a lot. It's still going strong. It's had two punctures and both were simple to repair myself. Seam leaks can be a problem with these boats but, so far, I haven't had any on my dinghy. PVC is more vulnerable to UV degradation than hypalon so I've been careful to keep my dinghy covered when not in use. Good luck with your shopping. Laura Bertran Annapolis, MD
I bought a West Marine Dinghy in 1997. It was made by Zodiac and it's PVC. I knew when I bought it that Hypalon is way more durable than PVC but I needed to be able to lift the dinghy up on top of a pilot house and PVC boats are significantly lighter than Hypalon. Mine is only 59 pounds. The boat has worn well and we've used it a lot. It's still going strong. It's had two punctures and both were simple to repair myself. Seam leaks can be a problem with these boats but, so far, I haven't had any on my dinghy. PVC is more vulnerable to UV degradation than hypalon so I've been careful to keep my dinghy covered when not in use. Good luck with your shopping. Laura Bertran Annapolis, MD
Quicksilver are PVC not Hypalon
Hypalon will last longer in the UV - the only kind to have in FL is Hypalon. And it was probably red (not pink) when new
Hypalon will last longer in the UV - the only kind to have in FL is Hypalon. And it was probably red (not pink) when new
Also Look for Key Words in Archives
In the past there has been a number of discussions on "what is the best" dingy and you should be able to find LOTS of opinion posts in the archives. I selected the Avon after talking to lots of cruisers and ('91) about 95% said get an Avon. On my H-35 I use an Avon 3.15 roll-up (hypalon with segmented metal floor that becomes hard when the keel is pumped up) with an 8-hp two-cycle outboard. The Avon specs out at 115-lbs (dry) and the outboard at 56-lbs. Then there is the gas can, spare gas can, life jackets, mushroom anchor, and on and on. With two medium adults I can plane but barely. The dingy is stowed amidship in front of the dodger folded up. I don't have a cover but it has been on my to-do list for 12 years(!). In the water it's great but puting it into the water and picking it up is work. I often think it would be nice to have a lighter and smaller dingy with a 2-hp outboard. Oars can work too. Talk to people at the dock and see what they say.
In the past there has been a number of discussions on "what is the best" dingy and you should be able to find LOTS of opinion posts in the archives. I selected the Avon after talking to lots of cruisers and ('91) about 95% said get an Avon. On my H-35 I use an Avon 3.15 roll-up (hypalon with segmented metal floor that becomes hard when the keel is pumped up) with an 8-hp two-cycle outboard. The Avon specs out at 115-lbs (dry) and the outboard at 56-lbs. Then there is the gas can, spare gas can, life jackets, mushroom anchor, and on and on. With two medium adults I can plane but barely. The dingy is stowed amidship in front of the dodger folded up. I don't have a cover but it has been on my to-do list for 12 years(!). In the water it's great but puting it into the water and picking it up is work. I often think it would be nice to have a lighter and smaller dingy with a 2-hp outboard. Oars can work too. Talk to people at the dock and see what they say.
Anyone use a canoe?
We have a great Mad River Kevlar model that only weights 45 pounds. I can lift it with one hand, but it is 14 feet long. I'm thinking of towing it in light air for short runs, and lashing it to the leeward side of the cabin for longer runs, or heavier weather. Yes, it doesn't have a motor, but both the Admiral and I are comfortable getting in and out of it, and we can drive it fast - it tracks like a dream, and we enjoy it too. Just in the dreaming stage at the moment, but the first trials are coming this fall. David Lady Lillie
We have a great Mad River Kevlar model that only weights 45 pounds. I can lift it with one hand, but it is 14 feet long. I'm thinking of towing it in light air for short runs, and lashing it to the leeward side of the cabin for longer runs, or heavier weather. Yes, it doesn't have a motor, but both the Admiral and I are comfortable getting in and out of it, and we can drive it fast - it tracks like a dream, and we enjoy it too. Just in the dreaming stage at the moment, but the first trials are coming this fall. David Lady Lillie
Have You Ever Towed a Canoe?
I have not ever tried with a sail boat but remember trying with a skiff and it did not work for squat. It was a number, large number of years ago and we did not know what we were doing most likely but what I remember was someone had to be in the canoe to steer and the guys in other canoes could paddle faster than we could motor.
I have not ever tried with a sail boat but remember trying with a skiff and it did not work for squat. It was a number, large number of years ago and we did not know what we were doing most likely but what I remember was someone had to be in the canoe to steer and the guys in other canoes could paddle faster than we could motor.
Consider a Porta-Bote
They make three sizes (8', 10.5' & 12'). They're rigid boat that fold, which means they can easily be carried on deck or on davits or towed. My 10.5' Porta-Bote weighs 58 pounds, can carry three adults and 450 pounds of gear. It can handle an outboard of up to 5HP, but the engine should not weigh more than 44 pounds. (My 4HP outboard weighs 38 pounds.) They're made of a hard but flexible plastic material that cannot be punctured, and is less dense than water (so an unloaded boat can't be sunk). The main problem with them is that thieves like them. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
They make three sizes (8', 10.5' & 12'). They're rigid boat that fold, which means they can easily be carried on deck or on davits or towed. My 10.5' Porta-Bote weighs 58 pounds, can carry three adults and 450 pounds of gear. It can handle an outboard of up to 5HP, but the engine should not weigh more than 44 pounds. (My 4HP outboard weighs 38 pounds.) They're made of a hard but flexible plastic material that cannot be punctured, and is less dense than water (so an unloaded boat can't be sunk). The main problem with them is that thieves like them. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
I've owned...
3 types of dinghy: ~ A PVC "Zodiak" for several years on Lk Superior, with excellent results; BUT UV degraded the fabric within 1 year of reaching the Bahamas. Zodiak gave me a free replacement skin, then 2 years later offered me another skin at a reduced cost (I didn't bother). ~ A Hypalon "Avon" for 1 year in Bahamas, /w excellent results; then sold to friend, and understand it's still OK after 9 years. ~ A Polyetrhylene Hard Body "Water Tender" with excellent results over 10 years. Regards, Gord
3 types of dinghy: ~ A PVC "Zodiak" for several years on Lk Superior, with excellent results; BUT UV degraded the fabric within 1 year of reaching the Bahamas. Zodiak gave me a free replacement skin, then 2 years later offered me another skin at a reduced cost (I didn't bother). ~ A Hypalon "Avon" for 1 year in Bahamas, /w excellent results; then sold to friend, and understand it's still OK after 9 years. ~ A Polyetrhylene Hard Body "Water Tender" with excellent results over 10 years. Regards, Gord
Keel & Pontoons
A keel on an inflatable dinghy gives you a lot of stability and more performance. The larger the pontoons the more stable and less likely to flip. We have towed our 8' Achilles up and down the east coast from Maine to Key West, and very heavy use as a tender. Great boat. Will buy another when the time comes.
A keel on an inflatable dinghy gives you a lot of stability and more performance. The larger the pontoons the more stable and less likely to flip. We have towed our 8' Achilles up and down the east coast from Maine to Key West, and very heavy use as a tender. Great boat. Will buy another when the time comes.
Practical Sailor Test
If you can access a copy of Practical Sailor's 2002 Gear Buying Guide it will give you all the information you need to make a wise decision on your next inflatable. They tested more than a dozen different manufactures. Hope this helps, Ken s/v Spanish Eyes
If you can access a copy of Practical Sailor's 2002 Gear Buying Guide it will give you all the information you need to make a wise decision on your next inflatable. They tested more than a dozen different manufactures. Hope this helps, Ken s/v Spanish Eyes
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