Thread: Inflatable Boats - anyone had experience?

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

Originally Posted by 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

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

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

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

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

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.

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