Highfield… any regrets?

A couple questions on the Highfield Sport 360 is the 20Hp motor plenty enough? And how many of you buy them new?
And do you really need a trailer?
Looking around if I find a used center console for sale I feel it is over priced for the condition it is in plus I rarely find any aluminum ones for sale and I really want to go with the aluminum RIB to keep weight down.
I think the 20 might be a little underpowered if you want to get on plane with more than two people. Mine is a 2021 with a 40hp Zuk. Runs just about 30mph. My friend has a 340 Sport with a 25 hp Yamaha and it seems to run pretty good.
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Yes pvc…. That’s $1,000 more then pre covid… a 310 pvc was less than $3400 two years ago

Gotcha. And I hate you all. Read this thread yesterday and went to the local dealer today to browse. Had a nice conversation with the sales guy and learned about the various models and manufacturers. Now I see a hypalon CL310 in my future. This is why I hate you all. You are about to cost me $6k (plus). And I’m one of the silly ones getting the hydraulic platform put on my 400DB. We thought hard about that and decided we likely don’t have another boat in our future. So instead of thinking new boat, we decided to continue outfitting ours to work for us. The stock platform on the 400 is abysmal. Too small, too narrow and way too low to the water. Hence, a new platform. Now, with a new hydraulic platform the old West Marine inflatable bottom dink just won’t cut it. Maybe it was inevitable that I’d get a new dink this year. But this thread pushed me further that way. And so I hate you all.
 
Gotcha. And I hate you all. Read this thread yesterday and went to the local dealer today to browse. Had a nice conversation with the sales guy and learned about the various models and manufacturers. Now I see a hypalon CL310 in my future. This is why I hate you all. You are about to cost me $6k (plus). And I’m one of the silly ones getting the hydraulic platform put on my 400DB. We thought hard about that and decided we likely don’t have another boat in our future. So instead of thinking new boat, we decided to continue outfitting ours to work for us. The stock platform on the 400 is abysmal. Too small, too narrow and way too low to the water. Hence, a new platform. Now, with a new hydraulic platform the old West Marine inflatable bottom dink just won’t cut it. Maybe it was inevitable that I’d get a new dink this year. But this thread pushed me further that way. And so I hate you all.
My highfield sales guy said don’t go hypalon because of warranty on pvc is so good… I am in fresh water so maybe different for you
 
My highfield sales guy said don’t go hypalon because of warranty on pvc is so good… I am in fresh water so maybe different for you

Im in the Chesapeake, so lightly brackish. My PVC West Marine boat has done well here, so that’s a good thought. Save a few bucks. The hypalon was pretty robust to the touch though!

I wonder if there’s any issue with getting one vs the other because of all the supply chain issues? I was told I could get one (hypalon) by spring if I ordered now. He didn’t have stock other than floor models. I didn’t ask about the PVC.
 
What are you folks using to lock your outboards up from theft? Ok, deter theft since crooks, given enough energy and tools, can steal whatever they want. I've seen the kind that go across the ears you tighten down. Anyone use anything else that you recommend?
 
What are you folks using to lock your outboards up from theft? Ok, deter theft since crooks, given enough energy and tools, can steal whatever they want. I've seen the kind that go across the ears you tighten down. Anyone use anything else that you recommend?
I stopped…. If they want it that bad anything you do they can get around
 
What are you folks using to lock your outboards up from theft? Ok, deter theft since crooks, given enough energy and tools, can steal whatever they want. I've seen the kind that go across the ears you tighten down. Anyone use anything else that you recommend?

I just use a good padlock on the ears once it's on the dinghy. We keep the dinghy on the davits when we're gone so it's out of the water as well as a full cover over it, including the motor.

But really nothing from stopping anyone from untying the dink and taking the whole thing..except there are 3 in the water around me - the best defense lol.
 
What are you folks using to lock your outboards up from theft? Ok, deter theft since crooks, given enough energy and tools, can steal whatever they want. I've seen the kind that go across the ears you tighten down. Anyone use anything else that you recommend?

I don’t lock up the outboard. It stays on the dinghy on the dock. But I do lock up the gas tank and the gas hose. (Mine isn’t currently in a locker). The oars are in my boat. Unless someone comes by with their own tank and their own Mercury hose (every connection is different, isn’t it?) they can’t get far. So it’s not perfect, but they will likely move on to an easier target.
 
What are you folks using to lock your outboards up from theft? Ok, deter theft since crooks, given enough energy and tools, can steal whatever they want. I've seen the kind that go across the ears you tighten down. Anyone use anything else that you recommend?

A fully paid insurance policy is much easier to manage than padlocks :)
 
A fully paid insurance policy is much easier to manage than padlocks :)

i somewhat disagree. There’s the hassle of going to use your dinghy in finding that it’s not there, or not usable. Then you have to call the insurance company in file a claim. Then you have to wait for a check. And you have to shop for a new motor and dinghy. All told, that’s a huge hassle and a lot of time.

I live in the city. Here we have to take everything out of our cars at night so that nothing is visible. Otherwise, it would not be surprised if your car got broken into. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old duffel bag with stinky gym clothes. They can’t tell from the outside of the car, so they break in to steal it. Yes, we can have full insurance. But you still would have to deal with the cleanup, the repair, dealing with the insurance company, etc. Insurance is never as good as prevention. At least not in my book.
 
Probably Annapolis Inflatables.

-Chris

That is correct. I went there Saturday and chatted with the manager. It was slow, so he spent the time with me, educating me. I appreciated that and wouldn’t hesitate to do business with them. They are related to Fawcett Marine - a marine supply place in Annapolis. One of the few larger independent marine shops.
 
That is correct. I went there Saturday and chatted with the manager. It was slow, so he spent the time with me, educating me. I appreciated that and wouldn’t hesitate to do business with them. They are related to Fawcett Marine - a marine supply place in Annapolis. One of the few larger independent marine shops.

I had a completely different experience with them in the past. Your mileage can (and will) vary.
 
I had a completely different experience with them in the past. Your mileage can (and will) vary.

Yeah, you never know, do you? I had one good experience - worth a second visit. If you only had one bad experience, perhaps it was an anomaly (or maybe mine was)? If you've had more than one, it might be a pattern. But you're right - mileages do vary...
 
Yeah, you never know, do you? I had one good experience - worth a second visit. If you only had one bad experience, perhaps it was an anomaly (or maybe mine was)? If you've had more than one, it might be a pattern. But you're right - mileages do vary...

Valid points - but I will pass on trying again.
 

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