Very Light Weight Inflatable
 

We're trying to decide on a boat to buy to carry with us in our RV.
As my husband had a stroke, I'll be the one to have to "manhandle"
it....so I'm looking for a boat that is VERY lightweight. I'm
thinking that the best option for us would be an inflatable (should be
more stable, light and hubby would have an easier time sitting on
tubes. Currently considering the Zodiac cadet series and maybe a
Bombard AX. Does anyone have any feedback on these or similar very
light inflatables. We'd like it to be able to handle our small 3 HP
outboard. Use will be mainly in inland lakes & rivers.

Appreciate your help. Already wasted $$$ on buying a real cheapie
that didn't hold the air that well. Would really like to be able to
try it out first.

Thanks.

Sandy

The air-floor inflatables are the lightest. I have a 9'2" Severn that
weghs 77# and handles a 5 hp outboard. It will plane with just me in it
and I wegh 225#. These used to be sold by BoatUS but are not around any
more, although I know there are others.

Capt. Jeff

Congratulations on not closing up shop and continuing to enjoy life and
the water.

I agree about the air floor inflatables. I love them. I have a bombard
small boat and my dinghy is a Achilles LSI 102 -- but that really wants
a bigger engine than the two horsepower my son and I putz around in.

Like anything else, the bigger the boat, the better (and safer the
ride). Check on the web, call around and you may find as I did that the
weight penalty is not significant between the smallest and mid sized
inflatable boats.

One other thing to consider is one of those wheely devices specifically
set up to wheel inflatables around:

http://www.allinflatables.com/shoppi...om/wheels.html

or a handtruck from http://www.handtruckstore.com/

Finally, I have purchased inflatable boats from Defender on-line (soon
you will be able to buy 2004 models at a discount) www.defenderus.com/
and from the Inflatable Boat Specialists
http://www.inflatableboats.net/index.shtml

harlan

In article ,
Tamaroak wrote:

The air-floor inflatables are the lightest. I have a 9'2" Severn that
weghs 77# and handles a 5 hp outboard. It will plane with just me in it
and I wegh 225#. These used to be sold by BoatUS but are not around any
more, although I know there are others.

Capt. Jeff

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

We've been window shopping on the web and are trying to choose between
models with an inflatable floor (air floor) and rollup inflatables.
Both seem like they would be light enough. How do they compare?

Thanks.

Sandy

In article ,
(sandy) wrote:

We've been window shopping on the web and are trying to choose between
models with an inflatable floor (air floor) and rollup inflatables.
Both seem like they would be light enough. How do they compare?

Thanks.

Sandy

Sandy, in my experience, now with the shift to plastic slats (so that
maitenance and weight are less of an issue) it is mostly a matter of
preference.

In my opinion, I am not sure that you even save much in folded size
between the two.

I like the rigidity of the air floor over my slats floor. I think it can
carry a higher horsepower engine though if motoring about is something
that interests you.

harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

I used to have a roll up Zodiac that was very light for the size. I think
that being made of PVC accounts for some weight savings, but won't handle uv
light as well.
I'm sure the slatted floor wouldn't perform as well as the inflatable floor,
but I've heard of the drop stiches in the inflatable floors popping, and
then you have a balloon for a floor.

"sandy" wrote in message
om...
We've been window shopping on the web and are trying to choose between
models with an inflatable floor (air floor) and rollup inflatables.
Both seem like they would be light enough. How do they compare?

Thanks.

Sandy

Every think of something different? Why inflatable? Take a look at a
Pota-Bote at www.porta-bote.com. We just bought a 12'...much cheaper than
an inflatable, can't oke a hole in it...fold up small. We might learn
different once we get using it, but just about everyone I asked about buying
inflatables, told me to look at Porta-Bote. Sale on now too.

Glenn.
s/vSeawing

"Tamaroak" wrote in message
...
The air-floor inflatables are the lightest. I have a 9'2" Severn that
weghs 77# and handles a 5 hp outboard. It will plane with just me in it
and I wegh 225#. These used to be sold by BoatUS but are not around any
more, although I know there are others.

Capt. Jeff