dinghy bottom

[bigblockcutlass]

Thinking about an air floor for my next dingy. good or bad Idea?

 

[SR400DB]

Interesting topic. I am currently researching my next dink as well. I currently have a double floor Avon Rib. My next dinghy will not be the same (double floor, may go with a single floor rib). I am looking at the air floor models as well. I do not have much experience with them, but the weight savings seems to fit my needs. Hopefully someone with an air floor model will comment.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

Interesting topic. I am currently researching my next dink as well. I currently have a double floor Avon Rib. My next dinghy will not be the same (double floor, may go with a single floor rib). I am looking at the air floor models as well. I do not have much experience with them, but the weight savings seems to fit my needs. Hopefully someone with an air floor model will comment.

I would like to try one out to see if I'd like it. $1,800 mistake if it's not what I want.

 

[gerryb]

I've had both on Baltic 9.5s. Air floor is significantly light but it comes at a cost - somewhat less sturdy. If you're not planning on moving it around too much, I'd go with the wood floor - the air floor just seemed less stable to me even though it was inflated to the correct psi.

 

[firecadet613]

I've got a wood floor bottom dinghy I'm selling, since we trailer it makes more sense to get an air floor. Tried to send you a PM but it says you don't accept them.

 

[Escapade]

Air floor= $ very easy on the knees, light weight, poor preformance at high speed. only lasts as good as you care for it.
Wood / Plastic $,1/2, floor, A bit more stable than air deck. only lasts as good as you care for it.
Double floor=$$$ Stable usually a much deeper Vee, good preformance at high speed, Davit friendly, The most weight in class, nice flat floor for moving about. Next longest Life.
Single wall Fiberglass=$$,1/2, Not as stable as double wall but still good at high speed. Light weight, Davit friendly, every thing will want to collect up at center of Vee. Longest Life.

 

[expressboy]

Thinking about an air floor for my next dingy. good or bad Idea?

Depending on use and area of use a air floor is a great boat... one of our dinks in a new air floor Zodiac. I do have it over powered... it's rated for a 10... I have a great 15hp yamaha 2 smoke and it fly's. If you boat in a area with sharp rocks or clam /oyster shells you need to be very careful. I am a stickler about clean feet and no shoes as the sand/rocks that get between the air floor and the actual bottom are not a good thing. I have a 3hp tohatsu that I have put on it and it really moves.. I think my kids can get it to plane on 3hp ( but not my fat ass ) My air floor dink is almost 12' and I can carry it myself so it is very lightI hope this helps
EXPRESSBOY

 

[Gimme Time]

I have a Mercury 10'+ 2009 or 8 model that I've used once with a 9.9 Mercury. Will fly with 2-3 people and IMHO a 3-5 HP is more than enough for most applications. Weight is a consideration of both the boat and the engine as well as being able to get the engine off safely in rough weather before you head home when all hell breaks loose.

The air floor fully inflated to is rated design is much firmer than most would believe. The 9.9 is more than it needs and I'm selling the Rib without the engine as I have a Caribe hard bottom center console with a 25HP Mariner that I use now on my davits the few times a year when I need a tender.

I can pack and ship anywhere in the lower 48 for $600.00 if anyone is intrested. I have the paper work at the office so PM me if anyone is intrested and I scan and send the info out to them with pics.

 

[wellswa]

John, Do you still have the Mercury inflatable for sale?

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

The Baltics also have aluminum floor which is lighter than the wood floor and almost as light as an air floor.

One point, if you have a dog or fish or crab with the dink, an air floor may not be the best solution. It is also another potential air leak waiting to happen...

 

[northern]

We have an 8 foot fiberglass dingy with a 2.5. We boat in NW and there are sharp things on most beaches. I also have a 20 foot Zodiac with a 20 soft bottom and wood floor. Weight is 100 pounds. We got it to do rivers in the artic as it folds down into two bags that goe on a regular plane or did when you were allowed two 70 pound bags. It goes 24 knots. Would not use it to got on shore excepton sand beach. If you do not keep it hard inflated it wear quickly at any seam that rubs. Sand seems to do a lot of damage at wear points. I am thinking of getting a 13 foot Boston Whaler as they seem solid and look like they are stable. But the weight is more.

 

[northern]

Reread my post it is a 12.5 foot Zodiac with a 20 HP two cycle soft bottom with inflatable keel and wood floor in boat