Inflatable Boats - anyone had experience?

**robzilla** · 6th October 2009, 07:30 PM

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)

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)

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** · 6th October 2009, 07:57 PM

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.

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..

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.

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

cheers
disco gazza
92 disco tdi

**bblaze** · 6th October 2009, 07:57 PM

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

**robzilla** · 6th October 2009, 08:46 PM

thanks for the feedback

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

**GuyG** · 6th October 2009, 08:59 PM

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

. 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** · 6th October 2009, 09:04 PM

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** · 6th October 2009, 09:46 PM

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

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)

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)

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

**DeeJay** · 6th October 2009, 09:55 PM

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

Flatout Boats

**flagg** · 6th October 2009, 09:59 PM

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?