Plastic/moulded boats - good alternative?

[gixermark]

Hi guys,

Thinking of maybe getting a small 3-4M runabout to see if the kids like it.. Do a bit of towing/exploring etc..

In all likelihood, won't get used much.. Would want it to be dead easy to launch/retrieve on my own.. Really fancy the look of the likes of the moulded plastic boats - tough, light, no maintenance.. An no worry about launching in shallow water, or dragging up ramp or whatever while I retrieve..

Anyone experience of these? Is it all positive over fiberglass hulls?

Looking at smartwave & whaly boats.. Not many about 2nd hand, ones with the centre console would be perfect to start out?

[s2kjock]

Do you mean like the Scandinavian Pioner range? Caley Marina in Inverness used to, and still may have, the importer licence for these.

Common site across fish farms and commercial and estate fishing in the Highlands but less popular amongst leisure users.

Not necessarily as suited to dragging up a concrete slip as you might think. Regular dragging on stone will wear through the hulls AIUI.

[Fishtigua]

Yes, Caley are still the agents.

http://www.steadyboat.com/steady_models/steady_400

http://www.pionerboat.com/all-products

Lots of bareboat charter companies love Roto Moulded tenders as they are almost indestructible.

[RobbyJ]

Check out the Rigiflex range. Great little boats, I've got a Cap400 console that we use for pottering about on the Thames. We've had 6 adults and a few kids in it in the past and it's perfectly stable under that load and never feels close to tipping. They do a good range of sizes but they are really tough and well designed little craft.

http://www.rigiflexboats.co.uk/#!range/cyg