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roadhog
Nomad
Posts: 105
Registered: 10-29-2009
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INFLATABLE BOAT ?
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 ?
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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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.
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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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..
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
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Mood: Mellow
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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).
carpe diem!
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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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.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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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.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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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.
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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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.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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good times... the halibut is outstanding.
[Edited on 1-8-2010 by woody in ob]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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more fun.....
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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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.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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If you are going to use an inflatable get some good beach wheels or rollers it will last a lot longer.
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
Posts: 695
Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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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.
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 13614
Registered: 10-3-2003
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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]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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| 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?
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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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.
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heike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 79
Registered: 4-28-2006
Location: Los Barriles
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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!
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heike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 79
Registered: 4-28-2006
Location: Los Barriles
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We have a console, which is nice in my book!
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
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Mood: Mellow
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Can't resist - this is my Metzeler Elefant at San Francisquito:
carpe diem!
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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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.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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