Opinions requested about inflatable dinghies....

giff1 said:
I was planning to buy a Baltik. In the past two years I've read a lot of good reviews from other Club SeaRay members.
Now after seeing the Baltik ebay item 140796118091, I'm asking other club members with Baltiks if they have held up over the past few years.
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I'm on my 2nd Baltic. Had them both for about 3 years. If you take care of them and keep them covered they'll last for a while. There are couple of minor issues I can share. One is the motor mount plate, which is loosing the paint after about two seasons. Second is the tiny leak. Compare to zodiacs (which I think don't leak) mine developed a leak. It's not a big deal. I need to add a little air every two weeks or so. Sometimes longer. At first I thought it was just temp changes but later confirmed that it has to be a leak. It's tiny and I can't find it.
 
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I've got a 8'6" Baltik I bought used. It's an '07 and I've had it a year. Left in in the water at my slip all season, uncovered. No issues so far. The air floor has a small leak...but I just add some air every few weeks. For the cost, they cannot be beat.
 
Honestly you bought a Sea Ray because you wanted a quality boat. Buying an inflatable like a sea eagle is similar to outfitting your new luxury mansion with window unit air conditioners.

Just my opinion, I'd be looking for a well known more traditional looking inflatable. Even slightly used!

I had a 10' West Marine by Zodiac and it was very light weight with the inflatable floor..
 
Captain Ray,
You crack me up!:smt043

I alway enjoy and appreciate your knowledge and straight to the point comments! I hope to meet up with you on Lake Michigan in 2013. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Jim
 
Thanks Jim, I liken the sea eagles to a moped... Lots of fun until your friends see you on one. Although I do want a moped for cruising around town.
 
Carver370 said:
Thanks Jim, I liken the sea eagles to a moped... Lots of fun until your friends see you on one. Although I do want a moped for cruising around town.
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LOL Ray now you are showing your age. You and I grew up with mopeds. Now you need to get a Vespa Scooter!
 
The funny thing is, it's the old guys who have come up to me and said, "I should have bought something like that instead of (whatever they have)...." I'd say this has happened maybe five or six times already. These are very wealthy men born post-Depression thru Korean conflict era who, like me and unlike Ray, don't worry about how they look to their friends. They have all mentioned the same dislikes with their dinghies: expensive, heavy, small interior, and their wives HATE sitting on the tubes.

The guy next to me has a West Marine tender. Its interior is small, its not stable...and yes as I mentioned earlier, every time he and his wife are using it they're sitting on the tubes. Same thing with the Achilles and Baltiks. Oh they "look" good, sort of, if sitting on the tubes getting your rear end splashed looks good to anyone. You can always tell the people at the shops and restaurants who dinghied-in sitting on the tubes...they have the wet-bottomed shorts. We like to ride comfortably, and arrive dry. We like to be able to move about the dinghy without worrying we're going to tip. We like 37 pounds versus 100.
 
Has anyone looked into a mercury inflatable they are making 9' rigid s for like 1500.
 
Sal A said:
Has anyone looked into a mercury inflatable they are making 9' rigid s for like 1500.
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I'm looking to purchase a Mercury 270 airdek at the NY boat show. My buddy has it and swears by it. I have the WM Zodiac its a 2005 9' nice stable boat but with the wood floor it's a little heavy to pull up on the boat. Otherwise I'd keep it.
 
nowakezone said:
The funny thing is, it's the old guys who have come up to me and said, "I should have bought something like that instead of (whatever they have)...." I'd say this has happened maybe five or six times already. These are very wealthy men born post-Depression thru Korean conflict era who, like me and unlike Ray, don't worry about how they look to their friends. They have all mentioned the same dislikes with their dinghies: expensive, heavy, small interior, and their wives HATE sitting on the tubes.

The guy next to me has a West Marine tender. Its interior is small, its not stable...and yes as I mentioned earlier, every time he and his wife are using it they're sitting on the tubes. Same thing with the Achilles and Baltiks. Oh they "look" good, sort of, if sitting on the tubes getting your rear end splashed looks good to anyone. You can always tell the people at the shops and restaurants who dinghied-in sitting on the tubes...they have the wet-bottomed shorts. We like to ride comfortably, and arrive dry. We like to be able to move about the dinghy without worrying we're going to tip. We like 37 pounds versus 100.
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37lbs is a very good selling point, especially if you always inflate/deflate the dink. The traditional style dinks are more designed to seat on the platform or the decks. Obviously, some people roll the aired floor models (I have that type), but I think it's big PITA. Seating on the tubes is a nature of the beast and majority is very much accustom to it, unless you have a center console, which is a totally different level of dinghies. Larger tubes is what makes a different whether people will know that you arrive by a dinghy. :grin:

Several years ago I would say that brands like Batik was a bargain. But, lately things have changed. In the past couple of years I have friends who bought Zodiacs for about $700. I paid close to $600 for mine in 2009. So, now days I think it's no brainer that going with Zodiac for $700 is a better deal than Baltic.

Style and looks, nothing to debate here. We're all different and we buy the stuff based on individual needs. If Sea Eagle fits your needs, then great. I'm sure some folks will appreciate your feedback and might get something similar.
 
Sal A said:
Has anyone looked into a mercury inflatable they are making 9' rigid s for like 1500.
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We're looking for a new 9' RIB dink made of Hypalon I know Mercury make them. Where did you see that price please?
 
nowakezone said:
The funny thing is, it's the old guys who have come up to me and said, "I should have bought something like that instead of (whatever they have)...." I'd say this has happened maybe five or six times already. These are very wealthy men born post-Depression thru Korean conflict era who, like me and unlike Ray, don't worry about how they look to their friends. They have all mentioned the same dislikes with their dinghies: expensive, heavy, small interior, and their wives HATE sitting on the tubes.

The guy next to me has a West Marine tender. Its interior is small, its not stable...and yes as I mentioned earlier, every time he and his wife are using it they're sitting on the tubes. Same thing with the Achilles and Baltiks. Oh they "look" good, sort of, if sitting on the tubes getting your rear end splashed looks good to anyone. You can always tell the people at the shops and restaurants who dinghied-in sitting on the tubes...they have the wet-bottomed shorts. We like to ride comfortably, and arrive dry. We like to be able to move about the dinghy without worrying we're going to tip. We like 37 pounds versus 100.
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I really could care less how I look, however if I were buying an dinghy I would want something that has a proven track record of lasting a while and I'd be perfectly fine with paying a small amount more for it since I know I'd need to upgrade in a few years anyway.

There have been a few people with sea eagles in our harbor, they usually have a traditional inflatable the next year. There has to be a reason you barely ever see a sea eagle on the used market and I never see more than a 1 year old one floating around our harbor. Looks do not matter, quality does. Especially if you're using this to transport your loved ones.
 
Alex F said:
37lbs is a very good selling point, especially if you always inflate/deflate the dink. The traditional style dinks are more designed to seat on the platform or the decks. Obviously, some people roll the aired floor models (I have that type), but I think it's big PITA. Seating on the tubes is a nature of the beast and majority is very much accustom to it, unless you have a center console, which is a totally different level of dinghies. Larger tubes is what makes a different whether people will know that you arrive by a dinghy. :grin:

Several years ago I would say that brands like Batik was a bargain. But, lately things have changed. In the past couple of years I have friends who bought Zodiacs for about $700. I paid close to $600 for mine in 2009. So, now days I think it's no brainer that going with Zodiac for $700 is a better deal than Baltic.

Style and looks, nothing to debate here. We're all different and we buy the stuff based on individual needs. If Sea Eagle fits your needs, then great. I'm sure some folks will appreciate your feedback and might get something similar.
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Alex in your post on the first page you highlighted the one feature I'm not crazy about and it's a significant one.... the motor mount. As I mentioned, so far we've enjoyed paddling or rowing. Our distances have been short, conditions calm, etc. A 45# thrust Saltwater Minn Kota will push this boat 4-5 mph against a strong current. I know the debate is never-ending about electric v gas but again, for our needs, the electric feels like the right choice. I'm still studying that one. I do like the portability of the SE9, but I don't want to get the aft wooden seat to help support a heavier gas motor only because I don't want something else I have to stow. Anyway, we have time on that decision but you're absolutely right...the motor mount on the SE9 is an issue. We'll see as time goes on. For 3 bills we have a safe and comfortable dinghy so the price of the learning curve isn't too steep. We really like the roominess and we're just regular-sized people but the motor issue... time will tell.

Hey Santa is almost here. The kids got their iPhones upgraded, Mom got the Kindle Fire HD (didn't want the iPad), me....I'll get lots of hugs and kisses and the joy of knowing my family is happy and healthy. That's all I can ask for. Well, maybe a better motor mount solution too. :thumbsup:
 
Hey guys, I know this is an old thread but I'm considering getting a dingy to use occasionally while at my condo in Ft Myers Florida. I'm not as familiar with the various considerations of salt water issues vs fresh water and don't want to make an obvious error.

For the past couple of years we have rented a 16' outboard just to putt around the back bays, looking at homes and the wildlife in the mangrove areas - maybe pull up to a nice beach for a walk or just sit and have a picnic lunch. Paying the rental fees seems nuts to me. My options are limited since I don't want to tow, can't store a boat at my condo, and don't want the hassle of boat storage or dock fees on top of my condo's costs. An inflatable or even a porta-bote might work. I'm leaning towards the inflatable since the porta-bote is 10' long even folded so it won't fit in my trunk - not crazy about setting it on a roof rack.

It would have to be the type to fold and fit into my trunk so I'm looking at an air floor (easier on the tush than sitting on a bench seat). I've owned one in Canada before and found it to be rather comfy for the Admiral and I to just putt about in.

Is there any reason why this would not be a good idea in the Ft Myers area? The one for sale is also PVC (Quicksilver with 8hp Merc) and has not been used in salt water yet. Will it stand being in the Florida sun for maybe 5-6 separate days/month without melting?? I'd be inflating/deflating it for each day out.
 
We have a Zodiac Hunt Fish 12.5 foot inflatable that will take a 20HP. The floor is wood and is in sections. Total weight is 50 pounds for the boat and maybe 20 for the floor. We have taken it as checked baggage on commercial planes to the Canadian arctic. I had to ship the motor as freight. Top speed with 2 people and 200 pounds of fuel and gear is 24 knots. The boat is solid. We run it up on beaches and rocks. I have never punctured the hull. I do carry a repair kit.
 
+1 on northern's post. Get the super light inflatable that you can easily move around with. I think they also call them the Zodiac "zoom" in same cases?

I've got a Zodiac Cadet 10'6" PVC inflatable, air floor, 5 passenger paired with a modest 3.5hp Tohatsu. I believe the dink weighs 75lbs empty. It is not the kind of dinghy you'd want to inflate/deflate with any regularity. Maybe if you got into the 8' range they'd become more manageable. But the 10'....not trunk-worthy.

I'd also go as small as you can on the outboard if you're talking trunk transport. An 8hp is still a beefy unit to move around. And be sure to get one that has the integrated fuel tank. One less thing to deal with.
 
Only thing to add is that i’d go for hypalon vs pvc if you are ok with higher price. That sun will make the PVC one all sticky after a few years of use, unless you cover it all the time.
 
We have a 5HP we have taken north and used on the 12.5 The weight of the motor is 42 pounds. It is a 2 stroke. All new engines seem to be 4 stroke but for weight 2 stroke is a bit less. There are used ones for sale.
Our 12.5 footer fits in a 4 foot long hockey bag. The wood floor is 3 sheets of plywood 1/2" thick that comply with checked baggage rules for commercial flights. I got the boat in 1997 for $2,500 CDN no idea what they cost now. Based on the Zodiac dealer used ones can need a lot of work. It takes about 1/2 hour to set up and inflate the boat with a foot pump. I would not want to inflate and deflate it every day. Tare down will take you an hours as you need to get all the air out of it. If you have power and a shop vac getting the air out is fast. We also have a 15 foot zodiac canoe and an 18 foot AIR inflatable sea kayak both were about $3,000 each. Very solid and have used them in the artic also. As with the Hunt Fish you do not want to take them apart every day.
 
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