asherallen@mac.com
Recruit
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2009
- Messages
- 1
Re: Inflatable Boat Brands
I am curious why you say, "definitely a two stroke"? Thanks
I am curious why you say, "definitely a two stroke"? Thanks
Certainly nothing wrong with purchasing a less expensive inflatable. But I thought I might post and comment on some of the misinformation in this thread. To begin with, Saturn does not warranty their boats for 5 years. The warranty is for two. Take a good look at what that warranty entails, shipping the boat back at your cost. Repairs or replacement are free if they are due to a manufacturers defect, failed seams due to heat exposure and the like are not covered, even within the two year period. Would it really be worth it to ship off a $1000 vessel to see if repairs are covered? It is my experience that the warranty is usually a good guide to the expected no repair time period. Zodiac warranties their inflatables for five years. I see a lot of Zodiacs that need repairs around the 7 year mark. I'm not saying Zodiac is all that much better, but the manufacturers aren't guessing at this. The warranty period is always going to reflect their confidence and minimize their claims. I have had plenty of opportunity to work on inflatables. I view glued PVC seams as a time limited application and don't have a problem with regluing them. But I have never seen a thermobonded tube seam fail on a zodiac unless it was damaged. A Saturn at a nice low price sure can be a lot of fun. But expecting it to last ten years without any issues is overly optimistic. When I am asked to assist on repairs to inflatables that have tube seam leaks or failures that are not directly attributable to some incident or accident I offer a free ride to the dump. Don't get me wrong here, I can see the value in less expensive inflatables and I am not saying Zodiacs are trouble free. But I would not purchase an older PVC hand glued tube seam inflatable at all. If you view these vessels as consumables you won't go wrong. They are an affordable way to get out on the water. Just don't be confused that they are going to be reliable a decade from now. That is ridiculous. If you are going to leave the boat outside and expose it to a lot of heat then you should splurge on Hypalon. The dinghy on my Westsail has stood up to big time abuse and exposure. If you can store the boat in a protected place without high heat any inflatable will last longer, particularly PVC boats. If you are going to buy a used inflatable and take it to remote locations, well, you better have confidence in your tube seams. For me that means thermo bonded tube seams.
As far as the "Why a two stroke?" post. Because two strokes weigh a lot less when compared to a four stroke of the same HP. Weight at the transom has a big effect on a lightweight inflatables handling and planing capabilities.
I am curious why you say, "definitely a two stroke"? Thanks
If you are going to buy a PVC boat I strongly recommend buying a Zodiac, Zoom, Bombard or Walker Bay as these companies heat weld their seems. A hand glued seam on a PVC boat WILL NOT last. The PVC inflatable was introduced as it could be mass produced by machine welding and offered at a lower price to the consumer. The above manufactures have tested the fabric and welding vs. gluing hence the reason they heat weld them.
Hypalon is a more durable fabric than PVC but mainly in the petro chemical resistance and UV areas but if you buy a quality PVC boat it will last you years in the environment in which you are going to be using it.
And what is 1100 Decitex that Zoom Aero 260 advertized here is made of?
If you want a great price on a PVC dinghy, go to ebay and google "dinghy". Then find the auctions by the seller Affordable Inflatables. They sell excellent quality imported infatables under the brand name Baltik. I am pleased w/ the quality and performance of mine so far.