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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Inflatable advice.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/09/2006 : 22:29:56

Is it possible to buy a new RIB inflatable under 10 feet LOA for under $1,000.00? If so, what make and model do you recommend, and a dealer in Southern California?
How do Caribe and Aquapro RIBs compare to all the others?
Thanks.

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

Edited by - AADIVER on 07/09/2006 22:53:42

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 22:52:24

I would be suspicious of the quality of any RHIB costing under about $2000. Even the PVC RHIB's from known, reputable manufacturers cost about $2500 for a 10-footer. For a Hypalon boat, that price would probably be at least a few hundred more since Hypalon fabric requires more hand-labor to glue and assemble than does PVC, which can be heat-welded by automated machines. If your budget leads you to go shopping for a used inflateable, be very careful about PVC models. PVC quickly degrades and turns brittle if exposed to gasoline (Hypalon is immune to gasoline). The very nature of an inflateable dinghy puts it at risk of gas spills, and if a previous owner has spilled gas in a PVC dinghy and not cleaned it up quickly and thoroughly, that boat could very well be ruined and ready to tear open the next time it is inflated.

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Fantasy II
1st Mate

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USA
80 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 22:52:51

Frank, try this place. They seem to have lots of them going daily for under $1000: http://stores.ebay.com/Affordable-Inflatable

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 23:02:30

Checked out the site. The boats are made of "1,100 Dtex Plastomer PVC fabric". That's why they're so cheap compared to hypalon. Also, they're not RIBs.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2006 : 23:08:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Fantasy II
 Frank, try this place. They seem to have lots of them going daily for under $1000: http://stores.ebay.com/Affordable-Inflatable
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't think any of Affordable Inflateables models are RHIB's. If I am not mistaken, they are an on-line seller only, and as such carry only dinghys that can be packed into a carton or crate small enough for Motor Truck Freight or UPS shipping. Also, all of the advertised boats appear to be PVC, so if you would prefer Hypalon, you will have to look to a regular retailer. Other people on this Forum have purchased from Affordable Inflateables, so you might get some feedback as to how they like their dinghy and if there are any quality problems with them.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 09:12:53

PVC is harder to patch than Hypalon, and gasoline will attack it.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 12:29:53

Zodiac remains the brand of choice around here. I paid $1600 (that would be about $1200 US) for a 10' Zodiac with inflatable keel, wood bench seat, wood sectioned floor, movable wall pontoons.
I test drove every inflatable I could get my hands on, and in the end, paid the money and got the best. It was about the same price as Mercury and WM's inflatable.
I tend to keep things forever and prefer to buy quality stuff.
I have to row about 200 feet to my mooring ball. I can get there quickly regardless of the weather and water conditions. I get a kick out of my moorage neighbours that cheaped out with drugstore inflatables and have to expend a lot of energy and time trying to keep their toys going in the general direction of the dock.
Main reason for spending the money - in an emergency I can depend on it. If I knew that I wouldn't ever have to depend on it in an emergency, I would take the chance on buying a 'no name' at half the price on the internet.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 19:24:15

Good points. BTW, West Marine inflatables are made by Zodiac.
I'm zeroing in on an AquaPro 9' Superlight RIB, 70 lbs, hoping to locate a "pre-owned", i.e. used, to save some $'s.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.