New sib

[Duluxdoggy]

ok, so our boat has just sold.. didnt lose much on it.

Liking the look of Honwave T38 Air V

Marine Honda Honwave T38-IE Air V Floor (3.8m) - Inflatable Boats | Honda Outboards | Honda Honwave Inflatables

Due to the small profit on the Suzuki motor and getting a reasonable price for the Europa, and paying a good price for that 15hp. we have the budget to get this.

Before we splash out on another boat has anyone got anything bad to say about this decision?

Thanks in advance

[Fenlander]

Downsides for you no more easy use of garden chairs with it being a V-shape air floor. Also the floor design has transom tabs that stick out meaning you have to use more expensive special transom wheels... which you're probably going to need with the heavier SIB and OB.

But...

Upsides... everything else... the build quality... thoughtful placement of carry handles... roomy... large tubes so very buoyant... strong transom... easy setup when you get to the water.

Probably the best new SIB for £1000.... good choice.

[Yabadabadoo]

Bit of wheel talk here http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/honwave...els-71395.html looks like £200.00 or a bit shy of would get you the heavy duty type, second hand the Honwaves often come up with wheels included

[Katie.harker]

As you can see, he has changed his mind again!

Dulux thinks part of the problem was the 15hp (+fuel tank and drivers body weight) was dragging the arse end of the boat down too much and bigger SIB would have more buoyancy to negate the effect of the motor weight.

My main concern is if we go to big, the 15hp won't move it like we want.
On the other hand, as he is now open to not alu floors, the 3.8m is approx 20kg lighter. What affects the performance more - overall weight, length or load spread?

Our car is not able to be parked outside our house. The trip to the car is at least 30m. We managed the 50kg of the 3m OK but as you can see, added weight would not be welcome.

However, the air (V) floor is approx 33% more £££, taking into account the wheels. (I always figured the alu would have been more.)

So, based on our motor, load weight of approx. 270kg, plus motor weight and value for money, what would you recommend: the 3.5 alu or the 3.8 air?

How much different would the T40 be?

PS, I kinda get the impression members are sniggering a bit at my use of "patio furniture". Using that chair worked really well! I need some back support, especially when we are out for 4-5 hours.
How else do you get a cup holder on your SIB?!

[Duluxdoggy]

Don't forget we also have a sack truck to assist in moving stuff to the car.

[Mikefule]

Nice boat. I looked seriously at them. I decided against mainly because of the V floor - not because of the garden chair thing, but because of the general situation of kit migrating into the bottom of the V. I like a flat deck.

There are pros and cons for an air floor, rather than ply or aluminium, but it was the concave V that put me off.

That said, if you don't think that it will affect the way that you personally use the boat, I think you'll love it.

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by Katie.harker

PS, I kinda get the impression members are sniggering a bit at my use of "patio furniture". Using that chair worked really well! I need some back support, especially when we are about for 4-5 hours.
How else do you get a cup holder on your SIB?!

Not sniggering here. I found that my X-legged camp bed exactly fits my Zodiac 310 with room for the bow bag in its normal place, and the fuel tank etc. under the camp bed. I recently had a lovely day out on the Trent and the Devon (a small local river) in scorching sunshine reclining on the camp bed and chugging along at low speed. I anchored on a quiet stretch of the Devon, had a picnic and a lie down before retracing my steps. Back on the Trent (much wider) one or two cruiser drivers commented "That's the way to do it."

[Fenlander]

OK KH & DD discount the T40... by the time you load up that large heavy SIB you'll be wanting a 20/25HP OB then you'll need a trailer!

I owned a Honwave 3.5m alloy floor and the faff of setting up the floor and it's weight lugging about both packed and inflated was why we sold it.... and went to an air floor.

If you were happy with an alloy floor and keen on one then it has to be said at around £800 they are an even better deal... but not worth the saving if you want to swap quickly because you don't like it.

I'd still be inclined to go for the 3.8.

The way any SIB goes for a given OB size is a complicated combination of floor shape, floor type, length, width, weight. From personal experience with 15hp Mariner I've been the fastest with a light air floor Zodiac 3.6m long.

[rossymtb]

I think you should buy a airfloor 3.4m or 3.6m seapro from highman In Manchester. Purely because that's what I am after. And I will buy it from you when you get fed up after a few weeks 😂😂

No after all joking around. I've been there with a 3.8m and you will be wanting a trailer after 3 times out.

Sibing is always a compromise. Between weight/power/versatility and ease of use.

Look at the 3.5m v floor honwave with launch wheels.

[Duluxdoggy]

I have only seen 3.2 or 3.8 air v..

[Duluxdoggy]

Originally Posted by rossymtb

I think you should buy a airfloor 3.4m or 3.6m seapro from highman In Manchester. Purely because that's what I am after. And I will buy it from you when you get fed up after a few weeks 😂😂

No after all joking around. I've been there with a 3.8m and you will be wanting a trailer after 3 times out.

Sibing is always a compromise. Between weight/power/versatility and ease of use.

Look at the 3.5m v floor honwave with launch wheels.

How do these seapro compare to honwave? A fare bit cheaper

[rossymtb]

Originally Posted by Duluxdoggy

I have only seen 3.2 or 3.8 air v..

Sorry I meant ally floor. Use a chair then on the floor.
Although a v rib floor would be lighter.

[Fenlander]

<<<Rossy said...I've been there with a 3.8m and you will be wanting a trailer after 3 times out.>>>


Please don't put KH/DD off a 3.8m saying they'll want a trailer before long. Your 3.8 was an alloy floor hence you getting fed up with assembly.

My Aerotec is 3.8m and being an air floor is easier to set up than a 3m hard floor. Roll and inflate... so simple.... as with the Honwave 3.8.

[rossymtb]

Seapro seem good quality. Only seen one up close. Very similar to the Europa which are also very similar to the honwave.

Simon highman the son of bill highman. Helped design the inflatable boats and uses them himself. YouTube seapro and you will see him on most of the videos using them as a family.

Also number 1 places for spare parts for outboards. Although you do pay top prices for spares.

[Highland Haggis]

EXCEL VOLAIRE 390
Why not check this sib out call terry and see what he can offer

[Katie.harker]

How would an air floor stand up to a rottweilers claws?

[Katie.harker]

The Excel's seats look incredibly thin.

[Highland Haggis]

Just lay some thin rubber mat down for the dogs and the seats I have had no problems with I have had two sort three excels now and have had no problems

[Highland Haggis]

You could look at excel vanguard

[Highland Haggis]

OVERALL LENGTH = 395CM
INSIDE LENGTH = 266CM
OVERALL WIDTH = 190CM
INSIDE WIDTH = 90CM
TUBE DIAMETER = 45CM
FLOORBOARD PATTERN = ALU
CE CATEGORY = C
PERSON CAPACITY = 6
SEATS INCLUDED = 2
LOADING CAPACITY = 780KG
MAX MOTOR POWER. KW/HP = 19 / 25
OPTIONAL IN RED AND BLACK
BOAT WEIGHT = 75KG
CHAMBER = 3 + 1
MAX AIR PRESSURE TUBES = 0.25 BAR
MAX AIR PRESSURE KEEL = 0.40 BAR
TUBE FABRIC (HYTEX) = 1100

COLOUR OPTIONS: Red / Black / Dark Grey
PRICE Inc Vat = £1,259