Your opinion on inflatable floor dinks please.....

[Bob F]

I am considering a new inflatable floor dinghy vs. a RIB. Its lighter, stowable. But the RIB has it advantages too. We will be installing davits.

I'm leaning toward the inflatable, but I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks. Bob

 

[Nice N Easy]

I like

the inflatable floor dinks, and they are a major improvement over the non inflatable floor models. The major advantage over the RIB's is the ability to roll them up and store them on deck when needed. If you are going to install davits, and not concerned with the ability to roll it up, I think I would go for the RIB. They ride much better, are faster, handle better. The major drawback to an RIB is they can't be rolled up and stowed.

 

[Don]

go with the hard bottom

I bought the inflatable with an aluminium floor thinking I would want to roll it up for home storage. After 5 years it has never been taken apart so if I was doing it over again I would definitely go with the hard bottom. We go on some rocky beaches and I am sure the hard floor will last much longer.
We also put a set of small wheels on it and they also work well.

 

[Mike - Papillon]

Some considerations

We have an 10' Achilles with an inflatable floor. It makes it easy to break down and transport in the trunk of the car which is why we have it. If you have a big enough motor and plan on being able to get it on plane then you have to keep the floor properly inflated. When on plane the hull and floor flex over the waves. The end result is a lumpier ride than a RIB. Not uncomfortable, just lumpy. Another issue is cleaning under the floor. If you spill anything nasty you'll have to deflate the floor and remove it to clean properly. Not easy to do unless you haul it out or take it to a beach somewhere. It's also tougher to drain or clean the inevitable seawater that get's under the floor. I use a small hand pump but am also careful to open the drain when we're running around in it. It helps draw the water out. A nice feature of the inflatable is the lower weight. The entire dink and associated accessories weighs in at apx 70 lbs. I can handle moving it around by myself. The lighter weight would also mean you wouldn't be sagging in the stern while it's in the davits. I'm not sure what size boat you have but I've seen some in the mid 30s have a noticable drop at the stern due to the extra weight. We always tow ours. Good luck with your decision.
Mike

 

[Karl]

Go with a RIB

We have a dink with an inflatable floor. I bought it but never used it that much until we put in davits. Now it gets used all the time. Only problem with davits and an inflatable floor is that there is no way to secure the bow of the dink without some degree of chafe to the tubes. The D-rings on the bow usually are slightly towards the bottom, so straps end up going around the tubes. With any sea motion the strap will rub. I keep a cover on the boat and keep the cover down under the straps; about the best I could do. When it goes, I'll get a RIB. If it does not have eye bolts already mounted on the floor, I can install them easily enough.

 

[Rick I]

RIB

and if you can afford it, go with the aluminum bottom.

 

[natotm]

1 more for the RIB

Have both and the inflatable floor is in the lazarette in case something happens to the RIB. For a serious tender the RIB has much more volume than the inflatable floor (that floor takes up a lot of interior space) and is much more comfortable for a longer legged person too. Planes easier, more seaworthy... also more expensive and less stowable.

An unexpected bonus is that the RIB is much easier to clean inside and out, especially outside when the inevitable growth accumulates.

 

[RichH]

Hard floor inflatables

I prefer a hard floor (tempered pressboard sections) with an inflated vee-bottom section. ....

Reason: can be rolled up and stowed when on an ocean/offshore passage ... rather than lashing to the foredeck which can be vulnerable to boarding waves, etc . .... and Dog paws have an easier time on the textured hard floor.

 

[Stu Jackson]

If you get an inflatable floor boat

then use the trick I learned the day we got ours: cut a piece of outdoor carpeting and size it to fit on the bottom, wide enough to tuck under the tubes when they get inflated. It keeps the inflatable floor cleaner and is easier on your feet. We got some blue speckled material which never shows dirt (although it does catch sand!)

 

[Patrick , S/V Shangra-La]

Go inflatable floor

and add D rings inside the tibes in the fron. You can attach one set of hooks for your davit, and place 2 eye bolts on the transom to attach the other set of hooks for the davit it works great for me.

On an extended trip I can roll up the dink and put it out of the way. As with a rib the inflatable floor will also plane, and it weighs 1/3 the wt.