Honwave T38IE Vs Excel SD350

[Fishery Pokery]

Hi everyone,

I am looking at getting an Airdeck as I have ended up not using my Avon Aluminium floor.
It is too heavy and too much of a pain to install the floor each time.
I need an airdeck so I will fully pack away the boat after each use.

I will probably treat myself to a new sib this time as I don't want to spend time repairing it.
I have sold the engines I had so am left with an 8hp 2 stroke which is what I will use at least to start with.

I have narrowed it down (I think) to the Honwave T38 or the Excel SD360.

Here are what I think are the pros and cons of each.

About the same price, £1000 for the T38, £1059 for the SD360.
2 year warranty for T38, 5 years for the SD360.
Removable and cheaply replaceable air floor in the SD360.
Cheaper accessories for the SD360.
Trim tabs on the T38, better handling but harder to mount wheels, etc.
I have read the T38 is excellent on the water, but unsure about the SD360.
2 benches with the SD360, and pressure relief valves.
T38 weighs 48kg, SD360 is 58kg.
T38 tubes 44cm, SD360 tubes 45cm.

My gut says the T38 would be a great buy, but the maths says the Excel is a better deal, especially with the 5 year warranty.

Has anyone used both, or either and has any thoughts on them?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Geoff

[Fenlander]

Geoff.

For me it would come down to one thing... the Honwave V floor vs the flat air floor of the Excel.

No disrespect to anyone who has one currently and is happy with it but I'd not return to a flat air floor (I've owned 3). They are too prone to odd effects such as the prop losing grip on the water unexpectedly and/or a feeling as if you have just gone over a whale.

The Honwave can suffer a slight bendy effect (more so on the 3.8 compared to the 3.2 folks say) but most folks find it minimal and well worth the other attributes of the Honwave.

[Fishery Pokery]

Thanks Fenlander.

I thought the excel has a v bottom, although I know it is probably as pronounced as the honwave.

This could be wrong though.

Another plus for the honwave.

[Fenlander]

It's the way the V is formed.

The Excel floor is a bit like a 8x4 sheet of 18mm ply... support it at the edges and get a person or two to jump on it and it will be springy. On the water the "sausage" keel under the floor presses on it and produces much the same effect... and the keel is low pressure so in itself springy.

The Honwave is like that same sheet cut down the middle and glued together in a V. With just the edges supported and the V upwards standing on it is likely to produce almost no deflection.

If that makes sense...

[Yabadabadoo]

That's the rear of a 3.2 Honwave, sorry no bow pic to hand. The V is more pronounced at the bow and flattens off to the rear/stern

[Fishery Pokery]

Got you, thank you both.

What I read said the Sd360 has a 0.7 bar and the T38 is 0,8.

I have had a sausage keel before, and thought the excel was different, but if not that certainly makes the choice easier.

Thanks again.

[Fenlander]

I haven't seen that model Excel in the flesh so do check it out but I'm pretty sure there will be a LP sausage keel under the HP floor inflated through a hole in the floor.

[Fishery Pokery]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I haven't seen that model Excel in the flesh so do check it out but I'm pretty sure there will be a LP sausage keel under the HP floor inflated through a hole in the floor.

I have had a look and I think you are right.

That pretty much seals it then, the Honwave it is.

The only last worry is the weight and managing by myself when necessary, the Avon used to be a bit of a killer over long distance, even with wheels.

I will find out the weight and compare.

Thanks for your help. 👍

[kaman]

I think the T3.8 is around 48kg.
It's an awkward lump to lift yourself when it's deflated in its bag.
Once blown up and on its launch wheels it's easy enough to wheel around.
I use an old steel pole and a karabiner on clipped to the middle bow ring

[kaman]

Makes lifting the bow up and wheeling along on transom wheels much easier as you can use both hands.

[Fishery Pokery]

I have had a look and one of Fenlanders previous threads http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/avon-su...ght-64520.html
suggest the weight of my current typhoon 3.4 145kg (not sure if this is for the aluminium floor as mine is) which makes the 3.8 honwave two thirds of the weight.

I think this will be fine, I also used to over load my Avon with fishing gear as well so will have to learn not to.

Thanks again for helpful pics Kaman.

[kaman]

No problems Geoff.
I'm sure you'll be happy with a T3.8.
I think the 3.4 typhoon will be 145 lbs which is 66kgs.
So the T3.8 will roughly weigh in 18kgs lighter than your current set up.

[Fishery Pokery]

Originally Posted by kaman

No problems Geoff.
I'm sure you'll be happy with a T3.8.
I think the 3.4 typhoon will be 145 lbs which is 66kgs.
So the T3.8 will roughly weigh in 18kgs lighter than your current set up.

Doh!

You are right, I meant 145lbs and the honwave is 105lbs.

I have pretty much everything i need, it is a shame about the curved transom wheels as I have a good set already for my current setup.

I will have to find the best price I can now on the boat and wheels.

Thanks for all your help.

[kaman]

Yes those transom wheels / trim tabs are a PITA!
I do believe the trim tabs make a difference though as my T3.8 gets on the plane and stays there better than my Honwave 3.5 ally floor which doesn't have tabs.
The launch wheels I have on mine are the heavy duty ones and they are very good - but expensive.
The outboard I have weighs in at 51kg (tohatsu 20hp).
I know someone who has the lighter transom wheels and they have bent under the weight of a 9.9hp engine.
Just something worth considering when you buy your wheels.
As the saying goes you get what you pay for.