Present in over 90 countries worldwide, Zodiac Nautic has 1600 knowledgeable dealers that put their expertise and passion at your service. An exception was the Apex 832RI, which we had difficulty getting on plane, probably because we didnt have a 9.9-hp. In many ways, it was the surprise of the test series. This was not a problem with the smaller motor, but we nevertheless think that slatted floors ought to be secured to place, if only by a cleat screwed to the transom under which the floor is wedged. It weighs 17 lbs. In accordance with Law No. Zodiac Rec Pro boats take the Pro USA range up a notch, and feature a T-Top. Seaworthy R-6IFThis 9 2 boat is Seaworthys air floor model, roughly the same size as the Achilles LSI 96, both of which are made of Hypalon. The Decision TreeLets assume youve already decided against a traditional hard dinghy. It is varnished and will require more maintenance than painted wood. Bottom Line: Reasonable choice from the leader in PVC construction. If you coastal cruise and must inflate and deflate the tender almost daily, a rollup or air floor is a smart choice. Unlike most other air floors, which are made up of thousands of polyester dropped stitches, Seaworthys is a series of tubes like an air mattress that comprise the outside hull as well as the inside floor (see photo). Bixler's Orange Off Inflatable Boat Cleaner, Removes Adhesives, Mold, Mildew, Oxidation, Bottom Paint and Barnacles. The single athwartship seat is well forward. The PRO OPEN has a new look after a complete new design. In the coming year we hope to learn more about the various materials used for inflatable boats and report it to our readers. Also, they will take more abuse on the bottom, and stowage compartments may be incorporated. Performance with one person is good, but most of the time aboard you wont be on plane. In some designs, the slats are spaced several inches apart; in others, the slats are narrower and connected to one another. Click here to view the Inflatable Boats Value Guide. J'accepte que les informations saisies soient utilises par Zodiac pour communiquer avec moi. A favorite in the Western and Gulf Regions the FC420 meets the needs of users needing a strong and robust inflatable to conduct difficult and dangerous missions with speed and safety. West Marine, PO Box 50070, Watsonville, CA 95077-0070, 800/262-8464, www.westmarine.com. Offered in both gray and navy blue. *For the best price and most accurate shipping request a quote*, Scroll to the bottom of this page for more details on Zodiac Sport RIB. Handling was good. Free Shipping on Select Boats and Outboards. If all you want is a small tender for two-three people to putt-putt from boat to shore, an 8-1/2 boat will dothe West Marine RU260 is low priced. The challenge for manufacturers of inflatable boats has been to replicate RIB performance in stowable models. New items coming all the time, contact us if you can't find what you are looking for. Any Info on it would be appreciated as I cant find this raft listed anywhere. These boats are essentially the same as equivalent Zodiac models, but with minor changes. ), and with buoyancy tubes deflated occupies twice the space (as an example, the Avon 10 2 RIB 310 stows in 100 x 49 x 16; the 10 2 Avon Rollaway 310 stows in 46 x 21 x 16). It definitely wont plane with two people. Tracking is good. On small boats, this will be the largest motor recommended by the manufacturer. Maximum recommended horsepower is just 6 and we found out why when the wind picked up during our testing. Thanks to the good folks at Apex, Defender Industries in Waterford, Connecticut, West Marine in Newport, Rhode Island, and Meghan Rambo at Severn Marine in Annapolis, Maryland for loaning us their boats and assisting us at the test sites. Based on the Futura hull pattern with it's speed tubes MILPRO's FC420 is a fast and agile boat with a battle proven pedigree. With two persons, the best we could do was 5 knots. It has more drag. Mailport: X-yachts, Soverel 33, tropical storms, Designing a Dump Line for the Multihull Mainsheet, Test Driving Furunos Cutting Edge Compass, Green Boating From a Practical Perspective, PS Advisor: Belaying Safety for Mast Climbing, Click here to view the Inflatable Boats Value Guide. With two people their knees touch. Our test boat had no horns for oarlocks so we werent able to row the boat, but presume it would handle like most otherspoorly compared to a hard dinghy. Its 11 2 length really goes to work here, both in terms of performance and interior space. Their fiberglass floors are rigid, which makes for good footing. Among 9 PVC boats, the Bombard Tropik, West Marine SB285 and Zodiac C285YL are comparable, though we developed a preference for air floors over rollupssame easy assembly/disassembly but stiffer underfoot and we think slightly better performance. There is no inflatable keel. There are provisions for two athwartship seats. Panel floor. Rowing, as with most inflatables, is not a viable means of propulsion into any kind of wind or chop. Though made of Hypalon, Avons air floors are PVC. Have a raft given to me. Many products are not in stock, you may call or email for availability before ordering to ensure we meet your timeline for receiving the items. less than the LEX 96. We can help you find the right solution for your boat and crew. Expensive at $2,775 retail. Side Stringer for Zodiac Zoom 310. Bottom Line: The difference between a panel floor and slatted or air floor is noticeable. We dont discuss all this in the article because it would take up too much space; instead we concentrate on features we think are unusually good or bad. Good performance, great portability. its also heavy for its size, which isnt necessarily bad; while it may require a bit more horsepower or throttle to get up on plane, the added weight may well help keep it under control in bumpy conditions. Which combination of the two you get is up to you. as our four-stroke 9.9 hp. With another # on the floor of the raft # SVN29285E898. Bottom Line: Good value for a Hypalon boat, but small tube diameter seems to affect performance. Bottom Line: Priced at $999 it breaks the magic $1,000 price point. Copyright 1972-2022 The Inflatable Boat Center. Hand-crafted Saltwater Boats Built in the USA. West Marines Chuck Hawley likes to talk about the performance-portability continuum, in which one is nearly always a tradeoff for the other. More than 1600 sales outlets throughout the world, Copyright 2022. The rollup slats are thermoplastic and like other brands dont extend all the way forward. For more information, please consult our data protection policy. On the other hand, if you leave your inflatable boat set up for extended periods, carrying it on deck or in davits when you do move, a panel floor sport boat delivers superior performance (though still not as good as a RIB; they are, however, less expensive than RIBs). two-stroke. Our certified mechanics, technicians, riggers, and outfitters are ready to get you out on the water. is made in Bosnia and Croatia, of Hypalon by RIS-Sportnautik/Severn Marine and imported by Severn Boats Ltd. of Annapolis. This type emphasizes portability with a rollup or rollaway floor consisting of wood or plastic slats connected by fabric, sort of like a window blind. *Shop for these items under Marine Safety* We also carry Ditch Bags, and the items you need to fill them, we can help you make the perfect abandon ship bag for your crew. While weve had problems in the past with smaller Quicksilver models standing on end during acceleration (to the point we worried about flipping over backwards), the two 10 2 models tested exhibited good handling. Good performance, moderate portability. To press into place one exerts a fair amount of weight on the center joint and, keeping fingers clear, sweats until the boards sufficiently stretch the hull fabric that they fit. As you roll up the deflated tubes, the slats roll up, too. So, if you dont care about planing and cost is a concern, buy a rollup or an air floor. Wed take an air floor such as the Bombard Tropik if frequently deflating the boat, but wed take a panel floor such as the SB285 if leaving it set up for periods of time. Quicksilver QS310 AirdeckThough the same length as the QS310 Sport, the hull shape of this air floor model is less pointed. Moderate performance, good portability. Like the LEX 96, the LSI 96 has full-length grab ropes port and starboard. All rights reserved. Voted the Most Reliable Outboard Company in the World. And the wood is thinner than on the more robust, painted floorboards of the SPD 102. We mistakenly started with an 8-hp., and, unfortunately, by the time we were able to fit the 5-hp., the wind had picked up to nearly 30 knots with whitecaps on the water. Cadet's have an outstanding lifespan and guarantee a high safety level for their owners due to the closure of the float welded and the glued overlap. The floorboards are numbered for easy installation. It is a big 10-footer with 17 tubes. Achilles LEX 96At 9 6, the plywood floor LEX 96 has a different shape than the Achilles LSI 96 of the same length; the bow is pointed. Bottom Line: Quality air floor model at a premium price of $1,467. The Seaworthy SW 9.2s 14 tubes make it a less desirable choice. And you can still knock it down and stow below for the occasional offshore passage. Bottom Line: The RU 200 is a minimal boat. Join our newsletter today for the latest news & deals! Also like most other rollups, the floor does not extend all the way to the bow, so you could lose things under the slats, and it tends to flex underway. * except PRO OPEN 550. Next to ponder is the RIB vs. stowable question. West Marine HPIF 340Zodiac, maker of this boat, calls its patented, drop-stitched air floor H2P. This is due to its length, panel floor and inflatable keel. Zodiac C285YLThis rollup model has a plywood floor that is made to look like teak and holly. We row around for a bit, observing seat comfort, angle of oars (most oars are too short and hit the tube sides), method of securing oars when not in use, seating for passengers when boat is being rowed, etc. Panel floors seem to outperform air and rollup floors in terms of both speed and handling. And a hull that changes shape with the waves isnt going to be as fast or efficient. Inflatable Boat Cleaners and Conditioners. Buy the longest boat you can afford and can stow. Have a RIS 9.2 Mftr ID # 178104 with the floor and transom boards need replacing. There are three rubbing strakes on the bottom. With so many options to choose from, there is certain to be a Cadet to fit every boater's needs! four-stroke Nissan motor. Like most other rollup floors, you can feel it ripple under your feet. In the meantime, a tight-fitting cover would be a good investment for any inflatable boat. Zodiac, the leader in robotically thermobonded PVC, calls its fabric Strongan Duotex.