sooner or later, we all get there.... (lengthy, dont read if you are in a hurry).

[jameshunt]

Just musing over all the "tinkering" that goes on after getting into inflatables and such. Seems like we all run into the same problems and we all sort of come around by trial and error to doing the same things. The first is usually putting in a solid deck. Those without trailers opting to go for two or three piece, foldable, deck for transportability reasons. Then comes the materials, some try composites such as polystyrene, polyethelene, hardi boards, joing them by variety of methods i.e. hinges, flaps, rubber, hardwood strip sandwiching, H-bar extrusions, e.t.c., most finally end up with 1/2 inch plywood. The next mods are usually seating, battery boxes, motor mount extensions, bracing, with the hope of somehow getting a flat bottom, soft, inflatable to perform as a RIB, or traditional boat and usually to no avail, regardless of what size motor you try to hang off your now fortified end. In the end, you will have started out with a raft costing less than $200 but will have invested at least as much in materials, and ideas that did not pan out. Conclusions? draw your own I suppose. One of course would be "Why not buy a traditional boat to start with or at least an inflatable of higher quality designed for heftier motors, planing ability, e.t.c. but then.....you would have missed out on all the fun you had while trying to do the things that everybody else has done as well. Then there is all the "set up" time at launching i.e. inflating, laying in the floor, bolting everything together, attaching all the motor mount pieces and then having do all the same thing in reverse upon your return. I have'nt even touched on "trailering" yet which opens up a whole other can. Most of us all had the same motivation i.e. I dont own a trailer, garage, need portability. Was it worth it? Hell yes, I say....gave me a lot of things to "tinker" with. Am I satisified? Hell, no I say....I need a boat and trailer and then something to pull it with other than my Sonata. Anyway....at least I have a raft I can stand on and the motor doesnt try to hide under the boat as I slug along at 5 knots.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: sooner or later, we all get there.... (lengthy, dont read if you are in a hurry).

The lesson learned would be : start with a more pro sib that comes factory with a wooden, alum or air deck and transom. With a cheapo inflatable will need to add extra floor cost, reinforcement, etc, to have a near copy of a standard sib to find out that water performance is poor because the thin cheapo ( $ 200 or less) lacks rigidity compared to a higher end sib if you have tested both. Boating with friends, family is a truly wonderful way to spend your treasure leisure time, a more pro sib will pay itself in years-fun...

Anyway, a basic sib is a firtst step into boating...

Happy Boating

 

[azzurro]

Re: sooner or later, we all get there.... (lengthy, dont read if you are in a hurry).

Before I got my SIB I got an inflatable sea kayak from Sevylor. We all 4 in the family enjoyed it, going together to nearby coves.
Boys grew.
So 2 years later I got a SIB.
Maybe if I hadn?t children I would not have got it. Kayaking is more adventure, you can bet. Or maybe I miss my pre-teens.

 

[jameshunt]

Re: sooner or later, we all get there.... (lengthy, dont read if you are in a hurry).

trying that out next. Going to test some today in fact. Looking at Cobra, OK, Malibu.