Air deck worth the upgrade?

[Andy RV]

Hello, first post here!

I've got an Avon Typhoon 2.7m (I think, might be a 2.4m). It must be 18 years old now with a Tohatsu 5hp 2 stoke but both are in good nick, only getting used a couple of times a year on Windermere in the summer.

The Avon has got a ply floor, I've been thinking about upgrading to an air deck, the smaller Honwaves look nice, do you think it would be worth it?
I'd most likely keep hold of the outboard and stick the boat on ebay.

Here's a pic of the boat in question, it also has a ply floor fitted at the front when in use.



Andy

[stray]

If you're only using it a few times a year, it's in good repair and it does what you want it to do, why change?

[Locozodiac]

Air decks are not cheap need to be top air inflated to its near max 12-14 psi air pressure in order to have a solid deck for sib to perform as expected. Will need a electric air pump or a proper foot or hand pump to inflate to that given pressure, why change ?

Happy Boating

[Landlockedpirate]

In reality you are going to get very little from an upgrade. The Honwaves are great boats (I've had 3) so I will try and give you a direct comparison.

Tubes will be a bit bigger, this combined with the V airdeck will give you a dryer ride. The V hull gives slightly better handling but you will be hard pushed to tell. The 2.7m Honwave will feel safer (because the floor is deeper) but has slightly less useable floor area (The raised bow means anything you put at the front rolls back down the boat).

Performance of the Honwave will be similar, it will get on the plane with your 5hp and 1 person, might even get on with the plane with 2 lightweights on board.

Having said all that, most of us just buy another boat cos we fancy something shiny and new . The Honwave is a great boat and worth the money, you will also get good money for your current Avon so the price to swap wont be huge.

[SIBer]

If you want a newer boat go for it but in reality there is not much differnce. Air decks are faster to set up than ally floors but not as hard and can pop if you have sharp bits.

As ever you pays your money you gets your spec.

Windermere is sibbing heaven when the weather is good.

[Andy RV]

Cheers guys, gives me something to think about.

[Andy RV]

Bit of an update on this!

I sold my old set up to a friend and bought the 3.2m Honwave air deck sib and a 15hp Tohatsu 4 stoke, only had it out on the river for a few hours but so far it's great. With just me in the boat it pops up onto the plane on approx. 1/4 throttle which is great as I'm still running the engine in.

I got the boat from Liverpool Power Boats who I'd go back to, Ian matched the best price I could get online.

So long as the weather holds i'll be off to Windermere this Sunday to have a proper play!

[SIBer]

Great outfit.
Speed limit on Windermere is 10 knots so about 12 mph. Lake wardens have new radar so after you have paid to park and lauch keep an eye on your speed. Or just keep up with a lake ferry