New to SIB's - Page 2

Steve509926 · 26 February 2022, 14:42

Hi Jeff, the op doesn't want to use a trailer.

peter roper · 26 February 2022, 15:21

Hi Robmac . I have a 12 foot zodiac fitted with the speed tubes underneath. The sib has the high pressure floor which makes inflation so easy and firm enough to move around on. As regards the outboard I have a mariner 25 two stroke which gives sufficient power for water sports . I would say go for the biggest ob you can manage. I may consider selling mine because I have upgraded to a rib good luck

jeffstevens763@g · 26 February 2022, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Jeff, the op doesn't want to use a trailer.

Thay are that light you don’t need too have a look

https://www.highfieldboats.com/classic-380/

peter roper · 26 February 2022, 15:30

Hi Robmac . I have a 12 foot zodiac fitted with the speed tubes underneath. The sib has the high pressure floor which makes inflation so easy and firm enough to move around on. As regards the outboard I have a mariner 25 two stroke which gives sufficient power for water sports . I would say go for the biggest ob you can manage. I may consider selling mine because I have upgraded to a rib good luck

Steve509926 · 26 February 2022, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Thay are that light you don’t need too have a look

https://www.highfieldboats.com/classic-380/

That is light. Bit big though to fit in his camper van. On the roof maybe with one of those fancy sliding boat roof racks?

jeffstevens763@g · 26 February 2022, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

That is light. Bit big though to fit in his camper van. On the roof maybe with one of those fancy sliding boat roof racks?

Can’t for the life of me remember but there was a fibreglass hulled boat that folded down to the size of a surfboard.

Fenlander · 26 February 2022, 18:20

Was that the smallish Avon folding RIB Jeff? Light GRP hull with a transom that folded down with deflated the tubes. It all went into a bag of surfboard type proportions for car topping.

jeffstevens763@g · 26 February 2022, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Was that the smallish Avon folding RIB Jeff? Light GRP hull with a transom that folded down with deflated the tubes. It all went into a bag of surfboard type proportions for car topping.

Sounds like it David from memory when stood up it looked about 8.5 foot ish packed down nice size for camping and getting on the water compromise as always but worth a look for the OP

Robmac · 28 February 2022, 08:40

Many thanks for all the input folks.

I'm still hoping to get to Excel tomorrow but not feeling very good at the moment, hopefully just a bug but I will be doing a Covid test shortly. I will update later.

Robmac · 28 February 2022, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Thay are that light you don’t need too have a look

https://www.highfieldboats.com/classic-380/

That is so very tempting if only I had somewhere to store it!

Robmac · 03 March 2022, 12:14

Well I didn't get to Excel, still feeling a bit rough but hopefully Monday.

My present boat is going on the market tomorrow and I think it will sell pretty quickly at this time of year - and the demand is high.

I've pretty much decided now on the Volaire 430 with 20hp Tohatsu. I know it's a lump to manhandle but I think I can manage with transom wheels and all of the weight at the rear. I might even consider a bow dolly to make things easier.

I feel a lot more confident about the airdeck now after comments in this thread and it will speed up setting the boat up at the waterside. A friend of mine who owns a Honwave will also be with me on a lot of my trips so there will be help a lot of the time.
I am also looking at something like a Nissan NV200 to transport it when I travel alone with a lot of gear.

Unfortunately lead time for delivery at the moment is May so I have to be patient!

Thanks for all your input.

Fenlander · 03 March 2022, 12:21

Do beware as air decks get longer they are more prone to flex and cause prop ventilation (slip)... particularly when pushing along with larger motors. Any length much over 3.5/3.6m can be troublesome.

Robmac · 03 March 2022, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Do beware as air decks get longer they are more prone to flex and cause prop ventilation (slip)... particularly when pushing along with larger motors. Any length much over 3.5/3.6m can be troublesome.

Thanks for that.

I still plan to travel at modest speeds, the 20hp was really just for reserve power when needed.

Would the flexing still happen with quite a lot of gear on the deck?

Fenlander · 03 March 2022, 12:40

I don't want to put you off but many have suffered this effect and it has troubled them or not in varying degrees.... so it has to be mentioned.

It is so unpredictable. Not an issue at displacement speeds in my experience but often when on the plane and pushing along with a load.

Having the tubes and the floor 100% up to pressure is crucial and then if it happens trying different outboard heights/trim angles and/or moving the load about is the usual way to try and resolve it. Small changes can make it go from infuriating to acceptable.

For example I had a 3.6m Zodiac air deck with 15hp Mariner that hardly ever suffered but then I changed to a different aftermarket prop and it was dreadful... hardly having the grip to get above being just on the plane. Swapped the prop back to OE and it resolved.

Robmac · 03 March 2022, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I don't want to put you off but many have suffered this effect and it has troubled them or not in varying degrees.... so it has to be mentioned.

It is so unpredictable. Not an issue at displacement speeds in my experience but often when on the plane and pushing along with a load.

Having the tubes and the floor 100% up to pressure is crucial and then if it happens trying different outboard heights/trim angles and/or moving the load about is the usual way to try and resolve it. Small changes can make it go from infuriating to acceptable.

For example I had a 3.6m Zodiac air deck with 15hp Mariner that hardly ever suffered but then I changed to a different aftermarket prop and it was dreadful... hardly having the grip to get above being just on the plane. Swapped the prop back to OE and it resolved.

Thanks, I have been in touch briefly with Stephen (The chap who did the Volaire 430 Youtube vid) so I will ask him some more questions.

I know in the comments somebody asked him what prop he was using and he gave a link, unfortunately the link had expired so I will ask the question again.

Fenlander · 03 March 2022, 12:47

The Volaire is an unusual design and different to pretty well all other air floor setups so may be better than usual in the ventilation issue. I think those with the 390 are happy but I don't know about the 430. Certainly be wary of any conventional flat air floor model of 4m and over.

Steve509926 · 03 March 2022, 13:06

I've just taken another look at the specs for the Volaire.

The 430 is 88kg
The 390 is 70kg

The extra internal space in the 430 is only 60cm x 10cm that's 0.06m sq!

Take a look at some of PikeyDaves threads it may help.

I know which one I'd be going for.

Robmac · 03 March 2022, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The Volaire is an unusual design and different to pretty well all other air floor setups so may be better than usual in the ventilation issue. I think those with the 390 are happy but I don't know about the 430. Certainly be wary of any conventional flat air floor model of 4m and over.

Yes I had noticed it's a different floor to the usual airdecks - more like a traditional rubber dinghy! (I'm sure it's more technical than that).

One thing that inspires confidence though is the fact that most of these are sold to the rescue services.

Fenlander · 03 March 2022, 13:13

>>>One thing that inspires confidence though is the fact that most of these are sold to the rescue services.

If so fair enough perhaps re fast onsite setup and build quality... but bear in mind mainly used for drifting about at slow speed looking for stuff. So behaviour/handling on longer trips and the sea in particular will not be part of their remit.

Robmac · 03 March 2022, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I've just taken another look at the specs for the Volaire.

The 430 is 88kg
The 390 is 70kg

The extra internal space in the 430 is only 60cm x 10cm that's 0.06m sq!

Take a look at some of PikeyDaves threads it may help.

I know which one I'd be going for.

If the internal space is 60cm longer is that not 60cm x 100cm so .6 of a metre?

Unless i'm looking at it wrongly?

But there are other differences which appeal. Slightly bigger tubes, 5 chambers as opposed to 3 and beamier (again slightly).