Fiberglass vs Aluminum for RIB Dinghy?

[marlin driver]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Most cruisers agree that the AB Lammina UNPAINTED are the best you can get. Unfortunately the dealer in Mallorca is , well...unique...

I didn't think most cruisers agree on anything...

[poiu]

I have the Avon too, 15 yr old also. I have to repair leaks now and then, but there is no sign of a total failure. Are you sure it isn't possible to keep it going?

How is your dinghy failing - is the fabric tearing or is it worn thin from abrasion? What warning/sign of imminent failure might I expect to see?

When I have to replace mine, I will be getting an alu dinghy. I can't see a downside.

[Kenomac]

The Avon Rev 310 fiberglass bottom dinghy was most likely left out in the sun for most of its 14 years, so now it's fix a hole blow it up.... pop. A week later, fix a hole... pop. It's like playing "Whack a mole."

I purchased the Highfield Classic 360 earlier today after much consideration, with the center console, cover, nav lights. It all came to €3900 euros which included exceptional customer service, labor to transfer the old dinghy to the warehouse, remove and the install the Mercury outboard and the mount onto our Davits in the our shipyard. When I asked how I can dispose of Flo's dead body, the salesman said "don't a worry, I'll sell it for you, maybe someone elsa spend a couple hundred and then a fix it for himself. I'll take care of everything."

It's so easy to get things done quickly here, and no hassle.

A good friend with an identical Oyster just purchased a Highfield 340 in Grenada and loves it after his 14 year old Avon 310 also died the same way.

Thank you everyone on this thread, I learned lots and basically made this purchase based on your recommendations. Here's what we bought minus the Honda motor. The Highfield is quite a bit larger than Flo, but should weigh in around 40-50 pounds less.

Ken

[Bulawayo]

Hi Ken, Fantastic you are sorted. It would be great to receive your review after the summer. Please keep us appraised. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The Avon Rev 310 fiberglass bottom dinghy was most likely left out in the sun for most of its 14 years, so now it's fix a hole blow it up.... pop. A week later, fix a hole... pop. It's like playing "Whack a mole."

I purchased the Highfield Classic 360 earlier today after much consideration, with the center console, cover, nav lights. It all came to €3900 euros which included exceptional customer service, labor to transfer the old dinghy to the warehouse, remove and the install the Mercury outboard and the mount onto our Davits in the our shipyard. When I asked how I can dispose of Flo's dead body, the salesman said "don't a worry, I'll sell it for you, maybe someone elsa spend a couple hundred and then a fix it for himself. I'll take care of everything."

It's so easy to get things done quickly here, and no hassle.

A good friend with an identical Oyster just purchased a Highfield 340 in Grenada and loves it after his 14 year old Avon 310 also died the same way.

Thank you everyone on this thread, I learned lots and basically made this purchase based on your recommendations. Here's what we bought minus the Honda motor. The Highfield is quite a bit larger than Flo, but should weigh in around 40-50 pounds less.

Ken

[Kenomac]

Yeah, things seemed to work out. A little pressure here since I can't really launch the boat and go anywhere until I have a tender, and Mrs. Mac is due to arrive in two weeks. I'd did check out the inflatables you recommended, but the marine stores here mostly stock the cheaper, smaller inflatables and like anywhere else, the nicer ones have to be special ordered.

I was lucky to find this one, and I'll let you know how it works out.

I'll probably need to replace the motor sooner than later.

[Whitebread117]

Ken, make sure to register your boat online with Highfield. Doing so extends the warranty on the (hypalon) tubes to 10 years against degradation and maintaining pressure.

[rourkeh]

2 years ago we bought an AB Lammina 10AL here in the Caribbean. One of the last ones from the factory where they painted the boat inside and out.
Very light weight (only 117lbs), but main reason was the hull design. It rides really well for a small dingy, much softer and dryer than ant other boat out there. They also make a console boat, same hull called Alumina 10ALX but weighs 250lbs which was too much for my davits. Every body I have talked to who bought one of these aluminum boats would never go back to fiberglass.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Oh by the way, they are made in China

I learned today that the Highfield is designed in Italy for a French company. The aluminum hulls are fabricated and welded in Poland and the Hypalon and PVC tubes are made in Germany. Other bits and pieces are made in France, then everything is shipped to China for final assembly and worldwide distribution.

[Kenomac]

The engine is being transfered along with the steering wheel and cables. I should have it in the water in about a week, and will post performance results.

[Sandero]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I will call Francesco in the morning; he's the Lagoon dealer who recommended I make the change to aluminum yesterday when he examined our Davits for the solar array.

Do you have zinc anodes on the hull of your boat? Something like you have would be perfect, I can always transfer our current center console over to a new dinghy. we just had the seat cushion redone for 180 euros.

What size engine do you have on it? Will it plane with 3-4 people? When Flo was still able to float, she could only plane with two people (300 pounds of people) using a 15hp 2 stroke.

Not true... a breach or poor paint/epoxy application will lead to it coming off with all manner of exposed corroded aluminum. No more alum. RIBs for us.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The engine is being transfered along with the steering wheel and cables. I should have it in the water in about a week, and will post performance results.

How did you get on?

Also, the pick up points don't look well spaced for Oyster davits. How did you fit it to your davits?

I think that RIB has the 15" transom, so low deadrise - how does it cut through the chop?

Does the bow get blown up by the wind? I've seen some lightweight dinghies almost flip.

I've got a really poorly outboard and thought I should get an all new set up, dink and donk as a birthday present, so am reading the not so old posts here as research.

[Kenomac]

The pick up points for the davits are a little wide, it's OK for now but I need a better solution. I don't like the way they come up at an angle.

Otherwise, the dinghy is absolutely fantastic! Sully loves his too. It planes easily with the two of us, groceries and two Brompton folding bikes propelled by the Mercury 15 hp two stroke. The double seat and steering console was a good choice. Even through chop, it planes nice and rides up over the waves. My wife is still hesitant to let me hit the gas when it's choppy, because in our old tender, we'd get soaked. But now she's beginning to understand, the faster we go in the Highfield, the drier the ride.

All tegether, tender, outboard and steering console the total weight is around 90kg. Lighter than our old fiberglass Avon, but nearly two feet longer. This aluminum floor is double thickness, so no more water sloshing around or finding it's way into the fiberglass cavity. Boarding the Highfield is much more stable than the Avon since it's wider and has larger tubes.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The pick up points for the davits are a little wide, it's OK for now but I need a better solution. I don't like the way they come up at an angle.

Otherwise, the dinghy is absolutely fantastic! Sully loves his too. It planes easily with the two of us, groceries and two Brompton folding bikes propelled by the Mercury 15 hp two stroke. The double seat and steering console was a good choice. Even through chop, it planes nice and rides up over the waves. My wife is still hesitant to let me hit the gas when it's choppy, because in our old tender, we'd get soaked. But now she's beginning to understand, the faster we go in the Highfield, the drier the ride.

All tegether, tender, outboard and steering console the total weight is around 90kg. Lighter than our old fiberglass Avon, but nearly two feet longer. This aluminum floor is double thickness, so no more water sloshing around or finding it's way into the fiberglass cavity. Boarding the Highfield is much more stable than the Avon since it's wider and has larger tubes.

You did good Ken, enjoy!

[poiu]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The pick up points for the davits are a little wide, it's OK for now but I need a better solution. I don't like the way they come up at an angle.

Otherwise, the dinghy is absolutely fantastic! Sully loves his too. It planes easily with the two of us, groceries and two Brompton folding bikes propelled by the Mercury 15 hp two stroke. The double seat and steering console was a good choice. Even through chop, it planes nice and rides up over the waves. My wife is still hesitant to let me hit the gas when it's choppy, because in our old tender, we'd get soaked. But now she's beginning to understand, the faster we go in the Highfield, the drier the ride.

All tegether, tender, outboard and steering console the total weight is around 90kg. Lighter than our old fiberglass Avon, but nearly two feet longer. This aluminum floor is double thickness, so no more water sloshing around or finding it's way into the fiberglass cavity. Boarding the Highfield is much more stable than the Avon since it's wider and has larger tubes.

Good to hear it's going well. Let us know how you setup the davits in time.

[sck5]

Got an AB Lammina this last season and it was great. Of course, no telling how it will wear since it is only one year old but so far we are very happy with it