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28-05-2020, 18:45
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala FL
Boat: 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Posts: 1,953
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Great price, but the two year warranty says a lot to me. "disposable"
__________________
John Churchill Ocala, FL
NURDLE, 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Currently hauled out ashore Summerfield FL for refit
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28-05-2020, 18:55
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Still it’s not much money, what do you expect for $400?
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28-05-2020, 19:33
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala FL
Boat: 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Posts: 1,953
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot
what do you expect for $400?
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Is that their warranty policy?
After some years of racing and leaving the dink in the garage, I am planning on returning to more active cruising and reassessing my needs. This dinghy is appealing in some aspects- light weight and easily stowed, my two biggest gripes about my current 10' plywood floor model. At the price, it might be worth an experiment to see how this type suits my needs.
__________________
John Churchill Ocala, FL
NURDLE, 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Currently hauled out ashore Summerfield FL for refit
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28-05-2020, 19:44
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami
Boat: EDELCAT33
Posts: 857
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
That is quite cheap, it won’t plane as configured it, I bet you can built an inflatable keel to help with that. Not familiar with the material but assume it is PVC which may require Chaps for sun damage protection.
Is 1/3 to 1/4 of a hypalon tender. May be worth your $
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28-05-2020, 20:10
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Boat: Beneteau Idylle 1150
Posts: 666
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Our Southern Pacific PVC RIB lasted almost 15 years, at least partially because of generous applications of 303 a couple of times per year. So PVC can be ok if the boat is well made.
The link to the West Marine site, shows an alternative version with roll-up wooden floor that doesn't add much weight and is only $200 or so more. I would go for the latter based on the performance characteristics that they describe for each boat.
__________________
Desolation Island is situated in a third region, somewhere between elsewhere and everywhere.
Jean-Paul Kauffmann
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28-05-2020, 21:41
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Southern California
Boat: Catalina 320
Posts: 1,308
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Just so happens I have one that's about 20 years old I use with a 2hp Honda of similar vintage. It has spent most of it's life stored and for some time now I've expected it to start coming apart but so far so good. Punched a couple small holes in the floor section while beaching I've repaired with some backpackers repair tape that is holding well. I do rinse and dry before folding carefully and storing in a "cool, dry place" between uses.
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28-05-2020, 21:57
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Pago Pago
Boat: Lancer 36
Posts: 265
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
I would buy one but they won't truck ship it to me.....:/
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28-05-2020, 23:49
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 488
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
I have a similar one that is over 20 years old now but not much used the last 12yrs or so. Just starting to have to do glue repairs on the attached fittings as it has been rolled in a tin shed. Seams still fine. Mine is 1100 decitex PVC fabric too with welded seams.
My slat floor roll-up does plane with one person and a 3.3 hp 2 stroke but you have to extend the outboard tiller so you can sit forward.
The slat floor is a bit like a caterpillar going over waves.
If I had to get another one I would probably go for an air floor which can pump up hard and one with inflatable keel. Hopefully my next boat will be big enough that I can use a hard dinghy though.
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28-05-2020, 23:58
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marathon1150
Our Southern Pacific PVC RIB lasted almost 15 years, at least partially because of generous applications of 303 a couple of times per year. So PVC can be ok if the boat is well made.
The link to the West Marine site, shows an alternative version with roll-up wooden floor that doesn't add much weight and is only $200 or so more. I would go for the latter based on the performance characteristics that they describe for each boat.
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this one also has a slatted roll up floor.
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29-05-2020, 03:17
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala FL
Boat: 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Posts: 1,953
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
The twenty year old West Marine products are not comparable. They were rebranded dinghys made by major manufacturers, now everything is Chinese with all that that implies regarding a budget priced item. West has essentially "WalMart-ized" the chandlery business here in the US.
__________________
John Churchill Ocala, FL
NURDLE, 1979 Bristol 35.5 CB
Currently hauled out ashore Summerfield FL for refit
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29-05-2020, 04:22
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 488
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
I have no doubt my old inflatable was made in China by Sevvylor which may or may not have been owned by Zodiac. I don't think the material or construction technology will have deteriorated since then but it is possible. Of course I imagine most inflatables (as with virtually everything) will also be made in China so that in itself probably doesn't mean anything.
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29-05-2020, 10:27
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: CPYC Erie, PA
Boat: Catalina 34ll 2001
Posts: 40
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
Had one, was pleased with it. I never was able to row it well at all. Really needs a motor to get around. Rolled up very easily, only took a 10-15 min to unpack and pump up, about the same to pack.
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29-05-2020, 10:30
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southport, NC
Boat: Pearson 367 cutter, 36'
Posts: 657
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
I have an almost identical model, PVC, made by Zodiac, the last of the made-in-France smaller Zodiacs. If you are okay with not going fast, they are fine, and easy to stow. It fits on my boat, only cost about $500 on sale, is easily propelled by a 2.5hp outboard, so I'm happy. When I do my bigger trip, I'll probably invest in an AL hull RIB, but for now the Zodiac works.
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29-05-2020, 10:40
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Boat: Beneteau First 235
Posts: 52
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Re: Westmarine inflatable sale $419
We have had the exact same dinghy for 9 years now and love it. It holds air all season and a quick pump up in the spring with the high volume foot pump does the trick. I did repaint the transom last year since it was starting to wear and it looks like new. The only thing that goes eventually are the synthetic floor slats which broke last year(after 8 years) when you would stand directly on them. A simple fix was to replace with plywood slats. You could also put a thin plywood sheet over the floor to disperse your weight over more than one slat. Great buy and nice weight and stability. We normally just row it but also run a 2hp on it. One thing I like is the stern transom lever activated drain hole. Our dinghy stays in the water all the time and we leave the drain lever open so when we are not there and it rains hard it will only get a max 1/2" of water in it before it starts to drain. Just grab the bow ring lift it up and tilt the rest of the water out.
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