rowing inflatables

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:55 pm

A used British Seagull motor will cost about $150 on ebay and can be fixed with a tin opener and a piece of wire.

If you buy one with a blown bottom end, dont sweat ...john at Saving old Seagulls will sell you a bottom end for $30.

Catigale aka Catigull with a flock of 6

ssichler · Post by **ssichler** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:41 pm

'Fess up - how many in the flock are actually flying?

I tried to sell a good one for my father-in-law but someone had convinced him they were worth a ridiculous amount and he wouldn't take the best bid of $277 on Ebay.

David Mellon · Post by **David Mellon** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:53 pm

Well, I didn't suggest a generator, I charge my batteries at home or in a slip. I have never tried my electric on The Yam, but it got my much heavier IMP X250 moving. The IMP is a 27 foot twin V8 deep V hull cruiser. I will admit that for cruises over a week an electric may not be a viable solution, I would bring my 3hp gas unit for that. For a trip from a mooring to shore, or a romantic sunset on a lake, the electric is far superior. I used it at Lake Powell for a week on one charge, including some extended exploration in the canyons. Plus it requires no special tricks to stow it, mine is under the port side berth, across from the head. I use a Black and Decker VEC026BD 400 ELECTROMATE JUMPSTARTER/INFLATOR for a backup battery if needed.
I'll never claim it has more thrust than my gas unit, just that it is more convenient, quieter, cheaper, lighter (less than 30 lbs.), requires no maintenance, lasts for decades and has no smell.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:07 pm

'Fess up - how many in the flock are actually flying?

Out of my flock of six....four run are used on either the dink or the Island

One is under repair (thats the fancy one with F N R gears) needs some parts and is a winter project.

and one is a 1963 NOS that has never been used that will go on the Island for a cruise when I retire...

ernie · Post by **ernie** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:55 am

Ater I lost an auction for an 8'6" dinghy @ $610 I checked the sellers other dinghys and found one $700 or best offer. I shot him $550 and he took it. Another one sold @ auction today @ "$636. Affordable Inflatable will sell best offer dinghys for less than they are selling at auction. I gave
$650 for the suzuki. The only reason I bought the dinghy is in case the suzuki won"t float. See ssichler above.

ssichler · Post by **ssichler** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:09 pm

ernie wrote: The only reason I bought the dinghy is in case the suzuki won"t float. See ssichler above.

Pure speculation on my part but I think you will be happy with the purchase.

Did you get a new Suzuki 2.5 for $650? Sounds like a great deal.

FYI a tip I picked up on the Internet is that those little cheap 12volt inflators can fill the boat about 80% if you have the valves in and not popped out. You just have to be quick when removing the inflator to pop the valve out and then top off with hand pump.

-Scott

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:42 am

ernie wrote:Ater I lost an auction for an 8'6" dinghy @ $610 I checked the sellers other dinghys and found one $700 or best offer. I shot him $550 and he took it. Another one sold @ auction today @ "$636. Affordable Inflatable will sell best offer dinghys for less than they are selling at auction.

Call me Cynic, but my guess is that at least half the winning eBay bids are by the seller himself, pumping his own action. Yes, that means he needs to pay eBay for a completed auction, but he can do that for dozens of fake "auctions" per month and it's still cheaper than renting a store front for a real business.

ssichler · Post by **ssichler** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:32 am

Frank C wrote: Call me Cynic, but my guess is that at least half the winning eBay bids are by the seller himself, pumping his own action. Yes, that means he needs to pay eBay for a completed auction, but he can do that for dozens of fake "auctions" per month and it's still cheaper than renting a store front for a real business.

Cynic!

His prices are still cheaper than anything I can find for a comparable boat.

Jeff S · Post by **Jeff S** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:18 am

I got that feeling too after a bidder who had been an ebay member for 2 years had no feedback outbid me.

ernie · Post by **ernie** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:33 am

Yes, I got the Suzuki for $649. Putnam Boat Sales, Columbia Mo. About 100 miles from home.
The only reason I went to ebay for the dinghy was all the positive forum activity on Affordable Inflatables. That an the other $2000 it would cost me to buy a real dinghy. My wife has been burnt on ebay more times than I can count and she just keeps going back.

blanton · Post by **blanton** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:00 pm

For just a couple of people one of the coolest tenders are Sheri's Alpacka Rafts.

http://web.mac.com/blanton/iWeb/Site/PW ... %2706.html

The largest, the Dory model, weighs all of 5 lbs. 8 oz. Takes up less room aboard than your pillow!

http://www.alpackaraft.com/Site/Items.cfm?ItemID=22

We've got one of each model excepting our two dorys for a total of 5 Alpacka Rafts. Amazing boats. Great for whitewater fun. Right now we've got 3 aboard the Mac with carbon paddles and optional inflatable floors. The 3 (an Alpacka, a Yukon Yak, and a Denali Llama together will all their accessories fit conveniently into a medium-small duffle.

The Dory is plenty big for two. We've got the Dory rowing frames but with two aboard the 4 piece take-apart carbon paddles at 29.5 oz. may be the ticket. These boats will roll up into a bag the size a small backpacking tent might fit into.

http://www.alpackaraft.com

Not toys, a cared for Alpacka may last a lifetime.

"Alpacka rafts are manufactured from specially designed, urethane-coated fabrics that are produced exclusively for Alpacka Raft. The fabrics are lightweight and extremely abrasion and tear resistant. They also have a proprietary treatment to prevent water absorption and increase durability."

Sheri farms out production to Feathercraft in BC these days.

http://www.feathercraft.com/

Feathercraft is famous for their quality of construction.

ssichler · Post by **ssichler** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:26 am

Blanton,
Not to totally hijack the thread but how do you like that narrow dodger? I haven't heard any feedback from actual owners.

Also your radar set-up looks very cool. Would love to see more details in the mod section.

Thanks,
Scott

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:41 am

Rough rule of thumb is 20 pounds thrust per horsepower ..you can also figure it out from the electrical draw.....746 Watts is one horsepower, so a 12V motor drawing 30 amps is about 360 Watts or 1/2 HP give or take...

blanton · Post by **blanton** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:38 pm

Scott, the narrow dodger is the only one I'm familiar with. There's a skinny piece that mates the dodger to the bimini. The combination keeps the spray and rain off me when I'm at helm. By itself the dodger offers complete shelter to the companionway and a modicum of shelter to helmsperson.

Canvas bits are from BWT as is the radar arch. The radar arch stays up all the time and doubles as the mast crutch. It flies down the highway 13 feet and some inches up there. It too came from BWT. The HDPE platform on the radar arch will get replaced with aluminum plate at my first opportunity.

Mostly satisfied with BWY except for the house wiring which is crappy and not to my specs at all.

VHF antenna is a Morad which is the only way most Alaska commercial fishing folk would go.

I'll have more pics up soon.

Gerald Gordon · Post by **Gerald Gordon** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:51 pm

Bought a used Zoom 310S 10' 2" with wood slats. I contacted Zodiac if I could switch to an air floor. No answer yet. Anyway, is 10' 2" too much boat to store/sail on deck? Semi-deflated of course.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

rowing inflatables

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