2.7m SIB deck air/alu deck? Honwave/Zodiac

[Max...]

Hi Chaps,

Had to sell my 4.7m Searider earlier this year and just planning to buy a small SIB for occasional leisure use. Will be mainly inland rivers/Norfolk Broards but the odd summer potter along the coast - nothing at all like the SR 'RIB' type of thing - I'm talking carry it to the beach on fine, sunny calm days only and venturing no more than a few hundred metres from shore.

Important points are compactness and portability by myself and the wife or myself only with transom mounted wheels. Easy take down when necessary (probably keep it mostly inflated in the garage over summer) but do not want to trailer it - ideally something that will partially deflate and go in the back of a Land Rover 110. Capacity for 2 adults + 2 small kids.

Engine has to be *four* stroke and portable by me.

Don't need any rough water capability or deep V style hull.

Thinking a 2.7m Honwave or similar equivilent Zodiac etc.

Seems the alu floor Honwave is 54kg - the air V deck is 34 KG. I like the lighter weight obviously but a 'solid' flat floor appeals and would probably be more suited for our use...? Is the 20KG difference in practical use the difference between it being easily liftable by two or *not*?

Also put off by reading many topics re' the Honwave floor needs the £100 Bravo pump and the floor pressure is critical...

Have also read that difference between a 6HP and a 8HP is quite a lot in weight - again one easy to carry the other bordering on not?! Is the 6HP enough? For coastal use it would mostly be just me and the 8 year old.

Would welcome any thoughts on set-up etc.

[willk]

I think it's too small. I have one, and no way are you putting two adults and two kids in it.

[Max...]

Really? Not even pottering along rivers at 3 - 5 knots?

[PeterM]

I'd not go for the Honwave as the launching wheels are I think painful / expensive due to the built in hull extensions in the air floor ?

I had a 2.6 Excel SD airfloor, so so much cheaper than the honwave and I was impressed . Oh and the air floors are flat , with a keel underneath so not like the internal V of the Honwave.

I think they may do a 2.9 which would give some more room for kids & stuff. Slow speed I think you would get away with a 2.7 just not have much comfort which would be painful/ annoying after a while .

unless you stick 15 hp on it, then you'ld only get 6-7 knts out of it loaded up, 2 up and 6 or 8 hp I think would get you planing. And a 15hp start to weigh in for a 4stroke ..

Just my 2p worth ...

Edit - yes they do a 2.9m ; http://www.excel-inflatables.co.uk/b...able-sd290.htm

[Fenlander]

We've had the last 3yrs with a 3.2m Zodiac for 2 adults and 2 small teens. Even on the river 2.7m is very short for 2+2.

We have a 27kg 9.8hp 2-stroke and I would not consider a 4-stroke due to the weight. You might just plane with 1+1 and a 6hp, I'm sure you would easily with an 8hp.

Our 3.2m weighs 52kg and it's OK for 2 adults to carry on easy ground but down banks or greasy slips and over deep sand it's a little harder. Every few kg saved really does help.

We are just upgrading to the 3.4m-4.0m range and the weight issue is a major stress.

[Hugh Jardon]

we can get two adults and two children and two dogs in a 2.75 yam on the canal and we have even had 4 adults and 2 little kids in it. It is all rather cosy but it was fine, but the engine has integral fuel tank which makes a difference, a 3.4 gives a lot more usuable space which can then be dimished if you have an inflatable thwart and or a large fuel tank or in the worst case both!

[Max...]

Thanks for the input - all thoughts welcome, kids are 4 and 8 so not big teens.

Peter - like the look of that Excel - how is yours holding up after some use? do you have any decent pics you can share or email me please?

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Max...

Thanks for the input - all thoughts welcome, kids are 4 and 8 so not big teens.

Peter - like the look of that Excel - how is yours holding up after some use? do you have any decent pics you can share or email me please?

It was so good someone nicked it after 6 months but was doing well until then .

Seriously I was a little sceptical when I go it, but was very impressed with the build but once I had it out and in use got a lot of good comments. I considered Honda etc , but just silly money for a little fun/ tender etc ...

I'd buy one again with no hesitation if I needed something like that. Someone else on here has also had good things to say too. Maybe a search will show them up ?

Pete

[Hugh Jardon]

Our yam 275 with yam four stroke 4 hp was 550, it was about 2 yrs old and like new, has hard floor.

I assume it was a good price unless someone advises I paid over the odds

[C-NUMB]

I owned a 3.0 M SIB and that's about the smallest I would buy, what ever use. Weight difference is no huge compared to a 2,7 long.

It's correct that the pressure of the airfloor is critical, but issues applies only at higher speeds. So if You intend to potter around whit a relative small engine, would not expect any issues whit the air floor, even if not always inflated to 100% correct pressure.

Assembly of an airfloor I so much easier, so if You want a truly mobile boat, would go for an airfloor in 3 M + range.