Easiest planing SIB 3.1-3.4m?

[SpearRib]

Im confused, does the honwave have an air floor and an inflatable keel? because the brochure says 3+2 for air chambers meaning inflatable floor and inflatable keel.

[kubcat]

I have an Island, eBay special, and have only used it a couple of times because I have too many boats.

It planed with my 3.5 Tohatsu with one up and it flew with a Mercury 15.

I have no experience with the other sib's.

Not sure where you are but if anywhere near Sydney you are welcome to try it if you bring some beers.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by SpearRib

Im confused, does the honwave have an air floor and an inflatable keel? because the brochure says 3+2 for air chambers meaning inflatable floor and inflatable keel.

3 for tubes and 2 for the floor (one each side to form the V.)

[willk]

Originally Posted by SpearRib

i thought the tabs at the back of the honwave were solid haha, thought i could use as a step when spearing. never mind a ladder would be easier anyway.

If the floor is properly inflated, you probably can stand on them, to a certain degree. 11psi is very solid...

[IanH]

There was a TV program recently that showed an inflatable plane whose wings were made out of the technology that air floors are made of.

Whilst the plane didn't catch on as a puncture once caused sudden deflation with fatal consequences, it was very very impressive to see the load capability of the wings.

[Locozodiac]

If wife complained about 285 size will surely complain less passing to a 3.20. If possible go larger to at least 340-350 mt size, available deck space matters if boating for long hours. A 8 HP works much better on a larger sib, less hull drag to overcome. Choose a Acti V, alum, wooden or air deck sib, you decide.

Happy Boating

[SpearRib]

the wifey complained more about the floor boards than anything else. i had a look at the specs for internal space, it will add about half a metre in length, which is surprisingly a fair bit. i do agree a 3.4 would be better, but the only one in our budget is 7 years old and not the activ, just a standard inflatable keel. from what ive read the honwave 3.2 should plane easier than our c285s. it has a years warranty too much is nice. i also like the idea of the fins at the back making it essentially a 3.4 in hull size. and whilst its no bombarider 380 (damn i wish we could get them here) it has a similar shape bow, yes its a shame that doesnt continue to the aft.

thanks kub, if i was closer id take you up on that and maybe a fish in port hacking or hawkesbury :-)

[SpearRib]

Pretty sure im going with the 3.2m honwave now. Outside bombard, are there any other manufacturers with a deep V hull?

will also keep my eye out for a 15hp once we have the new boat up and running and sell the 8hp.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by SpearRib

oh so it doesnt have a seperate inflatable keel. thats a shame isnt it?

Airdeck hulls either have a flat floor with an inflatable keel (in a similar arrangement to a conventional wooden or ali floor inflatable) or two inflatable floor sections that form a V hull without any need for a separate keel.

The V hull airdeck is more rigid than a flat floor, and performs much better.

[SpearRib]

are the honwaves and aerotec 380 the only 2 that have the floor sections which make the deep V shape?

[John Kennett]

There are probably others, but those are certainly the most common.

[IanH]

Originally Posted by SpearRib

are the honwaves and aerotec 380 the only 2 that have the floor sections which make the deep V shape?

The V on my Zodiac Fastroller is very effective at keeping boat pointing in desired direction with no signs of lateral drift that I have ever noticed.

I looked at a number of options including the Honwaves and Chinese options, but liked the flat deck of the fastroller and the fact that the flat HP floor is more protected from below by the keel and non inflated V of the boat.

Couple of good images of V shape part way down the page

[Landlockedpirate]

The 3.2m Honwave is a great choice, I had one for a season with a 15hp 2 stroke Mariner, I loved it.

Dont worry too much about the size, because it has a flat front and only stubby cones at the back its actually nearly as big inside as a 3.4 Zodiac. It also feels 'safe' because the V floor and big tubes give it a much deeper cockpit than the Zodiac.

I really liked ours, the only downside was the weight and the fact it was too big as a tender for our sports cruiser.

Other manufactures that produce V floors are Suzamar and Wet Line.

[SpearRib]

I dearly love a fastroller, just cant afford one. The honwave is half he price.

Thanks Pirate, Ive been studying all the specs and too my surprise the 3.2 is as big or bigger than many of the 3.3m cheaper sibs, it also doesnt have pointy cones. Add to that the built in tabs at the back and I can only assume it performs more like a 3.4 of the cheaper built sibs that i was looking at at.

The honwaves bow is really pronounced upward compared to my zodiac cadet.

I dont suppose anyone has a photo of a honwave from below, am interested in what the hull looks like.

[57Aircooled]

as a newbee i can only say in the few times weve been out this year in our 3.2 honwave with 10hp weve had a great time and felt really safe and found it nice and quick to inflate, launch and packaway back in the car

[SpearRib]

the 320 honda is 40cm longer internally than my zodiac 285. its about the same width internally though. 40cm is quite a bit of space.

[SpearRib]

the lodestar 3d V appears very similar to the honwave, not that it matters we cant get them here either. im just confused whether these deep V floors perform better than traditional inflatable keels like our c285s (non activ version).

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by SpearRib

the lodestar 3d V appears very similar to the honwave, not that it matters we cant get them here either. im just confused whether these deep V floors perform better than traditional inflatable keels like our c285s (non activ version).

They significantly outperform air floors with an inflatable keel, and in my experience give a similar performance to a solid floor with inflatable keel.

[SpearRib]

so john not as good as a aerotec but bit better than a traditional air keel with air floor?

[John Kennett]

The Aerotec is a deep V (comparatively!) inflatable floor. I'm now not sure what you're actually trying to compare!