Blow up to Ali up

[Paora]

Does anyone know how I can get plans to turn a full inflatable 18ft Achilles into a Aliminum bottom? Any online access would be great because I live in New Zealand.

[Brian]

I haven't a clue how you do that or even if it's feasable.
I would, however, wish you the best of luck and please post your and your boats photo in the gallery section of this website and let us know how you get on.

[John Kennett]

Whilst you might be able to re-use the tubes from the inflatable, I'm really not sure that it would be viable. As far as I can see it would mean designing the hull to fit the tubes which is really the wrong way round!

I would guess that the cost of the aluminium hull would be far greater than the price of a new set of tubes, and re-usung them might be a false economy.

If you've got a hull in mind, then I would try the various NZ RIB manufacturers and see if they would make a set of tubes to suit.

John

[Jono Garton]

Try - http://www.northwindmarine.com/rigid-inflatable.html