For me SE is pure on line visual marketing. Really laugh out when that senior boater knocks the inflated tube with a hammer saying how tough that fabric is, wouldl like to see him doing the same hard banging test with the sharper side of the same hammer. LOl!!
Hey Sea Rider,
Totally agree with this one!
To clarify your boating needs : What type of boating will you be doing, fishing, cruising at low or high speed at coastal,l open waters, closed bays, calm river, lakes ? Will this be a family oriented vessel ?
It will be mostly just my wife and I, day tripping local lakes, rivers and safe local harbors. No fishing, and will have friends and the grandkids now and then. Mostly just puttering around for the afternoon.
Can't understand why you won't like at all the Saturn 380 footer. The + about thermowelding process over the traditional hand gluing process is something that doesn't take my dream away. All my last 7 inflatables were hand glued and none of them experienced failing tubes, It's just a matter to inflate the Sib at it's recommended PSI working pressure and voila!!
Ok, but.....my biggest concern is seam failure. It seems to be the biggest downside of inflatable boats. IF I have a problem, then what? (No boat is perfect)
Comparing both brands physical Pros and Cons :
-SE inflatables are manufactured by a third party with just 0.9 mm standard chinese PVC fabric.
True.
-Uses hollow cheap plastic floorboards that rattles very much when boat is on plane.
-In a short time period along higher UV radiation exposure now a days, plastic floorboards will deteorate fast and crack which is no bueno at all. Will need to save some cash to buy a new plastic floorboard set...
True, but I'm going to get a drop stitch floor no matter what I buy.
-Saturn builds their own brand inflatables with high quality Korean 1.2 mm PVC fabrics.
-Employs high quality 2 part PVC glue than their chinese competitors.
-Uses better quality wooden or alum floor decks.
-A 1.2 mm fabric along a better frim deck achieves a much better water ride in all water conditions.
-Saturn tests well each inflatables prior delivering them to final worldwide dealers.
-Being an overall higher qualty inflatable the asking price is way below of the SE one which for me is way overpriced.
Guess what, both of my highly experienced inflatable boater friends have switched to Saturn inflatables after their awful experience with SE brand and that says much of the quality...
Ok like I said, I'm 95% sold on the SE, but.... I'm not buying anything till next month.
You've given me something to think about........ Mark
Happy Boating