Dinghy Quality

[sailorboy1]

I pulled up to the dinghy dock yesterday with my 2 year old dinghy. Tied up right next to this brand new pretty sister dinghy to mine. You could hear it scream from 1/2 mile away when it saw mine and knew what it was going to look like in just 2 short years

[JPA Cate]

Dinghies lead hard "lives", then they fall apart. Sounds a little like humans, eh?

Ann

[a64pilot]

Yes, but mine fell apart in two years, yet led a sheltered life, literally.
To me, that screams low quality, especially when you see some ten yrs old, may look bad, but aren’t falling apart.
I define falling apart as pieces fall off, again literally.

[sailorboy1]

Well mine has been falling apart (pieces falling off) for 8 months now. But it has been living a rough life so guess it’s good.

[puffcard]

Dink years are like dog years.

[a64pilot]

Yours is vinyl?
If so likely welded. Mine was Hypalon, and the fabric was great, but the glue was beginning to fail.
I had an expert look at it, his comment was “I can’t fix that”
One case I think that vinyl would outlast Hypalon.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Yours is vinyl?
If so likely welded. Mine was Hypalon, and the fabric was great, but the glue was beginning to fail.
I had an expert look at it, his comment was “I can’t fix that”
One case I think that vinyl would outlast Hypalon.

And, fiberglass reinforced plastic outlives them both. Heavier, yes, but you never get something for nothing.

[Pete7]

Having just had our little 7ft GRP Pram dinghy nicked, we have bought an old Avon Redcrest, 8ft of the best 1970s hypalon available on the planet. Sadly no longer made thanks to the French.

First test is Saturday morning.

Pete

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Having just had our little 7ft GRP Pram dinghy nicked, we have bought an old Avon Redcrest, 8ft of the best 1970s hypalon available on the planet. Sadly no longer made thanks to the French.

First test is Saturday morning.

Pete

"nicked" took me a minute to get it as I was wondering why not just fix the "nick"

[Pete7]

Went down to the sailing club early last Saturday morning to bring the GRP pram dinghy home as it has developed a leak, only to find it had vanished. I hope the individual had a long trip across the harbour and regretted his decision about half way across when he would have found the leak.

The Avon hypalon means it is easy to repair, even major repairs are do able.

Pete

[Tetepare]

Six years ago a deal came up I couldn't refuse so I got a 2006 Avon Rover 310 hard bottom.


I gave my 12 YO Achilles to a buddy who restored it. That boat is now 18 YO and still going strong.


My Avon 310 is my beloved. Absolutely no problems with it. Previous owner had left it uncovered for years, so it has sunspots, but since then I've kept it covered.


Only drawback is that it's heavy. But it takes a beating, comes up on plane quickly, is dry and comfortable even in seas.



They don't make them anymore and I can't find a reasonable replacement. Some people say "I got the same thing at Costco or West Marine for $999" or whatever. No, you didn't.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I don’t see how as I don’t really even apply the protectant to the fittings because they seem so thick that I doubt that the UV gets through them. Plus if it was protectant why aren’t the glued seams failing.

My theory is that gluing the fittings on is an after thought and they don’t plan on them lasting. So for $0.25 worth of glue my dinghy is falling apart.

Have you considered a Porte-Bote? We just bought another, and I think the last one went 20 years. Row well, indestructible on rocks or Coral, and fold up to a surfboard if you want. I can't imagine not having one.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Delfin

Have you considered a Porte-Bote? We just bought another, and I think the last one went 20 years. Row well, indestructible on rocks or Coral, and fold up to a surfboard if you want. I can't imagine not having one.

I’m going on something like 17 years with my 10’ portabote. Seasonal usage, so cut that in 1/2, but mine shows no risk of falling apart. Considering the price of any dingy, it amazes me how short a lifespan most rubber ones seem to have.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

They don't make them anymore and I can't find a reasonable replacement.

Sadly, Zodiac the large French firm bought out Avon Inflatables and that was the end of that, their small tenders have gone up market and cost.

shame, but guess they couldn't compete against the cheap imported plastic alternatives.

[sailorboy1]

Since the “protectant” doesn’t appear to do anything other than waste money I thinking next dinghy to be:

A pvc hard bottom that I paint the tubes right at the start and that I make a cover to sit on so the tubes stop sticking to my rear