Inflatable Boats - anyone had experience?

[robzilla]

Hey forum,

Sorry wasn't sure what section this should go in, couldn't see a specific boating section.

Anyhoo, i'm keen to buy a boat. Never owned one before and don't know a whole lot about the scene.

I'm getting my mind pretty set on some sort of 3-4meter inflatable (tender, boat, dinghy etc...). They seem a lot cheaper than similar sized tinny's and from what i hear, are a fair bit more stable.
Also, i don't have much room (if any) to store a boat and trailer, so the idea of deflating and packing the thing up is really appealing.

Quick list of Pro's - Con's off the top of my head for getting an inflatable.

Pro's - Pack up to a size that could easy be stored in the garage
- Don't have to store an appropriate trailor
- Can launch them from anywhere
- More stable than tinny (tbc)
- Cheap to buy, even new ones.

Con's - For the love of God, don't drop the pocket knife!
- Much less interior space than a same-size tinny (i.e. 3.5m Tinny has a lot more usable room than a 3.5m inflatable)
- Possibly higher maintenance? (not sure on this, but guessing you'd want to keep a fairly close on seam conditions etc..)


Scoping out Fleabay, there's some OK looking 2nd hand ones like this:
Zodiac Inflatable Boat`3.9M/15HSPH Yamaha - eBay, Inflatable, Semi-Inflatable, Boats, Watercraft, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 07-Oct-09 16:46:34 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Zodiac-Inflatable-Boat-3-9M-15HSPH-Yamaha_W0QQitemZ180412560503QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Inflatable_Semi_Inflatable_Boats?hash=item2a016d34 77&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

Or you can buy brand spanking new ones for bugger all (Chinese ones, possibly Zodiac copies?)
BRAND NEW MODEL UPGRADED -3.8mt INFLATABLE BOAT - ELITE - eBay, Inflatable, Semi-Inflatable, Boats, Watercraft, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 20-Oct-09 16:32:06 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-MODEL-UPGRADED-3-8mt-INFLATABLE-BOAT-ELITE_W0QQitemZ310172966847QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_I nflatable_Semi_Inflatable_Boats?hash=item4837bfdfb f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

Add a 2nd hand 15hp outboard and it's a pretty cheap way to get on the water!

So yeh, just after ya thoughts and opinions before i go splashing cash!

[disco gazza]

Hi Robzilla,
I had a Avon inflatable for roughly 11 years.Bought a evenrude 5hp for it when I first bought it.I think it was the R310 model.:D

Took it everywhere with me and my mates--rivers,lakes,dams etc.....

It was great...roughly 15 mins to pump up,then hit the water,roughly 7-10mins
to deflate..:D

Once you get it up onto the plain,they skim across the water really good.
Very stable(as long as you dont do nothing stupid).
If you ever getting a hole on it,they normally come with a repair kit(just like a bicycle kit,but with stronger material).

The only reason I dont have it anymore is:-whilst travelling up castle hill rd 1 morning,the inflattable came of the trailer that we had it on and it scrapped the l/h tube at the rear and it wasnt repairable.:soapbox::soapbox:

I'd go for the new one....add a 15hp motor and your away.

cheers
disco gazza
92 disco tdi

[bblaze]

They handle a rough sea, ask the surf rescue guys. Dont like badly aimed gaff shots
cheers
blaze

[robzilla]

thanks for the feedback :D

Gazza do you know how big yours was? and how did it go with the 5hp on it, espec. when loaded with blokes and gear?

With holes as well, sounds like most of them these days of a number of segments/partitions. So even if you got a puncture out on the water, would give you enough time to motor back in?

Well i think i'm pretty much sold :p

[GuyG]

Beware of some of the older boats as the glue has a history of becoming unstuck. Think the fabric that is the best is called Hyperlon as its stronger etc. There used to be a shop at Mermaid Beach called Midcoast Marine that used to support the lifesavers on the Gold Coast. When I was in the sailing club we purchased our rescue boats through them. Ours were setup to be transported on a trailer but we had a 25hp motor on the back:twisted:. It was 3.8m in length. Depending on the size of motor you can get guards for the props for added safety. We also had a peerformance prop which allowed the boat to get up on the plane much quicker.

The setup we had had an inflatable keel then a wooden floor, this allowed for better turning.

http://www.midcoastmarine.com.au/index.php?page=home

[fatcat]

hi i am onto my second one its a ex surf rescue goes well the bad things about i some times get wet if its choppy, i have not had any problems with holes, its nce and stably i stand on the edge and jump in water great fun, let me know if you need any info cheers

[robzilla]

are there specific dealers that handle the ex-rescue boats? or do you just find them wherever?

About the glue on old boats, that's a concern for me on these chinese boats as well. They rave about their double-overlap and what not, but they're hellishly cheap compared to say a Zodiac or Quicksilver equivelant.

A deflating boat 100m from shore would make for a pretty good story though :p

A combination of these:
MERCURY 25HP S/SHAFT OUTBOARD TILLER STEER PULL START - eBay Motors, Engines, Parts, Parts, Accessories, Boats, Watercraft, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Oct-09 11:25:19 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MERCURY-25HP-S-SHAFT-OUTBOARD-TILLER-STEER-PULL-START_W0QQitemZ300354493074QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_B oat_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ee85da92&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

BRAND NEW MODEL UPGRADED -3.8mt INFLATABLE BOAT - ELITE - eBay, Inflatable, Semi-Inflatable, Boats, Watercraft, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 20-Oct-09 16:32:06 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-MODEL-UPGRADED-3-8mt-INFLATABLE-BOAT-ELITE_W0QQitemZ310172966847QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_I nflatable_Semi_Inflatable_Boats?hash=item4837bfdfb f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

and bam, on the water for under $4,000. I reckon that seems pretty good value!

[DeeJay]

I dont know if this fits the bill, worth a look though..

Flatout Boats (http://www.flatoutboats.com.au/)

[flagg]

Mate I've been looking for exactly the same thing.. I decided that I would not buy unseen though, as the quality is so important.

The zodiac branded ones seem to be very well regarded and use by the army... which brings to ask.. does anyone know where to get army surplus ones?

[robzilla]

I dont know if this fits the bill, worth a look though..

Flatout Boats (http://www.flatoutboats.com.au/)
yeh had seen these in magazines, but only good if you have roof racks or a trailer to stick them on (i dont have either :() as they still fold up fairly long

[GuyG]

It was the older Zodiac ones which had the glue issues. We had 2 ex surf rescue ones, the second was an achillies, both had 25hp motors. Ring Mid Coast Marine, their details are on the website link from my earlier post, the bloke I used to deal with was Peter Hallet. They always used to sell second hand boats. If you're not in SE Qld I'm sure they would be able to refer you to someone closer to your location who would be able to look after you. We only upgraded as the first was flipped in the surf and killed the motor.

There are advantages to the ex surf rescue ones - they get very well maintained ( clearly they are used a lot too), they are properly setup, have foot straps and correctly positioned handles, padded floors and the handle/rope from the bow to assist with cornering:twisted: - something for the passenger to hang onto when you're airborne over the swell. Fuel tank is usually mounted in the front - choice between soft or stiff plastic.

[austastar]

Hi,
the two I have owned had soft floors, and I would not buy another soft floor if I was going to use a motor on it.
The first one was a cheap chinese one (heaps used on the Franklin River blockade) which I used for a 3 week trip down the Franklin R in 1980.
The soft floor was reinforced by pushing a normal lilo in under the sides.
It was all very 'bendy'.
It was like paddling a nervous jelly, but it carried 2 barrels of gear, a rucksack and me stoically for 3 weeks, and I put 2 major rips in the air bags.
Not easy trying to repair them on a cold damp river bank in the middle of nowhere.
It was a load of fun, could toss it unloaded into the river from 2m or so, lower the gear to it on a rope, and jump into it with out drama.
Our kids eventually destroyed it by leaving it on the bank in the sun - it burst beyond repair.
I bought a similar one second hand, but it was hyperlon, and a Beaufort brand.
Plywood insert floor.
Much more rigid, but too wide for paddling, so I got a 2hp Honda.
Also way to heavy to portage down rivers like the Franklin so it hasn't been used in white water.
With a 2hp motor, it is the same speed as paddling a sea kayak, but very ponderous with a flat bottom, no keel effect at all.
It is neither a fun nor a serious boat.
Should have bought a rigid hull Zodiac which would have been a lot more use with a motor.
cheers

[robzilla]

Hi,
the two I have owned had soft floors, and I would not buy another soft floor if I was going to use a motor on it.
The first one was a cheap chinese one (heaps used on the Franklin River blockade) which I used for a 3 week trip down the Franklin R in 1980.
The soft floor was reinforced by pushing a normal lilo in under the sides.
It was all very 'bendy'.
It was like paddling a nervous jelly, but it carried 2 barrels of gear, a rucksack and me stoically for 3 weeks, and I put 2 major rips in the air bags.
Not easy trying to repair them on a cold damp river bank in the middle of nowhere.
It was a load of fun, could toss it unloaded into the river from 2m or so, lower the gear to it on a rope, and jump into it with out drama.
Our kids eventually destroyed it by leaving it on the bank in the sun - it burst beyond repair.
I bought a similar one second hand, but it was hyperlon, and a Beaufort brand.
Plywood insert floor.
Much more rigid, but too wide for paddling, so I got a 2hp Honda.
Also way to heavy to portage down rivers like the Franklin so it hasn't been used in white water.
With a 2hp motor, it is the same speed as paddling a sea kayak, but very ponderous with a flat bottom, no keel effect at all.
It is neither a fun nor a serious boat.
Should have bought a rigid hull Zodiac which would have been a lot more use with a motor.
cheers
Hmm sounds like the new Chinese ones should combat the few issues you mentioned. I'd be buying one with an Alluminum sectioned floor, and looks like most of them have at least an inflatable keel underneath.

When you say rigid hull, are they the fibreglass hull ones? THey look pretty good, but as they're solid don't think they'd store compact enough for my needs

[austastar]

When you say rigid hull, are they the fibreglass hull ones? THey look pretty good, but as they're solid don't think they'd store compact enough for my needs

Hi,
I'm not an expert on them, but the one I have seen close up was an Aluminium floor and the side pontoons slid down a channel to the rear.
When inflated the whole thing had the advantages of a rigid hull, and an inflatable sides.
RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
The transom where the motor mounts is part of the hull, so it is part of the rigid bits.
Not sure how the transom/back-of-pontoons join up.
cheers

[Allan]

Had a Zodiac 3. something, lasted one trip away and became an alloy 3.75. constant presure changes in the summer temps. fear of holeing it in trout rivers down south, all to hard putting it together etc. Stability is good but they dont like to go in a streight line. Never again

Allan

[dlatn]

What you use when youve parked your landy after taking it as far as it can go, walked as far as you can get, and ther's water in the way
https://www.alpackaraft.com
not for lazy gits that need a motor to do everything for them though:wasntme:

[big guy]

Mate

I used to have a cheap one, name escapes me and nothing but trouble.

Buy a good brand with a solid floor or at least one that is in sections.
Have at least 4 air chambers and a very solid plate for the outboard.

You still need to carry a anchor, robe, torch and paddles etc.

When I used to teach diving, it was always left on the trailor inflated of course.

Now, when air gets hot it expands and the pontoons will feel hard, as soon as they hit the water, they cool and pressure will drop. You may need to keep a pump on board till you get to know the boat well enough.

Do not leave them in the sun for too long.
They hate salt water and need a good wash especially as you deflate them for winter.

A good motor is a must, buy new or almost new as when you get stuck out there, its no fun.

Get a good size, I had a 40hp and it was just adequate but we did go diving with a lot of gear.

The Sea is very unforgiving and take a wave the wrong way and over you go. All your gear be lost possibly a live so be very vary and learn to read the wind, waves, tides and rips.

I had a absolute ball in mine, often we would take all the crap out and just get airborne in the waves, it was wicked but once again be very careful, they do tip over and a motor on your head can be very painful.

Have a great time but a bargain inflatable could be false economy.

Happy Boating buddy.

[NOFUSS]

had one zodiac for 16 years now needs a new floor base to many rocks and corel it a six man job can't tell how many times dorsel fin spikes have been through the side ( bad lifts) all ways had a meat bucket in side of pontoons to keep fish in. the best part about these boats that they can be full of water three blokes and fishing gear and still get you back to shore with out any worry. it dose not matter what brand you get as long as you get one with independent air chambers. one more tip is a small self tapper with oring on it for a quick plug for small pin holes works realy well ;)

[disco gazza]

Hi Robzilla,
Mine was only around 12'-13'.
It was good with 2 people in it,but any more+ gear it did get slower.
I'd go for a larger size(+ bigger motor) if you are going to be putting a bit of gear in it.
Cheers
disco gazza
92 disco tdi