Time to get a real Dink

[Witzend]

Anyone have any experience with KIWI?
Relatively new brand made in China for Annapolis Inflatables.
This is the dink, but last years model with 15.5" tubes and Hypo:
http://www.dinghyparts.com/product/kiwi-kl-9

$2K for 9' RIB .9mil hypo 15.5" tubes.
$1284 for 5hp Tohatsu, same motor as the 6hp, different carb, we are 300LB total cargo.
Will she plane?

 

[Tim R.]

Doubtful. I have a 9ft Mercury PVC RIB(150lb). I used to run a 4.5hp 2cycle johson that only weighed 33lb. I could get her on plane with only myself on a calm day going downhill.

I have since changed to an 8hp Nissan 2 cycle and can plane with the dog and wife when it is calm. Any headwind or decent chop prevents planing. Although the dink flies with just me. I mean scary fast.

 

[Steve Dion]

It indicates that the material is PVC (Tube Material PVC). If this is the case I would not touch it.

I am not sure that this is a good deal even if it is Hypalon. What are you going to do for service if the unit fails.

 

[Tim R.]

BTW, I paid $999 for my mercury as it was a Defender floor model.

I would not pay $1,950 for a PVC boat from an unknown manufacturer.

PVC is not necessarily bad, it just will not last as long in a hot sunny climate. They do pretty well up here because our sun is less intense and the dink is usually put away for most of the year.

 

[Witzend]

The one shown is not the same one for $2k that is Hypalon. I can fix anything, so I'm not concerned about that. Comes with 5yr warranty. I have a line on a 6hp Yamaha F6 for $1550. I have had such great luck over the years with Yamaha products. It has an integral tank as well as external fuel connection. 60LB v 55LB on the 6HP Tohatsu.

 

[Ron Roman]

I'm not sure I would trust my life with anything made in China.

 

[Steve Dion]

You cannot fix fabric when it fails. PVC can/will abrade, gets sticky and has many other attributes that make it a less than desireable fabric. Hypalon can be left out in the weather for 10-15 years.

You will need a mfg to provide warranty service but you will need to decide what may happen to one of these unknown brands.

 

[Witzend]

Again, it is not PVC!!
Jezz I'm not planing on crossing the Atlantic in this, just gunk holing around the upper Chessy
How about your battery bank in you sail boat, pretty important that she is going to start when you need it. Did you know that 95% of all wet cell batteries are now made in China.

 

[dscribner]

Wit,

It looks like a nice non-PVC dinghy. A bit pricey for me, but if I had the means, I would probably buy it. My dink is an old fiberglass hull that I picked up for $85. Some fiberglass to the skeg and a lot of elbow grease and she works OK. But a sweet ride like this one sure would be nice.

 

[Witzend]

So far it is the least expensive hypalon RIB I can find.

 

[Witzend]

Decided on the Mercury 280 RIB Hypalon, $1950 from Defender. I like the molded handles and the attachment points v/ the straps that are prone to failure. Also got the Tohatsu 6HP for $1179. This was the best deal for what I was looking for, and BTW they are all made in China, Achilles, West Marine, Mercury, Avon, AB.