The writing has been on the wall for a while, but my cheapie inflatable from ebay has finally died (well, it's not financially viable to repair). I have been back through previous mussings on the forum and have decided if I am going to spend the money this time, to spend it properly.
I am looking at a solid floor (fiberglass, aluminium etc) to take up to 4 adults.
I have found this Zodiac on ebay which looks to be a good buy.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Zodiac-Rigid-Inflatable-Boat-/291935062081
Any thoughts?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/zodiac-RIB-inflatable-boat/262715695524?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D39923%26meid%3Df01d48cbb9294f14b4bbe61adb1843f5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D291935062081
the above is 2.8 not sure what your link is South Ace ort of looks smaller hard to know Matey
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/subiaco/tinnies-dinghies/zodiac-cadet-270-aero-mercury-6hp-2stroke-outboard-motor/1128392464
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hillarys/tinnies-dinghies/3-4m-zodiac-rib/1129389174
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/subiaco/tinnies-dinghies/zodiac-cadet-270-aero-mercury-6hp-2stroke-outboard-motor/1128392464
This one below down your way
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/somerton-park/tinnies-dinghies/zodiac-yl-390-rib/1129692029
Don't forget, depending on what State you are in or visiting, there are different rules re the motor size.
ie, gear require in the dinghy and drivers licence
Select to expand quotenswsailor said..
Don't forget, depending on what State you are in or visiting, there are different rules re the motor size.
ie, gear require in the dinghy and drivers licence
I am thinking oars and sail next year not for now don't need one
Thanks guys.
I already have a Suzi 2.5 4 stroke, so don't need another motor. Bilgola is close by tho, so worth a look.
EC. I have a Zodiac Rib. A Yacht Line 275. Deep V hull and a flat floor. Bought it second hand, but like brand new, out a year ago . When it was eight years old.
You should know that one of the very good things about Zodiac is that the seams are welded, not glued.
And it looks like the St Ives boat has a frat floor which is a great advantage for ancient people like me.
Big plus for the flat froor is that the air chamber between the inner and outer moulds is a massive boyancy aid.
In my zodiac if I totally open all the air valves i can still motor it with my 5hp merc. I suspect mine would support at least 3 people with all valves open.
Those people at Brookvale take their work seriously and at the asking price it's a steal. Imho
I'm pretty sure yours has welded seams which never ever seem to fail.
Check the weights. My inflatable came with an aluminium floor, but that made it just too hard to lift. Changed to inflatable floor and that made a big difference.
Wooden slats and fabric floor is the lightest, but do not row well. IMHO inflatable floor with inflatable keel is a good solution. RIB is the heaviest. If you dont have a davit, weight could be critical.
Yara, everything you said about floors is spot on the money. My Zodiac with, fuel tank, Henderson mk5 bilge pump bolted to the transom , ditto fuel filter is abt 65kg. Even with wheels it kills my shoulders to get it up a beach. If I didn't need a hard floor to stand on I'd have another Island Inflatables IA 260 in an instant. Beautiful product, towed mine syd to batemans twice. Only safe way of getting my rib across Bass St is to deflate and lean the rigid tub up against the side stays. I THAT isn't appealing then go the Yara way with an Island Inflatables IA 290 ....$1200.
My 2 cents.
My current one is a Navigator (out of Queensland I think) of 2.7m. PVC, glued seams, inflatable keel under an aluminium floor.
I dont have far to get to my boat, the dinghy rack is 3 in from the front and only a short timber ramp to get up, which is easy for 2 people on the wheels. it is great for hauling lots of stuff and people, plus very stable. So weight is not too much of an issue.
We were planning to roll the Navigator up and stow it on the foredeck for our next trip, so a rigid floor is going to change all that. Around the bay we usually just tow.
Will look at a couple of them on Saturday and make a decision. But if you see any others floating around, let me know.
EC, if i had an East Coast for that rib would be a no brainer.
Im often tempted to sell my rib because of lack of deck space & buy another IA 260 or 290 (1100 & 1200) and beautiful if you can put up with a soft floor.
Korean made, and for the record the owner of Island Inflatables (east coast dist) is NOT one of my favourite people....but probably the best dink at any price.
My advice is to get a decent R.I.B.
I have a Zodiac inflatable with a fibreglass hull and I will most likely buy another one soon.
It is 11 years old and has only just started to fall apart after some pretty serious (ab)use.
If you aren't bothered about weight I reckon a Polycraft are the way to go.
I have seen cruising people with cheap inflatables with an inflatable hull - crap!! Bent in halt like a banana - get one with a rigid hull.
Forget It. The only way to bond pvc is with " AZBOND C " a two part adhesive sold by whitworths.
Google AZBOND C go to images.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/church-point/tinnies-dinghies/barely-used-2-9-m-island-with-tohatsu-5-hp-2-stroke-engine/1130044510
Ill probably buy a 3 meter version next year 31 kg
www.takacat.com/our-range/takacat-lite/technical-info/
Where will you be cruising?
Key question.
For instance for Tasmania, hard dinghy only not even a rigid bottom inflatable
Too many oyster and mussel shells in a lot of places even where it is sandy.
Select to expand quotelydia said..
Where will you be cruising?
Key question.
For instance for Tasmania, hard dinghy only not even a rigid bottom inflatable
Too many oyster and mussel shells in a lot of places even where it is sandy.
No up the east coast after easter.Im to old for cold weather .Love the heat used to work in 45 to 50 C down in the open cuts up north. Used to put my tools in 20 liter bucket of water so I didn't burn my hands.
There is a light weight fiberglass dinghy ( 8 ft)I also favor. I need to measure up see what can be fitted and where ( cabin roof)
There more important things right now over the next couple of months fitting the mast and selecting a sail cloth and main sail that will last a long time
also I might know where a second hand fiberglass is
28 kgs
What ever I buy or make its not a weekender
How about this aluminium beauty from the Gold Coast, lucky it's chained and double padlocked!
Select to expand quotebrianlara3 said..
Is this what you had in mind for me Lydia?
Don't happent to own it do you ?
Just don't get in her way Brian 
I just loves my Walker Bay 8. It even fits on the foredeck of my 30 ft yacht without obstructing anything. Great for going oystering. They are the hardest dinghy to kill which is why Ramona says they are the most stolen.
Edit:- And you can get inflatable sausages for the sides too.
Tis is my Bombard (French Hypalon) 2.1m slat floor inflatable. It is too small for more than two people and can get a little wet but the upside is it rolls up and stores in my Quarterberth and inflates in 5 mins.
I am seriously considering replacing it with a Walker bay 8. My only concern is where to store it when we are not on the boat.
Select to expand quoteGlennGee said..
I am seriously considering replacing it with a Walker bay 8. My only concern is where to store it when we are not on the boat.
Somewhere very secure. 
The Walker Bay may go Walkabout. 
The Walker Bay 8 is a great little dinghy, within it's limitations. Their injection molded construction make them almost indestructible and they handle the UV exposure very well.
However the design and shape of them is less than ideal for an 8 ft dinghy. I use mine as a work truck to and from the yacht in the river and is perfect for that.
They are rated for 2 persons only but with 2 persons, one on rear seat and rowing from middle seat you get about 4 inches of freeboard at the transom. For 2 people it really should have the rowlock sockets fitted in the forward position so it can be rowed from the front seat to balance it out. They just don't have enough volume in the hull and very little freeboard.
I would not consider taking mine with me cruising on the yacht unless I had the inflatable collar around the gunwale. For cruising I have an Avon Redcrest inflatable with outboard bracket. The Avon is the only inflatable I know of that can be rowed effectively and can be done so with standard 6 or 7 foot oars.
If you can find one, the Savage Tern aluminium dinghy is a great asset. At 8 foot long they are the only tinny dinghy I know of specifically designed as a tender. Donk has one as I recall.
Select to expand quoteGlennGee said..
Tis is my Bombard (French Hypalon) 2.1m slat floor inflatable. It is too small for more than two people and can get a little wet but the upside is it rolls up and stores in my Quarterberth and inflates in 5 mins.
I am seriously considering replacing it with a Walker bay 8. My only concern is where to store it when we are not on the boat.
I have the exact same one (Model number AX-2) but in PVC - are you sure yours is Hypalon?
I got it for free off a bloke who had bits start to come adrift after long exposure to the sun in the Whitsundays. I've fixed it up and become pretty good at making strong PVC repairs using Azbond (as sold by Whitworths). It's served for 5 years of my annual Bass Strait cruises, (where high temperatures are obviously not a problem!)
Based on my experience and from what I read and hear about the current crop of inflatables that seem to all come out of China, I'd not choose one for long-term use up north. When I use very gentle warmth from a heat gun to help remove the old glue, it's quite alarming to see how quickly it all goes soft and loses its strength!
I found a wire brush used very gently at low speed in a cordless drill is the best way to get rid of most of the old glue. Follow up with a scotchbrite soaked in MEK. The scotchbrite quickly clogs up and has to be discarded. I use the big coarse green pads from Bunnings, not the supermarket ones, cut into 1" strips.
Cheers, Graeme
