Highfield Ribs aluminium hull

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by office888

Most US manufacturers stopped using wood a decade ago.



Zodiac US uses all 3 piece molds. Molded hull, molded stringers, and molded deck cap. Cores are divinyl foam or coosa composite foam.

Personally I don't like moulded decks. Absolutely nothing wrong with wood if done properly.

[sydneyribber]

I have an OM640DL. Really impressed with it to date. Have definitely put it through its paces in the Tasman sea. Has been extremely sea worthy, comfortable ride and has never had me in a position that has made me feel uncomfortable.

The build quality for me has been great however I have also had a small patch of the powder coat rub away where it meets the rollers on the trailer.

I have it on a dunbier suparoller trailer which really helps as I launch and retrieve by myself every time with little to no effort.

I had a RedBay previously before moving to Australia and was considering importing but decided against to have local dealer support. I must say my local dealer is great so that's a big plus.

I would say that the RedBay or more specifically fibreglass definitely had slightly more comfortable ride. However it was a 7.4 so hard to make a true comparison.

Anyway to round it up the price for me was the deciding point, I settled in my head I was buying a budget option but I have been proven wrong so far. Great boat, would recommend to anyone. But hey each to their own.

Hope this helps a little.

[office888]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Personally I don't like moulded decks. Absolutely nothing wrong with wood if done properly.

Molded decks and stringers are extremely consistent, and you can have proper fiberglass hatches and such. I like storage.

Every screw is a chance for rot with wood. Not a fan. Foam doesn't absorb water and turn to mush, so water intrusion is an annoyance rather than a possible structural failure.

[Rick Fisher]

I looked up the Supa roller trailer, I assume that's a much easier trailer to load and unload, any issues with the boat moving around on it when being towed ?

[sydneyribber]

Originally Posted by Rick Fisher

I looked up the Supa roller trailer, I assume that's a much easier trailer to load and unload, any issues with the boat moving around on it when being towed ?

Hey rick

Trailer has been great. Once locked off at the bow no movement whatsoever. I strap the transom down to trailer to be certain.

Boat sits really low in the trailer so it's nice and stable when towing and I can launch on pretty shallow ramps.

When retrieving it doesn't matter if I'm a bit off, the boat self centred every time.

Definitely glad I spent the extra on the trailer.