Deck options

[Lapua65]

Being rather new to this; on advice from experienced members on here, I am definitely going to be looking at purchasing a 3.6 with some form of air filled deck. There seem to be 2 distinct types, one being what I presume is a flat bed like a mat that forms the deck of the boat. On viewing the Excel and Boatworld site, there are also a "V" version. I suspect that this is where the flat airdeck version is separate from the hull (?) of the boat and the V actually forms the inner wall of the boat and the h keel?. I may be completely wrong.
I suppose I have two questions.
What happens below the airdeck on an airdeck boat to keep the keel rigid or at least semi rigid?
On a V version ;does this mean that the inner deck of the boat is sloped? That to me seems bonkers as the air filled deck wouldn't be that stable and to have it sloped seems like an H&S nightmare.
I'm hoping to pop up to Excel next week so promise I will not keep posting daft questions.

[Steve509926]

On the contrary it isn't a daft question.

I have both the Excel SD360 airdeck and the Excel 360 Explorer V deck. Both are good sibs, perform slightly differently and have different pros and cons.

Excel SD360 - flat airdeck. Below the airdeck is an inflatable sausage that keeps the deck a little more rigid and forms the keel. It also makes for a dryer deck as it provides a bilge below the airdeck.
It is big, very wide and very stable. It is heavy when packed away, however this is offset by packaging it in to two separate lots (sib in one bag, airdeck seats, paddles in the other) Because of it's width it is slightly slower than other sibs of a similar length and benefits from a 20hp ob. I've had my SD360 for over 5 years and probably done 350hrs i'sh, mostly on the sea, two up + dog + kit. It has been an excellent sib for my use and needs.
Some sibbers do not like airdecks with a sausage keel as they say it traps air below the keel and deforms the deck slightly. I never really had this problem and if I did it can easily be overcome by fitting a modified keel board:-

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/airdec...ign-87561.html

Excel 360 Explorer V deck. The V forms the hull and the deck, so yes it is a sloping deck but not so much as to be of any concern, unless you have a dog like mine.

https://youtu.be/cZU5TiF8fK0?si=v4cqjB846XmyfetY

For a V deck it is still a wide sib, so it fits my needs very well (2 up + dog + kit)
It is considerably faster than the SD360 and much more manoeuvrable. Packed away it is lighter than the sd360 so is slightly easier to handle. It is great on the water and I'm sure I will enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed having the sd360, however it isn't as stable as the sd360 when it's at rest on the water, thinking fishing here (unless you've been in both most people wouldn't notice)
It took a lot of modifications to get it to the point that I'm happy with mainly because of Isla and the sloping deck and that the transom is made for 16" + outboard shafts and my newish Merc has a 15" shaft.

https://youtu.be/kD13XAVCsww?si=CT3oHaP_40hgMPoy

Every sib is a compromise. Choose the one to that you think will provide most of your needs and wants.

[Fenlander]

Steve has given a great overview of the floor types, nothing to add really.

Regarding your comment "the air filled deck wouldn't be that stable and to have it sloped seems like an H&S nightmare"...

Have a look at the slope on our somewhat specialist and long out of production SIB's floor. It is just a by-product of a very deep V which gives great seakeeping and handling. We are older folks and Mrs F in particular boards with a somewhat controlled fall rather than stepping in. Despite the floor slope no need for A&E yet.