Who is making Inflatable Dinghies
- Thread starter sailcapt340
- Start date
China, but that is not all bad as they do make some good boats, but select wisely as the brand name is not the way to select anymore as you do not know where it is made and quality without research. Chief
Not sure I understand the title. Looking for brands or actual manufacturers?
Or, if looking for a dinghy, I have been happy with boatstogo.com
Or, if looking for a dinghy, I have been happy with boatstogo.com
My present dinghy is high quality, 14 yrs old, made in China, paid $800, 8', PVC, has a 2nd cover, 9 lb air floor,well made Maxum brand and still in great condition. My 7th dinghy! Covers are critical for PVC boats! Chief
I THOUGHT my Chinese-made Aquamarine was a good inflatable... but three leaks later (one was the valve, which was a POS - why doesn't everybody use Boston Valves?? and one was rats or squirrels eating the PVC), the transom fell apart and I discovered: 1. it was totally rotten from leaks into the wood, and 2. it was the UGLIEST "plywood" I'd ever seen - basically strips of random wood about 1/16" thick, randomly slapped together. I could easily peel apart even the parts that weren't rotten.
Lessons Learned:
1. it's hard to SEE if an inflatable is good quality
2. get one with Boston Valves
3. keep all PVC boats away from rats and squirrels - they love eating it!
druid
Lessons Learned:
1. it's hard to SEE if an inflatable is good quality
2. get one with Boston Valves
3. keep all PVC boats away from rats and squirrels - they love eating it!
druid
We have a Zodiac Zoom 8' dinghy. No idea where it was made but we bought it from Defender. The price was right (under $600) and since we bought ours a few years ago, at least 3 other sailors at our yacht club have bought them as well. All are still in service and expected to be for many years to come. Solid floor to stand on, inflatable keel that helps with tracking, and generously sized tubes that are comfortable to sit or stand on. The only brand of dinghies I have seen enough to stay away from is Coleman. Several yacht club members bought Coleman brand dinghies the same season we bought our Zoom. Each of those Coleman dinghies is now in a landfill somewhere, having had seemingly impossible to seal failures at the joint between the tubes and the transom shortly after their warranties expired.
I had a Zoom also but had unrepairable seam failure in 3d season. Seems it was a common problem and they changed the design. Got a deal from them last July on a 2013 French made Wave with a longer warranty period. If you buy a Zodiac, best is to chat with them about which models have which warranties. Might be worth some extra bucks to get one they back longer.
I just bought a PRU-3 from West Marine. It was on-sale for $599 (regular $899). Any opinions/experience with this inflatable. I'm putting a 4hp Merc on it. My use is to shuttle back and forth from anchor to shore.
I 've been using WM RU-3 dinghy for >7years. Great little fella. Light to carry and easy to roll up and stow. Never left it out at sun when not in use. Had the pvc glued joint separated around transom area just before 5th year so got it repaired under warranty. Warranty is good internationally. Now just pass 7 years of owning it, I still love this little fella.
A friend just bought his 2nd set of PRU-3.
KenY
A friend just bought his 2nd set of PRU-3.
KenY
I have a West Marine SB-10 -- I think I got it in the late 80's or very early 90's . The secret is to keep them covered when not in use. I did have to apply two patches this year - barnacle abrasion.
Les
Les