Excel 3.9m Aluminium vs Air Deck - Page 2

Dydigital · 26 June 2020, 15:25

I have a Excel 435, you can get 3-4 people with comfort in the seats, fishing is hard worth with more than 3 people (one each side and one fishing out the back.

jeffstevens763@g · 26 June 2020, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonus

Thanks again all for your advice on the HP, wheel etc.

Jeff I think I'm leaning toward a 435 XHD to be honest... looking at other forum member's boats with 5/6 people it looks snug but do-able. I must stress that I wouldn't be looking at doing a 6 person trip all the time... I don't think we'd get them all out there regularly and are losing one to university at some point. Just trying to find the balance between a boat that is not too big and can get us all out very occasionally at a low speed in decent conditions.
All very useful stuff though - thanks so much

even at displacement speed you can cover some ground sightseeing personally i would sit on the tubes with 6 and not use the seats so long as their not small children.

Dydigital · 26 June 2020, 15:53

435's are not the lightest of boats. Mine started out in the bag. After a few years it now on a trailer full time.

Locozodiac · 26 June 2020, 22:45

Personally would like going for the alum deck Sib with wheels, performs better than an air deck and doesn't need constant reinflation. But will prefer going straight for a bit larger Rib say a 430 Mt one with a 20 HP motor.

Happy Boating

Windsurfer · 27 June 2020, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonus

Hi ther,

What a great forum - I'm very new to this and have learnt so much on here!

I had a question - was going to buy my first Sib for local excursions, family days-out and maybe fishing - sea and river. I have four kids - 10yr old to teenage and was looking at Excel Volante 390 vs a 395 Vanguard XHD with an aluminium deck.

I have a ramp right at the bottom of my road on the south coast that is lapped by the sea at high tide... it's 100yds away so the plan would be to walk a boat dowm there on transom wheels and not get a trailer.

My question would be - is it worth getting the hard deck? There's £100 diffence or so...

Will I be able to lift the boat (minus outboard) on my own if I went solo? Will the air deck be easier to lauch and bring in because it's lighter? I wondered if the boat would be more rigid and be easier to lift when carrying it? Do the airdesk 'droop'?!

I'm not worried about inflating it frequently as am hoping to store it at my house inflated.

Also, I'm looking at getting a 20hp Tohatsu 4-stroke - does that sound sensible?

Many thanks for any advice!

Tonus

Hi, pulling a large alli deck sib to your ramp full of kit will be hard work and how are you going to get it back up the ramp.

We used to do similar with our honwave 3.2 airdeck and now have a trailer , its just so much easier , although i have a steep shingle beach to contend with and not a ramp.

Pikey Dave · 27 June 2020, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsurfer

Hi, pulling a large alli deck sib to your ramp full of kit will be hard work and how are you going to get it back up the ramp.

.

He’s got a herd of kids

Tonus · 27 June 2020, 13:49

Windsurfer - good point. As I'm totally new to this (I might be wrong) but I was thinking I'd pull the boat a little ways up the (60ft ish) ramp/slip and see if I need to take off the motor and drag it up on a trolley if needs be. This'll make it easier to come get the boat. Like I said, I live a little more than 100yrds down a flat road from the sea and two trips won't kill us!
I'm sure if I go ahead with this I'll learn a lot as I go along - it's all pretty dauting to be honest but an exciting prospect! I've lived quite near the sea my whole life and never been on it myself in more than a kayak. Would love to eventually learn how to do this solo...

Windsurfer · 27 June 2020, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

He’s got a herd of kids

Good point ,All hands on deck !

My herd are still a little small but looking forward to when they can become helpful 😁

Tonus · 27 June 2020, 17:07

Thanks everyone for their advice - really helping me get to know just what I want.

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons I just saw this on eBay - looks like a bargain but my goodness it looks massive! I bet it'd not be great with a 20HP either... interesting though...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Excel-Van...bcf0%7Ciid%3A1

Tonus · 27 June 2020, 17:08

Excel say 'Engine capacity rating 40hp 4 stroke. Runs well with 20hp'

Windsurfer · 27 June 2020, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonus

Windsurfer - good point. As I'm totally new to this (I might be wrong) but I was thinking I'd pull the boat a little ways up the (60ft ish) ramp/slip and see if I need to take off the motor and drag it up on a trolley if needs be. This'll make it easier to come get the boat. Like I said, I live a little more than 100yrds down a flat road from the sea and two trips won't kill us!
I'm sure if I go ahead with this I'll learn a lot as I go along - it's all pretty dauting to be honest but an exciting prospect! I've lived quite near the sea my whole life and never been on it myself in more than a kayak. Would love to eventually learn how to do this solo...

I think the only way you’ll launch and retrieve a boat like that solo is with a trailer or launching trolley with a hitch. If you can go somewhere to try and lift some outboards up to get a feel for the weight and how awkward they are to carry in the size that you’ll need would really help.

We often go out in the evening to wakefoil when it’s nice and flat and I wouldn’t bother if I had the faff of pulling and heaving all the kit around.

Tonus · 28 June 2020, 14:56

Thanks Windsurfer - been looking at Launching Trolleys - looks like they are quite affordable... could be something to get if needed.

Thanks for your help.

Tonus · 01 July 2020, 10:07

Paddlers - your Tow Dolly / nose dolly looks like such a good idea... found the couple of threads on here with your discussion, but was wondering if anything like that was commecially available? I heard that there was a product that did the same job and might be foldable/stowable... that'd be great as you wouldn't have to leave or secure anything behind.

Fenlander · 01 July 2020, 10:51

Well my Trem bow trolley isn't foldable to take on the boat but it is a commercial product.

We launch with our transom wheels and this trolley but take it all back to car/cottage then carry two inflatable beach rollers should we wish to pull out at a destination.

Fenlander · 01 July 2020, 10:57

This Trem trolley is ideal for us as we always have at least one side of the car back seat free where it fits neatly and by chance the transom wheels stow on it perfectly so Mrs F has an easy trundle when she takes them to/fro car/cottage.

Tonus · 01 July 2020, 11:44

Thanks, that's brilliant... I just found it online... looks good! I might see how I go without it to start as I really don't need to go very far - but looks super useful. Trem is a name I keep hearing...

Thanks again.