deportes
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Inflatable boats
Just wondering if inflatable boats like Zodiac are any good for Baja fishing, cruising.
What size would be best.
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comitan
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Zodiacs perform well but are made of PVC and will not last in the sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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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vandenberg
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I fished out of several, but believe they have issues with hooks, knives, gaffs and fish bills. 
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805gregg
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Good inflatables are made of Hapalon and last many years in the sun, mine is 10 years old and looks and performs like new, if you don't hook or stab
your hard boat you won't do that to your inflatable
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chuckie
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Leak
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basautter
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I prefer aluminum boats over inflatables. They last forever, and work great as a cargo trailer for getting there. I have a 15 foot with a 25 hp
motor, and would not trade it.
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captkw
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Deflatables..........Junk !!
Don't waste your money......!!!
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Pompano
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Hi deportes, perhaps I can help a bit. I've owned a few over the years and had great fun in lots of others...fishing, running rapids, using as a
tender, etc, etc.
Lots of pros and cons about any inflatable. Best thing is...it's a boat!...Therefore a creature of beauty and wonder!
Just as I've seen in most Baja anchorages, I saw many Zodiacs when wandering in some southern European waterfronts this summer. They are pretty good
for cruising & always look good at the marina, but just know that hard shell dinks row better, sail -better, and are less money. The newer Hypalon
tubes (not pvc) inflatables will last a long time. Downside is they are spendy $$$.
I have a few personal observations, but there are certainly lots more out there in Nomadlandia. For what it's worth, here my list:
Pros - excellent tenders with built-in tenders that won't mark up your boat
- ride higher with more load, thus more stable
-can be stored, making it less likely to be stolen
-water does not compress...air does (great for rivers)
-lightweight and give you a better feel with the sea
-RIBS with deep-V are best (a little sticker shock)
Cons - Like Vandenburg said, inflatables don't get along with fishing tackle...or barnacles, or rough beaches.
-They ride very wet in rough chop...don't cut chop very well and pound more than similar sized V-hulled small boat.
-More expensive per pound & foot
-hard to turn in heavy seas
-needs more power than hard hulls
-lower resistance to sun damage
Pros of owning a boat...The love and affection is priceless.
Some pics of inflatables used in Baja over the years.
A pic of hard shell dink used as tender with local beach bum rowing.
Sorry I got so long-winded, but your question tugs at my passion with BOATS!
[Edited on 11-22-2013 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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chuckie
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Boats! If a guy could have sixx with em...I'd consider marrying one.....
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captkw
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hyt
| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
Don't waste your money......!!! |
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Frank
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The upside is its easy to transport. We brought down our 11' inflatable and a 20hp 4 stroke in the 4runner last year. I would recommend a unit with a
hard floor vs a inflatable floor, it's more ridgid and it will handle the slop a little better.
I do prefer my 14' Klamath, but unless I'm bringing the F350 and putting it in the back on the truck, the inflatable works just fine. I don't like to
trailer anything down. The 4runner set allows us more freedom to roam down narrow trails without worrying about 30' of Ford.
Hypalon vs PVC, hypalon is the way to go if your leaving it out in the sun. Hypalon is about twice as much as PVC. You could throw a tarp over a PVC
boat while your not using it, it's the UV that eventually kills them. I picked up my West Marine 11' with a aluminum floor, PVC oversized tubes and a
5 year warranty for about 1 boat unit. ( that's code for $1000 )
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monoloco
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I have had a Zodiac Grand Raid and an Achilles RIB, the RIB is the way to go, but you do sacrifice some portability, you gain sea worthiness and
durability. Welded aluminum is way better for fishing and durability.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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deportes
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Thanks all for your responses. The only reason I am thinking about an inflatable is for the ease of transporting deflated in the bed of a truck and
the ease of launching in any beach after 4x4 access into remote areas.
I have a 19ft Glastron cuddy. I see peolpe advertising them on craigslist for 1,000. I own a couple of 2 stroke 10hp motors from years of abalone
diving in northern Cali. Just trying to figure out the best approach for my next trip to Baja.
Gracias nomadas.
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by deportes
Thanks all for your responses. The only reason I am thinking about an inflatable is for the ease of transporting deflated in the bed of a truck and
the ease of launching in any beach after 4x4 access into remote areas.
I have a 19ft Glastron cuddy. I see peolpe advertising them on craigslist for 1,000. I own a couple of 2 stroke 10hp motors from years of abalone
diving in northern Cali. Just trying to figure out the best approach for my next trip to Baja.
Gracias nomadas. |
Go for an aluminum cartopper!
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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mcfez
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These floats dont do well on the Sea......unless they have seat belts for the white caps days! Bumpy and wet. Not much to keep the sprays out of the
float.
I know that getting these to the water's edge can be a real drag (pun intended). The Sea of Cortez side offers splendid sharp rocks in areas such as
Black Mountain.
[Edited on 11-19-2013 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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CortezBlue
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We were looking for a kayak and I was sold on a Hobie Angler, however they are very expensive.
Started looking at Sea Eagle as an option. We bought one of their models, it came with a very nice return policy.
Opinion?
We like it. Someone made a comment that hey are PVC, but, I have to tell you, look at their web page and watch them use a claw hammer beating the
crap out of it.
It is also nice to fold it up to haul it around. It folds up and inflates very fast.
Check it out
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Ken Bondy
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I am a big advocate of high-quality inflatables in Baja. Kept two Metzelers in a locker for many years at San Francisquito, one a 16-ft "Elefant"
powered by a 25hp Johnson, the other a smaller 12-ft "Maya" with a 7.5hp Johnson. Put lots of water miles on both of them and never had the slightest
problem. I don't know if they make them any more but they were wonderful pieces of equipment. Of course the ability to fly them in and out in our
Baron helped a lot...
[Edited on 11-19-2013 by Ken Bondy]
carpe diem!
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bajabuddha
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I have used inflatables my entire life, and have found as far as brands go, i recommend Achilles over all. I have a 20 year-old 14.5' Runabout
w/marine-ply pieced in floor (soft hull) and inflated keel, and i push it with a 9.9 horse Yamaha. A 15 horse would be more desireable, but it's too
much motor for me to handle now in and out of the boat. As mentioned many posts, there are pros and cons. HOWEVER, it's tough to patch an aluminum
boat, and you're right on remote launching IF you're young enough to muscle it. Plus, even in rough seas an inflatable won't swamp and sink on you.
A friend bought a brand new Zodiac, and the first season found dozens of pinholes on the upper-tube where he'd 'land' his fish, especially bass and
sculpin, their fins would puncture the NEW material. My Achilles has bumped a thousand fish, and the spot where i de-hook 'em is just fine. Far's
your hook is concerned, that's just common sense if you pop your own tube. I haven't (yet).
Also, an inflatable takes a shallower draft than aluminum, you have more access to low-tide situations than a deeper hulled craft. Just make sure if
you go inflatable, it has a STURDY set of oars/oarlocks to go along with. They're also more stable when standing/moving around in than an
equal-length aluminum.
Again, lots of pros and cons, this is from one viewpoint on one side of the coin. The toss is yours. Happy trails, bb.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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freediverbrian
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Boats are like pizza and sex even the bad ones are good
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