Hi Edd, We have an inflatable with an aluminium floor. Ours is a SeaBright 290 - 9' 6" long. http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/sd290.html We usually use our spinnaker pole and topping lift as a crane to lift our inflatable out of the water to store it on the foredeck. I hang a block & tackle from the pole to the dinghy to lift it, the same block and tackle we use for man overboard recovery, and also use as a preventer. We put the dinghy on the foredeck if we think it will be too rough to tow it, or if we will be sailing for hours. We put it in the vee berth if we aren't going to use it for some time, like a few days or more.
This is a link to our boat with the dinghy on the foredeck: https://c-c-37-40.blogspot.com/p/salazar.html We use a gas powered outboard, but we use gas with NO ETHANOL (easy to get in Atlantic Canada, just buy premium gas), and I ALWAYS add fuel stabiliser to the fuel (I do that for all my small engines and they give me no trouble). We usually shut the fuel off and run the engine till it quits if we won't be using it for a few days or more. We often don't bother with the outboard and just row, our inflatable rows just fine with two people and some groceries on board. Our inflatable was purchased about 11 years ago from a local vendor who has them made to his specification in China, from high quality european materials. http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/index.html (prices will look a bit high as they are in C$). There are 2 main types of fabric that most inflatable boats out there are made of. The two materials are PVC, and Hypalon. Here's a breakdown of the difference between the two materials: *-- PVC <http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/FAQ.html#Fabric> Vs. <http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/FAQ.html#Fabric>Hypalon <http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/FAQ.html#Fabric> Fabric - What is the difference? <http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/FAQ.html#Fabric>* There are 2 main types of fabric that 99% of the inflatable boats on the planet are made of. They are .... PVC, and Hypalon. At SeaBright Marine we sell both types of boats so you can be sure that we have the boat that is right for you. As is the case with most things there are Pros and Cons to both .... PVC *Pro*--significantly less expensive then Hypalon *Con*-- won't last as long in the direct sunlight as Hypalon before it starts to break down (if left unprotected). *Con*-- does not tolerate gasoline spills as well as Hypalon. Hypalon *Pro*-- will last significantly longer than PVC when exposed to prolonged periods of direct sunlight. *Pro*-- will tolerate fuel spills better than PVC *Con*—significantly more expensive then PVC There is no doubt that PVC fabric won’t last as long as Hypalon fabric if the boat will be subjected to prolonged periods of direct sunlight and no measures have been taken to protect the PVC fabric from the sun (i.e. boat cover or UV spray). After a number of years in direct sunlight the PVC fabric will become sticky. After that it will become crusty and discoloured. Finally it will crack and begin to leak. Here are some things to consider............ *1)* This is not a problem unless your boat is going to be outside and unprotected all summer, every year. If you only use the boat occasionally such as on weekends or while on vacation then it isn't a factor at all. Even if you leave your boat outside all the time the issue can be solved by putting a sun/rain cover on your boat when it isn't in use or by applying a UV protective spray periodically (such as AeroSpace 303 Protectant). Any inflatable boat dealer (including us) can sell you a cover that is designed to fit your boat. If you are willing to take the necessary steps required to protect your PVC boat then you can take advantage of the significantly more attractive pricing points that we are able to offer with our PVC boats. *2)* Keep in mind that the 2 most well known inflatable boats sold in Canada (for legal reasons we cannot name them here) are PVC boats. Both of these dealers also offer Hypalon boats but the vast majority of the boats that they sell are PVC. *3)* Hypalon inflatable boats are significantly more expensive. On average a Hypalon inflatable boat will cost you 50 to 75 percent more than a PVC inflatable boat that is comparable in size and equipment options. However, if the intended use for your boat will involve long periods of exposure to sunshine and if you are not inclined to cover or protect the boat when it isn’t in use then perhaps the added expense associated with a Hypalon boat will make practical sense for you. • Please note that as of 2008 all of our PVC boats are being manufactured with genuine Mehler-Valmex® PVC from Germany. Mehler-Valmex® PVC is widely regarded in the industry as being the premium quality PVC fabric available in the marketplace today, and is the PVC fabric of choice for most high quality inflatable boat companies. • Please note that as of 2008 all of our Hypalon boats are being manufactured with genuine Achilles T10® Hypalon from Japan or genuine Pennel ORCA® Hypalon from France. These 2 Hypalon fabrics are widely regarded in the industry as being the premium quality Hypalon fabrics available in the marketplace today, and are the Hypalon fabrics of choice for most high quality inflatable boat companies. On Fri, 12 Jun 2020 at 12:00, Edd Schillay via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Listers, > > So I’m looking to add a dinghy and motor to the Enterprise to take > advantage of some of the fantastic anchorages in the area (and yes, the > dinghy will be named “Galileo”). But II have some limitations — I don’t > want to install davits on my stern and I have no place at my club to store > the dinghy when not being used. > > Question 1: Does anyone have experience with these roll-up inflatables? > Any recommendations? They appear to be around 50 pounds and fairly easy to > inflate and repack. I see prices ranging from $300 to $1,000. They look to > be very workable and I can stow them in the v-berth when not in use. > > Questions 2: When it comes to a motor, I’d like to avoid a gas engine. I > hear nothing but problems keeping those things running well and I’m no > expert mechanic like Josh. I’m not sure I’d want to shell out the big bucks > for a Torqueedo, but I’d like to know if anyone on the list has experience > with other electrics or propane outboards. I want lightweight and I don’t > need speed — just something t get me to a beach. > > Thanks all! > > All the best, > > Edd > > > Edd M. Schillay > Captain of the Starship Enterprise > C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B > Venice Yacht Club | Venice Island, FL > > Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> > > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - > use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > -- Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin S/V Salazar - Can 54955 C&C 37/40 XL - Hull # 67 Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia C&C 37/40 XL Salazar <https://c-c-37-40.blogspot.com/p/salazar.html> -- "Nice? It's the only thing," said the Water Rat Solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." "Simply messing...about in boats -- or with boats... In or out of 'em it doesn't matter. Nothing seems to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
