ANYONE USE OR WATCH INFLATABLES IN WEST COAST LAGOONS OR SEA OF CORTEZ ?
As, is there a problem with cactus/goathead thorns on beachs or tidelines ?Diver - 1-7-2010 at 07:32 PM
Our 11' Zodiak is almost 20 years old.
The only patches are on the bottom rear of the pontoons from riding onto the beach too much with my big burro in the stern.
The patch system is bulletproof if you do it right.
It has been fished and launched from many Baja beaches over 100 times and has no other holes from cactus, fish hooks or tide-line debris.wessongroup - 1-7-2010 at 07:37 PM
That is so cool... what a neat way to get out... and 20 years, now that's something to consider if one is getting something that is going into the
"salt" .... and exactly the other obstacles one would face down your
way... would appear maintenance is very low too.. good vessel for the intended use..
Ken Bondy - 1-7-2010 at 08:09 PM
I kept two Metzelers (Elefant and Maya) at San Francisquito for over 10 years. No problems with them whatsoever, they were great boats. We used them
for fishing and diving. Kids could waterski behind the big one (25 hp Johnson).monoloco - 1-7-2010 at 08:33 PM
I disagree I have had a Zodiac Grand Raid and an Achilles R.I.B., they take more power and more maintenance than an aluminum boat and are not as
comfortable in my opinion. I'd much rather have a good welded 14-16ft. aluminum skiff any day.Diver - 1-7-2010 at 08:54 PM
Each has it's own purpose.
I can carry the Zodiak alone to many more launch locations than I could carry my 14' tin boat (with 3 people).
6 Hp is enough to plane but I have a 9.9.
I have a 15 Hp on the 14' tin boat.
With 2 in the Zodiak and 4 in the tin boat, they are an even match for speed.
The big plus is that our Zodiak packs into 2 bags; 1 for the floor boards and 1 for the boat.
Neither weighs more than 40 lbs and they will both fit in the back seat or trunk of most cars.
.monoloco - 1-7-2010 at 09:06 PM
I got turned off to the Zodiac when I was fishing a couple of miles off Los Barriles and I got a 16" rip in the bottom and had to putt back to shore
with the boat full of water. The R.I.B. was more seaworthy but didn't have the portability of the Zod.Martyman - 1-8-2010 at 12:21 PM
Did many baja trips with my Korean inflatable. Only remember one small leak from a sharp, pointy shell on the beach. I now have a bayrunner which I
prefer, but takes more people to put back on the trailero.woody with a view - 1-8-2010 at 03:27 PM
good times... the halibut is outstanding.
[Edited on 1-8-2010 by woody in ob]
woody with a view - 1-8-2010 at 03:30 PM
more fun.....
Pacifico - 1-8-2010 at 03:37 PM
I had a 15' Avon with a 30 hp Tohatsu for years and loved it! Very safe boats in my opinion. When I sold it, I then bought a 16' Klamath which was
great as well. Both boats were used all over baja for years. They are 2 different animals - they both have their pros and cons. If you get an
inflatable just make sure it is quality and not junk.monoloco - 1-8-2010 at 03:39 PM
If you are going to use an inflatable get some good beach wheels or rollers it will last a lot longer.bkbend - 1-8-2010 at 05:05 PM
As with anything you need to exercise caution. I've seen two different instances where an inflatable was topped off with air on on a cool morning
only to explode under a hot late morning sun after they were pulled up onto the beach.JZ - 1-8-2010 at 07:03 PM
Don't forget to take the proper gear with you. Have a small anchor and 100' line. Take the paddles and a hand held VHF.
It's good to have some thing to bail with. The best is to have a manual pump in the transom (looks like a bicycle pump).
Inflatables are a lot of fun. You can go in really swallow water and do some great exploring. My kids and I love to run around in ours. I let my
five year old drive a little. He got the engine turned all the way to the side and we were spinning in circles for a bit before I got a hold of it.
Best to be wearing the kill switch lanyard in those circumstances...LOL
[Edited on 1-9-2010 by JZ]woody with a view - 1-8-2010 at 07:33 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
good times... the halibut is outstanding.
[Edited on 1-8-2010 by woody in ob]
everything in the foto for sale, except for the guys and the hats!!!! 20hp and
Avon 12ft. with foot pump, patch kit, life vests, anchor, oars...
k mas?Doug/Vamonos - 1-8-2010 at 10:09 PM
I have both. The fun thing about an inflatable is you can pretend to be Jacque Cousteau and have lots of friends sit on the tubes. It can hold a lot
more people than the same size tin boat. Problem is any type of weather/chop. Inflatables bounce like crazy when you pick up the speed. Mine has an
inflatable keel. A tin boat is much better in chop, in my opinion. And much better for fishing. I need a small trailer for both. The inflatable is not
all that light once you add a fuel tank and outboard. Even two men have a handful trying to carry it. Mine is 11' with a five piece wood floor.heike - 1-9-2010 at 08:10 AM
We like our RIB boat, 12Ft w/30 hp johnson. its great for the 2 of us and takes less room in the garage too! We do need to get some different tires
for launching!heike - 1-9-2010 at 08:19 AM
We have a console, which is nice in my book!
Ken Bondy - 1-9-2010 at 09:15 AM
Can't resist - this is my Metzeler Elefant at San Francisquito:
comitan - 1-9-2010 at 01:05 PM
Ken
I can't resist I owned a Metzeler at one time, the story is we lost ours off the roof of the camper in Santa Barbara was probably 5 miles down the
road before we could return, when we got there someone was loading onto their roof, they did return it to us but you could see several cars had run
over it. We continued on to the Baja got to Santispac blew it up not a single leak, never did leak till we sold it. If they still made them I would
have one.Ken Bondy - 1-9-2010 at 01:28 PM
Great story Wiley!! They are wonderful pieces of equipment. I looked at a lot of inflatables before we bought Metzeler and I never regretted that
decision. Too bad they stopped making them.Wiles - 1-9-2010 at 03:07 PM
12'-6" Avon w/ 35 Johnson.
She was fearless.
[Edited on 1-9-2010 by Wiles]
805gregg - 1-11-2010 at 07:34 PM
If you go with inflatable, get a hard keel and floor boards. I have one with an inflatable floor and keel. It won't plane and is too flexable. I had
an old metzler that would do 20 mph with a 6 hp outboard.
20hp and
Avon 12ft. with foot pump, patch kit, life vests, anchor, oars...
