Newb needs help picking inflateable

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Thanks for the input on the Baltik, Do you think it may have lasted longer had it been stored indoors? inflated partialy or deflated? the first few years of its life will be used once a month through the summer maybe more and will be stored indoors as best recommended, not sure on which engine will be used as i have a guy willing to pay for some "side work" with a 14 foot jon boat on a trailer with an outboard and trailer. the trailer needs some work and so does the boat, possibly a transom. i would expect the engine is a 15hp or less probably not too bad a deal for 8 hrs of less of "work" even if ob needs some work. how does the baltik row? down river compared to a canoe?

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Thanks for the input on the Baltik, Do you think it may have lasted longer had it been stored indoors? inflated partialy or deflated? the first few years of its life will be used once a month through the summer maybe more and will be stored indoors as best recommended, not sure on which engine will be used as i have a guy willing to pay for some "side work" with a 14 foot jon boat on a trailer with an outboard and trailer. the trailer needs some work and so does the boat, possibly a transom. i would expect the engine is a 15hp or less probably not too bad a deal for 8 hrs of less of "work" even if ob needs some work. how does the baltik row? down river compared to a canoe?

On the 8.5 Baltik I started out with a 7.5hp Chrysler. The boat was rated at 8hp max. WAY to much motor, to heavy, to cumbersome to move around, and just not needed. So then we went with a 5hp Nissan. Probably just the right size if you wanted lots of power. For us though, we have to lower the engine down from the transom of the sailboat once we throw the inflatable in the water. After a couple years of doing this we decided the extra 1.5hp was not worth the nearly 30% increase in engine weight. We went with a like new 3.5 that I picked up for 300 dollars. Sold the 5hp for 300.00 so it was a wash.

No inflatable rows well, sorry that is just the way it is. On the other hand, we have a shallow 14 foot jon boat that we drive up a spring fed creek using the Chrysler engine, then drift down just occasionaly using a oar. THe inflatable would do great used like that. Just do not figure on rowing the inflatable against any kind of wind or current. It can be done, just not easily.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Thanks for the input on the Baltik, Do you think it may have lasted longer had it been stored indoors? inflated partialy or deflated? the first few years of its life will be used once a month through the summer maybe more and will be stored indoors as best recommended, not sure on which engine will be used as i have a guy willing to pay for some "side work" with a 14 foot jon boat on a trailer with an outboard and trailer. the trailer needs some work and so does the boat, possibly a transom. i would expect the engine is a 15hp or less probably not too bad a deal for 8 hrs of less of "work" even if ob needs some work. how does the baltik row? down river compared to a canoe?

Sorry, missed the other question, If you kept the boat stored indoors, deflated, dried and little baby powder put in the folds, I would think the boat would last many, many years.

JSB

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

What are the differencesa in the soft floor compared to the wodden other than the obvious. does a wooden floor make a difference in performance? maybe a little more rigid. is it worth the added weight?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Ease of deployment and weight at a expense of a few mph at top end speed. I think the air floor is worth it, but that's just an opinion of a guy who hates putting board boats together...And has the knuckle scars to prove it.

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

So its the wooden floor thats a little faster? could a wooden floor boat be used without the floor installed? wood seems to be the way to go but i feel im missing something is it only a top speed/weight differences? i know the wooden floor should be more stable under foot, and the air floor should be easier on knees but i would think that could be overcome by using a foam pool float to cover the boards? thanks for all the help i never knew there would be so much involved in deciding on an inflateable.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Yes, no and your over thinking this. There is no right or wrong about choosing a floor type. There is just the convenience of the air floor or the 2 to 3 mph additional top end speed of the board boat. For your use, the air floor is the best choice, in my opinion. If you go with the floorboard boat and you hate putting it together, then you made a mistake getting one. If you get the air-floor and you think its flimsy, then you made a mistake getting that one. You won't know which one is correct, in advance, unless you borrow each type from someone and try it before you buy one.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

I never knew there would be so much involved in deciding on an inflateable.

There are only 3 issues involved, portability, rigidity and performance, cannot have 3 at same time: One issue will always oppose.

Portability Vs Rigidity & Performance (Air Matt Floors Sibs Vs Wooden, ALum Floors Sibs)

Rigidity, Performance Vs Portability (Wooden, Alum Floors Sibs Vs Air Matt Floors Sibs)

If available space, faster assembly, disassembly and portability is a big issue, go for the air matt floor, just buy a pressure gauge to top tubes, keel and air matt for best performance and speed.

Happy Boating

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Ease of deployment and weight at a expense of a few mph at top end speed. I think the air floor is worth it, but that's just an opinion of a guy who hates putting board boats together...And has the knuckle scars to prove it.

For me, since the inflatable stays inflated on the bow of the sailboat, a wood floor would be better, There is a distinct improvement in performance, and you do not have the headache of putting a hole in the air floor.

Having said that I must agree with the knuckle buster. If I had to inflate, install floors, deflate, and so on more then once a year, I think I would stick with a air floor. Air floor is much easier to get in. But our boat gets very little attention, just sits on the bow until we need it, once a year rinse off and thats it. So the wood floor would be best for us. Mostly depends on how you are going to use the boat.

Hope that helps

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflatable

Re: Newb needs help picking inflatable

Can't disagree with you at all What actually cured me of any love for board boats was a boat show in 91 or 92. I was setting up the factory booth and had a bad case of the flu. Six boats to put together and inflate and someone had forgotten to send the powered inflator with the boats. I thought I was going to die. You can't imagine the misery I've hated board boats ever since.