Best Inflatable RIB

[knot smart]

ive owned avon, zepplin and caribe.. i think theyre relatively the same quality. as long as its hypalon , thats all that matters.. never owned a PVC , but "they" say they dont last

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

Funny, the Highfield is the exact same boat.

There the same company....... About Highfield - Highfield Australia

[Dustymc]

I'm very happy with my Achilles - it's 9'10", weighs 90 pounds, has 18" tubes, a folding transom, runs almost 30MPH with a 15HP and 3 people. (The cost is that it's fairly flat at the transom and pounds a bit in rough water.) It's an awesome dinghy, very fast, stable, easy to set up, and liveable (just) on the foredeck of my 32' boat when folded. If space wasn't such an issue I might have gone AB (and probably should have gone with an air floor). I've had it for 2 years, and have no complaints so far.

[surfmachine]

Hi, go and see the german guy at Ao Charong, they have new alloy hulled ribs from china, cheap and good! On the road to phuket 3rd turn out of the roundabout at the road from the end of the pier.

The 3.10 m Version

Specifications

Length overall 3.10 m (10`)
Beam overall 1.64 m
Length inside 2.15 m
Beam inside 0.75 m
Tube diameter 44 cm
Hull Type Rigid Hull
Payload 650 KG
Capacity persons 5 person
Recommended horse power 5 - 25 HP
No. of air compartments 3
Fabric Polyester with 1100 dtex
Coating Neoprene/Hypalon coating 1,300g/m²
Colour grey, red, dark blue, white
Transom Height 15 inches
Weight approx. 62 kg

Cholamark Dinghies Phuket


I put new hypalon tubes on my NZ built aquapro, could not be happier. Planes with two adult males and 2 surfboards with a 9.8hp Tohatsu.
Cheers from Keith.

[SKG56]

You might give Alan at Boatshed Phuket a call, maybe can steer you in the right direction, try bahtsold.com also

[downunder]

Originally Posted by surfmachine

Hi, go and see the german guy at Ao Charong, they have new alloy hulled ribs from china, cheap and good! On the road to phuket 3rd turn out of the roundabout at the road from the end of the pier.

The 3.10 m Version

Specifications

Length overall 3.10 m (10`)
Beam overall 1.64 m
Length inside 2.15 m
Beam inside 0.75 m
Tube diameter 44 cm
Hull Type Rigid Hull
Payload 650 KG
Capacity persons 5 person
Recommended horse power 5 - 25 HP
No. of air compartments 3
Fabric Polyester with 1100 dtex
Coating Neoprene/Hypalon coating 1,300g/m²
Colour grey, red, dark blue, white
Transom Height 15 inches
Weight approx. 62 kg

Cholamark Dinghies Phuket


I put new hypalon tubes on my NZ built aquapro, could not be happier. Planes with two adult males and 2 surfboards with a 9.8hp Tohatsu.
Cheers from Keith.

They could be built by the factory that build Highfields/Swifts.

[Bash]

I've got a 1996 hypalon Caribe that is showing its age but still holds air. It lives on the davits year round without a cover. A shame the first engine didn't last as long as the boat.

[teapot]

Well...if weights not to much of a problem get an old Avon. I have a 310 rover, the new ones are rubbish, lightly built. If you want a bullet proof build. My one is about 20 years old, cost me 50 pounds. So much better quality then new boats but is a bit heftier, takes a ten horse power, wood floor, really good quality, as someone who used to sell ribs for a living...can't beat it!

[svTOTEM]

Surfmachine / downunder – the dinghy described is a Highfield, sold by both Cholamark in Ao Chalong and Swift in Australia. It is made in China. We purchased the Highfield 2.9 (wanted 3.1, but none in stock) at Cholamark after our terrific, 19 year old Avon (GRP/Hypalon) finally gave up. The Highfield: hull seems well built, the Hypalon is thinner than we'd like, is slightly more stable design than the Avon, is slower (even though lighter) and has a herky/jerky ride compared to Avon (due to bottom of tubes digging into water). Overall it is okay, but the old Avon was a better dinghy.
Cholamark (in Ao Chalong) do also build their own dinghies. We really liked their 3.1 (GRP/heavy duty Hypalan) – but cost was too much for us; it’s also a little on the heavy side.

[cruiz9]

Originally Posted by svTOTEM

Surfmachine / downunder – the dinghy described is a Highfield, sold by both Cholamark in Ao Chalong and Swift in Australia. It is made in China. We purchased the Highfield 2.9 (wanted 3.1, but none in stock) at Cholamark after our terrific, 19 year old Avon (GRP/Hypalon) finally gave up. The Highfield: hull seems well built, the Hypalon is thinner than we'd like, is slightly more stable design than the Avon, is slower (even though lighter) and has a herky/jerky ride compared to Avon (due to bottom of tubes digging into water). Overall it is okay, but the old Avon was a better dinghy.
Cholamark (in Ao Chalong) do also build their own dinghies. We really liked their 3.1 (GRP/heavy duty Hypalan) – but cost was too much for us; it’s also a little on the heavy side.

Great post ,thankyou.

[Delafontaine]

Here is a nice, long and detailed video from Sailrite on
How to Make Dinghy Chaps:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1q7o4zcR8E