Um..is this for real?

[Dare_lv]

Mine was all PVC. $351 shipped with tax. Do I need any special sun block for tubes, like 303 aerospace protectant or is it bad for PVC because contains silicone?

[Dare_lv]

Please take a look at attached pics. I wonder if this is how it suppose to be constructed bottom of the inflatable boat?

[capt-couillon]

.or just not registering it. It really is only for transporting me to and from the mother ship, so since I have a documented vessel, no registration needed.

Careful... Common misconception that can come back and bite you in the butt. Quote from the USCG Doc Center FAQ

IS THE VESSEL TENDER DOCUMENTED?
Documentation of your vessel does not cover the vessel's tender or dinghy. These craft fall within the jurisdiction of the motorboat numbering laws of the state of principal use. Please contact your state agency that handles the registration or numbering of motorboats for further information

Here in Florida, any dink with a motor (gas, propane, electric) mounted (running or not) is required to have state numbers and sticker. Fastest way to get jacked by the FWC

Just sayin'

[transmitterdan]

So I ordered one of these. It came in 4 days. Box was in tatters as others reported. No other obvious damage. No MSO included.

My question is whether this is really a hypalon/CSM fabric boat. It looks like PVC to my eyes. On the transom it says 310AF. There is no H after the F which I expected to find. Does anyone else that purchased one of these have the model number 310AFH on the transom label?

[Panope]

Dan, My transom label is like yours - no "H" after 310AF. However, the box has 310AFH ORCA labels in two places. Also, the gule contained on the repair kit says "HYPALON", and the patch feels exactly like the boat material.

I do not have prior experience with hypalon, However, this boat has a very different "rubbery" feeling unlike the "plasticy" feeling of other known PVC inflatables.

Steve

[a64pilot]

Does acetone soften PVC, but not Hypalon?

[newhaul]

OK here is what I found on the walker site the AF stands for air floor and
Available in German-made Heytex PVC or ORCA CSM.
Odyssey Air Roll-Up Yacht Tender | Walker Bay

[Panope]

This link gives some techniques for determining if PVC or HYPALON. I did not have any MEK available, but every other test shows that my Walker Bay material is Hypalon fabric EVERYWHERE except the airfloor.

PVC or Hypalon? | Polymarine Paints, Adhesives, Parts & Accessories

Steve

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Does acetone soften PVC, but not Hypalon?

Acetone will dissolve PVC but will not harm hypalon

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by Panope

This link gives some techniques for determining if PVC or HYPALON. I did not have any MEK available, but every other test shows that my Walker Bay material is Hypalon fabric EVERYWHERE except the airfloor.

PVC or Hypalon? | Polymarine Paints, Adhesives, Parts & Accessories

Steve

Oh oh .... what would be the point of having Hypalon fabric on the tubes but not on the bottom ????
I suppose you are still afloat after the bottom disintegrates due to UV ....

[Jd1]

Just found out another catch 22 .... my current Walker Bay dinghy uses a long shaft motor, the new dinghy uses a short shaft motor. Never thought about checking that little detail Crap !
I wonder how much power is lost just by the fact that the longer shaft is draging through the water? My motor is 5 hp so marginal for planing to begin with.

[Panope]

Originally Posted by Jd1

Oh oh .... what would be the point of having Hypalon fabric on the tubes but not on the bottom ????
I suppose you are still afloat after the bottom disintegrates due to UV ....

The bottom is hypalon.

As I said preveiously, ONLY the air floor is PVC.

Steve

[Panope]

Originally Posted by Jd1

Just found out another catch 22 .... my current Walker Bay dinghy uses a long shaft motor, the new dinghy uses a short shaft motor. Never thought about checking that little detail Crap !
I wonder how much power is lost just by the fact that the longer shaft is draging through the water? My motor is 5 hp so marginal for planing to begin with.

Prior to purchasing a short shaft 6hp, I tested this boat with an 8 HP long shaft. At planning speeds, a massive quantity of water was deflected upward from the motor leg. This water traveled upward, glanced off the powerhead and into the boat at a rate of about 5 gallons per minute. At non-planning speeds you might be o.k.

Steve

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Panope

The bottom is hypalon.

As I said preveiously, ONLY the air floor is PVC.

Steve

\

Here is the response I received from Walker Bay:


My question: If I flipped the dinghy over for storage, do I have to worry about the underside being exposed to UV? Is the underside PVC or Hypalon?

Answer from them:

The underside is also PVC on the floor only, the rest would be Hypalon.



Do you understand the response? Does this mean tubes only to you?


Matt

[Panope]

Matt,

On my boat, the bottom material is exactly the same as the tubes.

The airfloor material is unique.

I believe there is some confusion (like Jd1 had) about the difference between "bottom" and "airfloor"

Steve