Slat floor

[loonasea]

Im looking into buying another inflatable i have a 3.8 air deck honwave and a 25 hp yam on it but i want a smaller boat as well ive got a 4 hp yam for it but my dilemma is slat floor or air floor ether way im going for about 2.6 in length opinions please thanks

[Locozodiac]

Slat floor rocks more than correctly air topped air floor, if rocking issue is not a strong consideration go for it. Personally would go for a 3.00 to 3.20 lenght sib, a 4 HP horse will push much better a larger size, has less hull drag, a 2.60 will bore you fast. Any special brand you are looking for ?

Happy Boating

[falcon0310]

i had 2.65 new years ago with 4hp and if i wasnt fat it would plane, think air floor is best now as slatted is best for sub 2.4m tender with 2.5 2stroke

[loonasea]

To be honest its all about weight and effort but if it did plane i wouldnt complane :--)

[loonasea]

So slat floors wont plane is the general rule please comment if u know different please.

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by loonasea

So slat floors wont plane is the general rule please comment if u know different please.

Generally not, too much hull drag, non rigidity issues. Those small sib toys with small portable engines are generally for potting around, transports from marina to vessel and viceverse. Are starter sibs on a tight budget. Stay away from them is possible...

Happy Boating

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by loonasea

So slat floors wont plane is the general rule please comment if u know different please.

Anything will plane if it has enough power, but in general it would take far more power on a small slat floor sib than the max allowed to get it over the hump.

I cant see any reason to buy a slat floor these days, air floors are lighter, easy to inflate, fast and stable. I ran a Zodiac fast roller slat floor for years as a tender, but my Howave 2.7 is far far better.

[mister p]

I'd have a slat floor over an air floor any day. More rigid, workable, just makes the boat more serious. Bolsters the sponsonds and provides rigid torsional support for the transom.
Unless you are simply pottering around.

[loonasea]

Originally Posted by mister p

I'd have a slat floor over an air floor any day. More rigid, workable, just makes the boat more serious. Bolsters the sponsonds and provides rigid torsional support for the transom.
Unless you are simply pottering around.

I think we may be at cross purposes here i mean slat floor as in the roll up type im sorta leaning towards these as my 3.8 air v floor honwave takes ages to set up so i thought a slatty for quick after work fishing sessions and keep my honwave as well for everything else.but u no how it is then you start thinking will it plane if i up the motor size lol

[Locozodiac]

Have not tried a slat floor sib myself, but boaters who have tried it states that at plane slats have unstable driving behaviour, that's because are flat bottom with no keel to track the sib correctly compared to air, alum, wooden floor sibs behaviours. If possible before jumping into an empty pool try one and see if you are happy with it's performance.

Happy Boating