Inflatable recommendations

[Mark]

All
I am keen to purchase a modestly priced inflatable for use over the summer, any recomendations on brands? I am looking at a 4 person craft and have an outboard already lined up.
I see lots of options on ebay etc so keen for feedback

Use as tender for moored yacht at times during summer break and mucking around generally accessing some of our local beaches and spots. Considering airfloor etc and aware of pros and cons of these

Any comments or suggestions most welcome

Cheers
Mark

[Yara50]

Mark, a 4 person boat can be very heavy if you don't have the 4 people. If you want to stow or tow with an Investigator 563 I think a 2 person size weighing in at around 30kg is probably the best. Airfloor and inflatable keel is good for rowing, but if you are going to motor then a slat deck type will be lighter and will stow in a smaller space. I had a Navigator III with outboard bracket. It had an inflatable keel, was light (without bracket) and would row OK if only it had decent rowlocks. Then there is the problem of transport. Even a smaller dinghy with hard transom takes up a bit of room in the boot when deflated. Cartop transport is possible (Did you see me demonstrating in Practical Boat Owner June edition?)

[Mark]

Ian

Thanks for comments.

I think a 3 person size is probably best.

I see I can get them around 30-35kg weight. One thing I am unsure of is it best to get a slatted floor or are the air floors good enough these days?

I wasn't planning on hauling onto Aminee but rather tow it.

My scenario is Aminee is on a mooring during the Bay ramp rage time which is Xmas for 2-3 weeks. Its truly horrible with all these out of towner people and their behaviour is appalling - best to keep away if possible. But it also prevents me from sailing during this period whichI detest.

There are Sailing club moorings not far from where I live that I can access.

I can access Aminee on these moorings by launching a tender from our local beach.

We are planning a few non serious sailing days with family sails off the beach etc for those who have never experienced this before, the inflatable will assist with that process.

I live only 2km from the launching beach so can transport at end of day on my trailer back home ... basically just up the hill. I think a reduced size will work for that. I have sourced a 3.3 HP Tohatsu outboard in great condition I can use for these activities.

Could be useful carrying on top of my Land Rover. I don't follow your magazine - Practical Boat Owner so no I have not seen your piece.

Anyway thanks for your feedback I think I am coming to a solution.

Best and fair winds

Mark

[Yara50]

I sympathise with the problems of ramp rage. Stink boaters just don't have the same good manners of us yachties.
WRT leaving the boat on a mooring, it would be a good idea to broom the hull clean every 2 or 3 days if you can.
The air floor and inflatable keel is the best design, however it is also more expensive and heavier. Has lots of advantages like more comfortable to sit on. The keel makes directional stability much better.
My technique with PVC pipe across roof bars to help load on the roof:

[Ozzie]

Ramp heavies are annoying but I think you need to stand your ground. I make sure I'm set up, plugs in, all ropes ready to go, etc and then take the time I need to launch. They can play with their mackerel lures as far as I'm concerned. I pay my boat rego fees like everybody else .

Mark over the years of mooring I've had various tenders. I do tow them but it does become tiresome at times. Now I've given up and mostly leave my 7 ' tinnie on the mooring . It has a large repaired hole in it and I got it for a case of beer, so it does not present as an attractive target for thieves. Towing when you are having a nice sail often feels like dragging a sea anchor. Your best bet would be an inflatable with the smallest drag coefficient . Even my tiny tinnie has a blunt nose and can feel like an anchor. Best tow I have is my one man touring kayak as it cuts the water nicely.

My current fishing rig is this car top poly hybrid canoe. 40 kg and cartops and tows ok . It has reasonable stability and takes 3 persons and have used it as a tender on occasion . Like everything , it's a compromise. The top one shown in this link.

http://www.aaapolytanks.com.au/BOATS/POLY-BOATS.htm


Good luck with your search.

[Mark]

All

Just to report outcomes of my deliberations on inflatables after the discussion and contributions others posted here.

I finally bought a 3.3M Newport (weight 34kg) without motor. About right for us to handle. I have set up my box trailer to move it around. It works just fine.

This allows for tendering to short-term moored Aminee, as well as off the beach access and at least 3-4 people which was a criterion.

Finally I did something a little different and purchased a Parsun outboard 5.8HP short shaft for $895.00 to power it. A bit of a gamble but my research told me that this motor should provide me with a pretty robust and lower cost solution for quite a few years. Its looks very much like my 5hp Mercury. (In fact I think it's a clone)

All this came together this week and today I assembled everything and got on the water - conclusion a great little setup that will allow us to tender to Aminee and visit local bays etc in comfort and with plenty of power to get around. I can launch off the beach solo or even better with help of one person. If I fished this is a great local solution.

Fair winds

Mark