Thinking of getting inflatable boat
Discussion
Hi. Been sailing for a while and then did RYA PB2 last year. I really enjoyed the rib we took the course in. I was thinking that a 3.8m inflatable with a small outboard 8hp or so would be a good package to put in the back of the shogun. Needs to propel me the Mrs and two small kids at a reasonable pace. I have got a 2 stroke 4hp Merc (very light) and 4 stroke 5hp Merc in the garage, do you think these would be a bit under powered for a gentle run with the family? I have been looking at excel inflatables on the net, they are only 20 miles down the road, so might go and have a look. I accept that it might be a PITA to set up but I am struggling a bit for storage. Have already got a load of safety kit from sailing. Anyone got experience of such a craft?
I've got a small 4ish meter typhoon inflatable. Had it for about 15 years and use it to potter about the Salcombe estuary with the family. We use a 5hp 4 stroke Honda engine that's a little slow with 5 people in the boat, but get it up on the plane with just me in it and it goes like stink!
Its got 3 large wooden panels that fit together to make the floor. I prefer this to the more flexible floor as it feels much safer and its not too difficult to set up. It takes about 10-15 minutes to set up all together. The whole lot fits in the back of the disco with room to spare for a few other bags. Had it for ages, but its great to ferry people and bags over to the beach and back.
Its fitted with small folding wheels on the transom as well so it's easier to launch, recover and pull up the beach. You can get big wheels that make it really easy to pull up the beach, but they look stoooooopid. The smaller ones make it a bit harder to pull on the beach, but don't make a difference when your not using them.
Its got 3 large wooden panels that fit together to make the floor. I prefer this to the more flexible floor as it feels much safer and its not too difficult to set up. It takes about 10-15 minutes to set up all together. The whole lot fits in the back of the disco with room to spare for a few other bags. Had it for ages, but its great to ferry people and bags over to the beach and back.
Its fitted with small folding wheels on the transom as well so it's easier to launch, recover and pull up the beach. You can get big wheels that make it really easy to pull up the beach, but they look stoooooopid. The smaller ones make it a bit harder to pull on the beach, but don't make a difference when your not using them.
Edited by xeon on Tuesday 3rd April 23:15
Inflatables are great...I've got two, an old Avon Redcrest which I use as a tender to get out to my yot...it either lives at my club when not in use, or on he mooring if we are sailing. And a little 2.3m XM which stays on board and we use it if at anchor or on a trot mooring.
But they do have their disadvantages...what you are talking about does sound quite small for a family, and I'll be honest, packing and unpacking is a PITA (hence having two). Use it in the salty stuff, and it will need a hose down in fresh before storing away, and you are going to need a very big car to get your family, dinghy and outboard in.
I would seriously look at a small "hard" dinghy and tow it. You won't even know its there when driving, it will be more seaworthy and drier, and more suitable for anchoring/fishing etc. If you go GRP maintenance will be almost zero, and it will outlast any non hypalon inflatable. And there are some absolute bargains out there is you check the small ads. I bought a 12', 6 person hard tender that goes really well with just a 2.5 on the back for £100...the three teak thwarts are probably worth that! It's also a much, much nicer place to be in the middle of Portsmouth harbour in a blow...I'll take that over an inflatable anytime if it's a bit gnarly.
But they do have their disadvantages...what you are talking about does sound quite small for a family, and I'll be honest, packing and unpacking is a PITA (hence having two). Use it in the salty stuff, and it will need a hose down in fresh before storing away, and you are going to need a very big car to get your family, dinghy and outboard in.
I would seriously look at a small "hard" dinghy and tow it. You won't even know its there when driving, it will be more seaworthy and drier, and more suitable for anchoring/fishing etc. If you go GRP maintenance will be almost zero, and it will outlast any non hypalon inflatable. And there are some absolute bargains out there is you check the small ads. I bought a 12', 6 person hard tender that goes really well with just a 2.5 on the back for £100...the three teak thwarts are probably worth that! It's also a much, much nicer place to be in the middle of Portsmouth harbour in a blow...I'll take that over an inflatable anytime if it's a bit gnarly.
Hard-Drive said:
Inflatables are great...I've got two, an old Avon Redcrest which I use as a tender to get out to my yot...it either lives at my club when not in use, or on he mooring if we are sailing. And a little 2.3m XM which stays on board and we use it if at anchor or on a trot mooring.
But they do have their disadvantages...what you are talking about does sound quite small for a family, and I'll be honest, packing and unpacking is a PITA (hence having two). Use it in the salty stuff, and it will need a hose down in fresh before storing away, and you are going to need a very big car to get your family, dinghy and outboard in.
I would seriously look at a small "hard" dinghy and tow it. You won't even know its there when driving, it will be more seaworthy and drier, and more suitable for anchoring/fishing etc. If you go GRP maintenance will be almost zero, and it will outlast any non hypalon inflatable. And there are some absolute bargains out there is you check the small ads. I bought a 12', 6 person hard tender that goes really well with just a 2.5 on the back for £100...the three teak thwarts are probably worth that! It's also a much, much nicer place to be in the middle of Portsmouth harbour in a blow...I'll take that over an inflatable anytime if it's a bit gnarly.
Second that.But they do have their disadvantages...what you are talking about does sound quite small for a family, and I'll be honest, packing and unpacking is a PITA (hence having two). Use it in the salty stuff, and it will need a hose down in fresh before storing away, and you are going to need a very big car to get your family, dinghy and outboard in.
I would seriously look at a small "hard" dinghy and tow it. You won't even know its there when driving, it will be more seaworthy and drier, and more suitable for anchoring/fishing etc. If you go GRP maintenance will be almost zero, and it will outlast any non hypalon inflatable. And there are some absolute bargains out there is you check the small ads. I bought a 12', 6 person hard tender that goes really well with just a 2.5 on the back for £100...the three teak thwarts are probably worth that! It's also a much, much nicer place to be in the middle of Portsmouth harbour in a blow...I'll take that over an inflatable anytime if it's a bit gnarly.
But if you go aluminium, rather than GRP, it's light as a feather too.
Of course, if you want to buy an aluminium family boat, I would know where to start looking.
If you want to have a look at a few and discuss possible options, I'd be happy to help. I'm a dealer for Avon, Zodiac, Bombard, Walker Bay and Ribeye. Particularly the Ribeye aluminium RIBs are really popular at the moment. Otherwise you could look at the Zodiac inflatables, the Cadet Fastrollers up to 3.25m, or the Futuras above that size. Available in an airdeck or removable aluminium deck.
Not sure if I'm allowed to post up the link to our company as it might be classed as advertising, but it's in my profile anyway.
Not sure if I'm allowed to post up the link to our company as it might be classed as advertising, but it's in my profile anyway.
No, RIB = Rigid Inflatabe Boat. The hull is usually fibreglass, can be aluminium. Of course there are also pure inflatable boats (roll ups as I call them), which also use a removable aluminium deck, but still feature an inflatable keel. These are very different to RIBs. Boats such as the Zodiac Futura.
Aluminium hull, inflatable tubes.
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/ribs/ribeye/t_series/r...
http://www.ribeye.co.uk/documents/Ribeye_Smallboat...
Aluminium hull, inflatable tubes.
http://www.bhg-marine.co.uk/ribs/ribeye/t_series/r...
http://www.ribeye.co.uk/documents/Ribeye_Smallboat...
Edited by danyeates on Thursday 5th April 22:25
I did a deal with Tohatsu after the Boat Show last year for their little 3.3m RIB demo boat. I won't tell you what I paid because it'll make you weep a little but all it needed was a good clean and is good as new.
It runs a Yam 15hp 2-stroke, burns no fuel and doesn't hang around. I carry a spare 2.5hp Tohatsu as well as all the safety gear. Around Guernsey, Herm and Sark its good fun.
It runs a Yam 15hp 2-stroke, burns no fuel and doesn't hang around. I carry a spare 2.5hp Tohatsu as well as all the safety gear. Around Guernsey, Herm and Sark its good fun.
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