I am thinking of buying an inflatable, to use as a tender, on special at Whitworths, reduced from $799 to $469.

It is an Aqua Craft air deck 250AD

I will be going up to have a look tomorrow, but just wondering if anyone has tried this one out and has an opinion on it.
My outboard is a Mercury 3.3hp 2-stroke which should be fine.

I had a little Sirocco, but is it impossible to row (if need be) due to no room for the knees getting in the way of the oars.

Cheers

l've had one for around 12 months, just used as a tender, kept under cover when not in use,
paid $600 on special at whitworths,

does the job ok,
just use a little electric on it

if l needed another one now l'd bolt in and get one for that price

I have said it before and say it again. Zodiac is the only way to go.

The Aqua Craft has glued seams. Zodiac has welded seams including the transom mouldings on the latest models.

This is a bargain to be had. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/zodiac-inflatable-boat-/121496676372?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1c49c42814

There are so many other brands on ebay that describe themselves as "Zodiac-Avon Type" which shows that they recognize them as the best brands and put those words in their ads so that a search for Zodiac will bring theirs up too.

An Avon Redcrest would be ideal for your Clannie. I was lucky enough to find one in Sydney when I was buying my Lotus. The Redcrest is the only one that does not NEED a motor because it is the only one that can be rowed properly with a generic pair of 6 foot oars.

Any other inflatable can only be paddled really.

Always keep in mind that inflatable boats are one of the best downwind sailing boats in the world. If the motor won't go and you cant row it properly, you will be going wherever the wind takes you.

Another bargain. www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/strathfield-south/tinnies-dinghies/brand-new-zodiac-zoom-inflatable-/1059834918

If your need is not urgent it is worthwhile keeping an eye on ebay and Gumtree. They do come up on occasion.

Failing that buy brand new from Marinesafe Australia in Brisbane and tell Peter that I sent you.

www.marinesafe.com.au/inflatables/zodiac/cadet/cadet.html

I've had the aqua craft air deck for two years now... No issues at all. It's been used a lot with 5 kids. 3.3 merc does fine but carry extra fuel. Trying to get it to go fast chews it up. It's been a great tender And folds up into a bag. 10 mins to inflate with the foot plump. I'd get another if I have to. Cheers

I have had one for about a year as well, I put fold up wheels on it and a 3.3 mercury . For six months , every day I would pull it out of the car , inflate it ( get a 12 volt 2 stage pump with automatic pressure cut out ) put motor on and then wheel down boat ramp . Go to boat . In the morning go back to boat ramp , deflate put in car , go to work . It now lives on the back deck as I've gone to a 7 ' snub nose that fits in car . I still use it when I go off shore so I have a dinghy when I get to my destination . I'm happy with it , but I've never had to row it . I don't bother with the seat I just sit on the tube . I got it because it was cheap and I didn't really know if an inflatable was the best option for me , in the end I got sick of the inflate / deflate routine .

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AquanMarine said..

It's been a great tender And folds up into a bag. 10 mins to inflate with the foot plump. I'd get another if I have to. Cheers

Has it been constantly exposed to the sun for those two years and what is the longest distance you have rowed it????

l'm curious why you say a zodiac " that's about 10 yrs old".... and with a leaky valve..is a better buy than a brand new inflatable...with a warranty... ( which, admittedly ain't much good out in the middle of shark infested waters if the manure hits the fan lol )
whats the shelf life of a zodiac with dubious age?
how hard is it to change a "seal"?

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cisco said..

AquanMarine said..

It's been a great tender And folds up into a bag. 10 mins to inflate with the foot plump. I'd get another if I have to. Cheers

Has it been constantly exposed to the sun for those two years and what is the longest distance you have rowed it????

No when I've finished with it I pack it up. We just use it at our destinations or on the estuary down here in Mandurah with the kids. For the money it's been excellent.
part of letting my young bloke take it out by himself, I made him row it about 500m, maybe more. Did it easy but wasn't too windy. Either way, any tender rowing isn't fun! That's when the handheld radio is handy
PS its not really a life boat, so it's good to be able to have it in the back locker and not in the way on the foredeck, interrupting air flow into the jib, blocking the hatch and generally looking like an afterthought. If you want you can semi inflate it so it moulds to the deck under the boom maybe and the deck is surprisingly stiff.
PS I should add, it's my first tender and with a hardly used second hand 3.3 merc and the boat on special, the whole unit was only $900. I'd get another unless I get a bigger boat first.

Thanks for all the advice fellas.

I was going to buy the Aqua Craft from Whitworths, but then spotted this one which happened to be on my way picking someone up from Brisbane airport.

It is a Bombard 2.4M, made by Zodiac. I got it for $250 so I'll see how it goes. I didn't buy the outboard, although the guy only wanted $250 for that also.

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Shotchas said..
Thanks for all the advice fellas.

I was going to buy the Aqua Craft from Whitworths, but then spotted this one which happened to be on my way picking someone up from Brisbane airport.

It is a Bombard 2.4M, made by Zodiac. I got it for $250 so I'll see how it goes. I didn't buy the outboard, although the guy only wanted $250 for that also.

Well done Shotchas Zodiacs dont come up very often down here

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Shotchas said..
Thanks for all the advice fellas.

I was going to buy the Aqua Craft from Whitworths, but then spotted this one which happened to be on my way picking someone up from Brisbane airport.

It is a Bombard 2.4M, made by Zodiac. I got it for $250 so I'll see how it goes. I didn't buy the outboard, although the guy only wanted $250 for that also.

Not a bad thing for the price. These ones have smaller diameter tubes than the Zodiac of the same length. Zodiac's budget line.

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bayview said..
l'm curious why you say a zodiac " that's about 10 yrs old".... and with a leaky valve..is a better buy than a brand new inflatable...with a warranty... ( which, admittedly ain't much good out in the middle of shark infested waters if the manure hits the fan lol )
whats the shelf life of a zodiac with dubious age?
how hard is it to change a "seal"?

Zodiacs just have the best quality material and build and are quite repairable. Spare parts like valves are readily available.

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cisco said..

bayview said..
l'm curious why you say a zodiac " that's about 10 yrs old".... and with a leaky valve..is a better buy than a brand new inflatable...with a warranty... ( which, admittedly ain't much good out in the middle of shark infested waters if the manure hits the fan lol )
whats the shelf life of a zodiac with dubious age?
how hard is it to change a "seal"?

Zodiacs just have the best quality material and build and are quite repairable. Spare parts like valves are readily available.

15 years ago when i had my 1982 Achilles hypalon inflatable i used to take it to the the inflatable repairer (both boats and liferafts) in Cairns to have work carried out on it the repairer didn't think to much of Zodiacs of that era

He said at the time that of the major brands Avon and Achilles were a much better boat

He also said at the time that the glued seam hypalon inflatables were a better choice that the welded non hypalon boats at the time

Perhaps Zodiac have improved since then

Regards Don

That would have been Peter Williams who was the Cairns "Inflatable Man to Deal With".

I bought a 10 ft, ally bottomed RIB that was built by he and a French guy who was the ally guy that came in at 30 kg.

It was a weapon with a 6 hp Johnson on the back. I didn't lock it one night and it got nicked. Recovered the outboard soon after but apparently the thieving bastards put a 15 hp on it for quicker getaways.

I told Peter about the theft and he said he would keep an eye out.

Sure enough the thief came into his shop and asked about repairing it and painting the tubes. Peter twigged it was my boat and said he would have to have a look at it and asked what the address was.

He was given an address which turned out to be a vacant block of land.

But yes, hypalon inflatables are very long lasting and tough. Who makes them anymore?? Zodiac do in the larger sizes at a premium price.

If you talk with Brian at the Brisbane Inflatable Boat Centre, he will sell you a hypalon 3 m boat at a fairly good price.

He knows his stuff. www.iboat.com.au/

It all comes down to the best quality for the price you are prepared to pay.

PVC boats are cheaper than hypalon boats because of material cost. Fact.

Hypalon boats have to be glued together using a specific glue. PVC boats can be glued or welded together, requiring another specific glue. A welded one will last longer than a glued one (on the joints).

The very best and most compact inflatable for a smallish yacht (25 to 35 foot), in my humble opinion (notice I didn't use IMHO) is the Avon Redcrest. Avon inflatables are the only ones that can be successfully rowed with a standard pair of 6 or 7 foot oars. Fact.

If you can find one at a reasonable price you should buy it. I scored VERY lucky. For $300 I got a 1985 Avon Redcrest in near new condition with only three small patches, with the outboard bracket (in new condition, plastic/rubber coating unbroken), with an excellent condition 4 hp Mercury outboard.

If you are not that lucky or you can't wait, get a good second hand Zodiac.

Zodiacs, Mercedes', BMWs and just about anything you like to name are now manufactured in China. If the product carries the CE mark, it is built to a standard not a price.

Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware or be aware.