Looking for first inflatable

[johnny5]

I'm looking for my 1st inflatable boat and require some advice
I want something small that will fit in my (large) car or maybe on the roof rack
It will mostly be used for pottering about on the river for a little fun but I may want to use for some sea fishing if the two are possible with the same boat ?..
I haven't got a fortune to spend so have been looking at some on eBay but am confused about the better makes and if there are any to avoid ?
My local marine dealer has some waveline inflatables starting at around £400 and then maybe a used outboard but is waveline any good ?
Or would I be better with a second hand better make boat.
Im maybe thinking about 2.5m to 3m in length but what size outboard would suit it best
as most used ones come with a 2 -2.5 hp (most of the new ones around that length state they take a 5-6hp
I have loads of questions hopefully someone can help me with
Thanks in advance.

[Max...]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Do have a good search back through this section of the forum as all the questions you ask have had many airings in large numbers of topics - general consensus is always go second hand as you will get so much more for the same money or save a fortune whichever way you want to play it. The big names (Zodiac, Avon, Quicksilver, Honwave, Yamaha etc) are the best buy - look after a decent second hand one bought privately and you should lose no money if you sell.

Try eBay as your best bet for a used package with boat, engine, fuel tank, pump, oars, buoyancy aids etc - dozens get listed every week and many are barely used.

Pottering on a river and going to sea are very different. A 2.5m and 4hp is fine for a couple on the river but most on here will say that going to sea needs a 3.2/3.4 minimum size boat and a 8hp/9.8hp 2 stroke absolute minimum.

If you really want to pack it away every time then stick with an air floor rather than section wood/aluminium floor or better still leave it inflated in the garage and just stick it on the car roof - most air floor 3m SIBs weigh under 30kg.

As I say though do spend an evening going back through this SIB section as there are hundereds of past topics that will help.

[Rokraider]

Have this for sale?
http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/yamaha-...ble-48311.html

[timhawkfs40]

Hey I have a Achilles SR-108 in perfect condition wood floor rated up to 20hp and its 3.4m. comes with pump/oars/launching wheels is really a nice looking boat and great handling for a first timer let me know

[johnny5]

Thanks for the info guys I have seen this on eBay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Inf...f#ht_500wt_922

Looks ok to me but at what price would this still be a bargin ?

And has anyone any info on waveline boats as I'm still tempted to get new and maybe a used outboard

[Max...]

See info above - why buy buy a budget Waveline (just because it is new) when you can get a much better boat secondhand?? As soon as you walk out the doow with the Waveline it will loose 30 - 50 %. Decent inflatable boats if not abused and if looked after do not wear out. You cannot sensibly go to sea in that little Yam either!

This QS has been poorly patched but is a bargain if you fancy a small project - buy a sheet of SIB PVC, some 2 part glue and re-do the patches properly and you have the basis of a great outfit for £250:

QUICKSILVER AIRDECK 3.1 METRE INFLATABLE DINGHY | eBay

[willk]

Johnny5 - some reading here Linky

Max has found a nice Quicksilver there - if the airdeck is sound then that's a cheap and excellent wee boat (repairing an actual airdeck is a PITA). Otherwise, patching wee boats like that is a dawdle - whoever did that work must have given their "seeing eye" dog the afternoon off

[johnny5]

Thanks guys point taken I will continue to look for a good second hand one I don't mind doing a few repairs but the one you pointed out is in Norfolk and I'm not sure I want to travel that far as I'm in herne bay Kent
So will keep looking and see what turns up
I will give the little yam a miss then,
pottering about on the river will be its main use but may on occasions want to go out for a bit of sea fishing
Just a bit concerned about the size when transporting if I go bigger I have limited storage so would probably need to be deflated every time and could I handle a bigger 3m+ on my own ?
I don't mind having two outboards one for river one for sea but don't really want two boats.
Keep the info comming guys

[Max...]

Hi Johnny - loads of boats come up in the Kent, East Sussex area - I'm there myself. As I say a 3m will fit on a car roof and is a doddle to transport - much easier and quicker than faffing with assembly/dissasembly.

Check the two ebay searches in this post each day and you will soon turn up a great rig locally:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/c-sport...tml#post462836

[NWC100]

Johnny,

I have a 3.4m zodiac and 9.9hp on it, I can set it up and launch by myself, I move it around in a small box trailer with boat and engine in, I have had it in the back of my yaris with seats down!

Launching is pretty simple although sometimes a PITA when tide coming in, I try to time it better, but sometimes just how it goes, I would definitely think about the size of motor, my 9.9 struggles against the tide, the other day I'm sure it took me 3 times as long to travel the same distance, if your seriously considering using at sea go for a 15hp and a 2 stroke as weight is becoming an issue then, I've no idea how heavy mine is but its about right for me to shift on my own!

The 3.4 zodiac is pretty comfy but struggled a bit in bigger seas, it doesn't feel unsafe, just struggles to make good progress, you tend to feel a bit battered and bruised if you are "going" for it and there is some chop about.

Last couple of times I've been out the coast forecast has been F4 and sea state slight, to be honest if its forecasting more than that I stay home in the warm, I can only really comment on the sea as its the only place I use my sib.

Good luck with your search.

Nick

Don't forget to factor in some cash for some safety gear, lifejackets etc!

Cam highly reccomend crewsavers crew fit jackets, not cheap mind but totally comfy to wear for a whole day if needed.

[johnny5]

Thanks for that I have picked up so much valuable information on this forum
I now have my eye on 3+m with air deck hopefully something will come up then I need to start thinking about outboards
What size, most reliable, and if they can be laid on there side for transportation. ?
As I have said I love just pottering about on the river ( had a open canoe for a while) but would on the odd occasion like to venture out in the sea for a spot of fun/fishing hopefully I can get a suitable outfit to cover both.

[lockieboi]

I have a 3.8meter Aluminium floor with a 15hp 2 stroke.
Brilliant in the Sea but a but heavy and a pain to put together but I can manage it on my own.
I started of with a air deck but then upgraded to a Ali deck as the air deck doesn't provide a solid enough platform for me.
A 340 air deck with a 15hp two stroke sounds like a good manageable package.
Also 2 strokes can be laid on there side.

[Max...]

If you can, get hold of a 9.8hp Tohatsu, the holy grail for 3.2m - 3.4m air floor SIBs especially if deflating/mounting each time, hauling over a beach and even more so if on your own. This weekend I have been trying out an alternative outfit of a 3.8m solid floor SIB with a 15hp Yam and although the extra space, solid feeling floor and better acceleration was a bonus this was all *hugely* outweighed for my by the weight and difficulty in manhandling the boat (75kg vs 29kg) and even more so the engine -the Yam weighs 36kg and the Tohatsu 26kg - for me the 10kg makes all the difference in the world - I'm not as strong as I once was but as an average 12 stone guy I found the 15 was a struggle moving about on flat tarmac - up and down a steep, stony beach it would be impossible.

All this has totally convinced me that the ultimate SIB outfit is a 3.4m airfloor with a 9.8 Tohatsu - anything much bigger really needs two strong blokes to manhandle or needs a permenant trailer and slipway launch - and if going down that route I would much rather have a RIB which is so much more capable at sea than a SIB.

The disadvantage of the air floor SIB is some movement in the floor and a less defined keel shape - the 3.8m (solid floor) I used this weekend really bit the water better in the turn with far less slip. After much Googling there are many out there that think the same and have added a lightweight ply floor on top of the air floor to improve solidity and add tension to the keel (by forcing the keel tube to push the boat underfloor down rather than the top floor up) - I'm planning to do this too so will post any results...

[lightning]

I've got a Zodiac 2.85m with a solid floor and I wouldn't worry too much about assembly, I can get this boat out of the van and into the water in 15 minutes, the floor only takes a minute or two to put in and it gives a solid base to stand/sit on.
Engines, I had a Mercury 6hp 4-stroke and it was pretty good, the boat would achieve about 15mph with two people on board. I've recently upgraded to a Tohatsu 9.8hp 2-stroke and with that engine the boat goes like a rocket but will still troll along on the canal at 2-4mph.
Both these engines weigh 26kg and are fairly easy to carry/fit on the boat.

[Stubber]

I managed to get hold of an Avon FRB 380 off here and its so easy to set up as it has a slatted aluminium floor that rolls up with the boat, a little bit heavier than the quicksilver 340 air deck that I have but easier to set up

[johnny5]

Im looking at a Zodiac in good nick with an air floor and also a older bombard with a wooden floor and a couple of repairs both at about the same money at the moment.
What sort of price would I be expecting to pay for a good used boat about 3+ m

[Max...]

Do you have a link to the listings? There are so many variables in terms of model, age, condition, features, desirability etc that it's impossible to give a reasonably accurate figure without more details.

[johnny5]

Yes hear are the links.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2210409130...9#ht_809wt_922

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1407662661...9#ht_500wt_922

I'm also looking at a Yamaha

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1108897753...9#ht_500wt_922

At the moment I'm looking for the better makes that I found listed on this forum as the top 5.
Are there any others worth considering ?

[Max...]

First one will be quite heavy given your criteria in your first post and will need a minimum 9.8 really. It's quite elderly and will be a real faff to take down and inflate each time. An air floor will be a much better idea again given the OP.

The second one (Zodiac) is absolutely ideal and a fantastic rig with a 9.8 or even an 8 will probably be OK. Given it's a 2006 with wheels etc price will probably be around £500 to £600 but with the Bravo pump alone worth £75+ second hand and the nice condition then you may be looking at £700 bids...

Worth it though as you will not lose anything come resale and IMHO these are the nicest small SIBs around (might have something to do with the fact I run the 3.4m version!) Some will say it is better made and designed than the current model...

They are super light, have a really good finish and the fittings are top notch.

The Yam will be twice the weight and again much more bulky/annoying to take down and will go OK with a 9.8 but a 15 will be better.

For me the Zodiac with wheels and pump is an absolutely outstanding choice and if it was me I would go as high as £701. A lot of boats and engines on eBay get sold 'outside' eBay by negotiation before the listing ends. I would contact the seller, tell him you will come round tomorrow and collect with £675 cash and see what he says...

[SIBer]

Jonny5 - Some good advice above. A 3.3m and a 2 stroke engine is what I went for - Shop around and don't rush to buy the first outfit you see. I nearly bought an engine that I couldn't carry and then one that would have been underpowered.

There is an excellent thread here about all the other stuff you may need
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/what-ki...sib-42712.html

The "new sibber" threads miss some important points if you are on a budget (aren't we all) - As well as the additional kit in the thread above - be aware of:
Insurance at around £50 a year - This is for liability as well as theft.
Rivers, canals and lakes need licences and you cannot get these without the above insurance.
A canal licence is about £12 a day and a river £8 a day. A years is £80 for most rivers/canals.
A weeks licence for the Norfolk Broads cost me £ 22.50 this week and is not covered by a British waterways license.
Some harbours/slipways charge you to launch.

A boat is a floating money pit - Big grins though.