Jets require more HP for the same results, and get worse gas mileage. They
generally don't make sense in the ocean.
generally don't make sense in the ocean.
Will this boat work? And additional questions.
- Thread starter BeachJunkie
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Let me ask, why do you want an inflatable?
We had a blast with ours and they are a lot more capable than most understand, frankly, I am not sure between my 19 Boston Whaler Outrage and my 14 foot Cancuro which I would rather be in if a blow came up. Both are unsinkable, both can still capsize, uh, on second though, we are going with the little Whaler, nonetheless we have had the Cancuro out miles and miles before there was even a such thing as a GPS. We used to hide out in the bushes and when the charters took out we followed them, sneaky like. I have fortunately managed to stay out of really serious blows but of the few I have been in the little Cancuro bobbed like a cork with my wife screaming bloody murder at me. We were young then and fearless, I am much more cautious now. We flew our single engine airplane to the Bahamas straight through that stupid Bermuda Triangle, without GPS (cause there were none) and without anything but dead reckoning and a compass. I would at least have to have a map nowadays, lol.
N
Let me ask, why do you want an inflatable?
We had a blast with ours and they are a lot more capable than most understand, frankly, I am not sure between my 19 Boston Whaler Outrage and my 14 foot Cancuro which I would rather be in if a blow came up. Both are unsinkable, both can still capsize, uh, on second though, we are going with the little Whaler, nonetheless we have had the Cancuro out miles and miles before there was even a such thing as a GPS. We used to hide out in the bushes and when the charters took out we followed them, sneaky like. I have fortunately managed to stay out of really serious blows but of the few I have been in the little Cancuro bobbed like a cork with my wife screaming bloody murder at me. We were young then and fearless, I am much more cautious now. We flew our single engine airplane to the Bahamas straight through that stupid Bermuda Triangle, without GPS (cause there were none) and without anything but dead reckoning and a compass. I would at least have to have a map nowadays, lol.
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OP
BeachJunkie
Contributor
Well the reason I was looking for a inflatable was because I'm not sure I'll be able to afford a slip and didn't really want to have to get a very large vehicle to pull a heavier boat. Also, depending on where I live, I may not be able to store/park a boat and would have to deflate and roll the boat up. Take it back out on weekends and things like that. I would love to get a place that has its own slip but I'm not back in the states yet to really look into it. I would absolutely LOVE to get a 19' cc whaler like yours. Its exactly what I would be looking for. However the price tag would more than likely be much higher than I could afford. I also figured that the maintenance costs of an inflatable would be infinitely cheaper. My knkowledge of boats is failry limited and short of leaking air, there aren't many problems that I would have to worry about. I looked on boat trader and found a number of older center console boats and others that would make decent dive platforms that would fit my budget. But I don't want to put 10,000 dollars into a boat that I can't afford to maintain or have to sink an additional 10k into just to get into working order. If you have suggestions on glass boats or anything that would fit my needs please let me know.
I'm looking to spend 10k or less. Prefferably around 6-8. Enough for 2 divers or possibly 4. And can be pulled by a mid range truck or suv. The distances wouldn't be too far as I'll be living on key west. I wouldn't mind taking it up to key largo though for longer weekend trips if possible. Thanks again for all the info!
I'm looking to spend 10k or less. Prefferably around 6-8. Enough for 2 divers or possibly 4. And can be pulled by a mid range truck or suv. The distances wouldn't be too far as I'll be living on key west. I wouldn't mind taking it up to key largo though for longer weekend trips if possible. Thanks again for all the info!
spoolin01
Contributor
I'll toss in a couple of comments from my experience. I dive 3 people (1 tank) or 2 (2 tanks) from a 10 ft PVC airfloor inflatable with a 2-stroke 15HP motor. That motor will plane the boat, but that weight's about the limit of what the boat can handle and we dive within 1/4 to 3 miles of launch, within swimming distance of shore. Advantages: boat and motor each weigh <<100 lbs and boat folds into a smallish roll for easy transport, no trailer needed.
I also have a couple of 14 ft inflatables (one PVC, one Hypalon), with aluminum sectional floors. You can easily float 4 guys with gear for one dive. The hard(er) floor makes these better boats, but don't kid yourself, you're not going to like running 10 miles to the reef in any flat bottom boat, much of the time, especially if at all loaded down. Haven't owned a RIB, but they're bound to be better riding boats, and a lot of divers like them. My advice would be to keep it simple with tiller steering - no helm to waste interior space - but that's a personal preference. Oh yeah, I have a 40 HP fuel-injected Nissan 2-stroke that's plenty of motor for these boats, but I wouldn't go smaller. Nissan/Tohatsu motors are top quality but not common in some areas.
With inflatables Sun/Heat = Death, so keep the boat under a stand-off cover whenever possible. This will bring flames, but in my limited experience, PVC will last longer than Hypalon if you don't have to store it out in the direct sun. There's a reason you get longer hull warranties on PVC boats than on Hypalon ones (this used to be true, haven't checked in a few years). The Hypalon fabric is more sun-tolerant, but the really key factor is that the glue isn't, and every seam in a Hypalon boat tube is glued. In a PVC boat, only the floor and transom are glued in, the hull seams are welded. My PVC Zodiac is 25 years old and there's not a curled edge or leak in any welded seam anywhere, truly permanent seams. The glued transom and floor however, have fallen out. My Hypalon Achilles is only 19 or so but lived many years out in the sun. Many seams are going, one night anchored in calm seas with the motor up pulled the transom loose, and the Hypalon fabric is delaminating everywhere. Sun and time are not kind to either fabric. Since I don't live in the tropics, I'll be buying another PVC boat this winter. Hypalon is reportedly more abrasion resistant, but PVC is plenty strong and tough. We have rocks here, not coral, and my PVC boats hold up fine.
Last bit - unless you're going to run the boat lightly loaded, get the dealer to swap the stock prop on your new motor for one with smaller pitch. 40 or 50HP doesn't make a rocket sled if there's any weight, and motors are usually sold over-propped for real world use. You won't miss the top-end on the ocean. Get a portable depth finder, handheld GPS, EPIRB/Personal Locator Beacon, first aid kit, dry box/bag, anchor, and drift line and you're ready to go. (Not really, there's more to it, so do some reading and learn from experienced boaters)
I also have a couple of 14 ft inflatables (one PVC, one Hypalon), with aluminum sectional floors. You can easily float 4 guys with gear for one dive. The hard(er) floor makes these better boats, but don't kid yourself, you're not going to like running 10 miles to the reef in any flat bottom boat, much of the time, especially if at all loaded down. Haven't owned a RIB, but they're bound to be better riding boats, and a lot of divers like them. My advice would be to keep it simple with tiller steering - no helm to waste interior space - but that's a personal preference. Oh yeah, I have a 40 HP fuel-injected Nissan 2-stroke that's plenty of motor for these boats, but I wouldn't go smaller. Nissan/Tohatsu motors are top quality but not common in some areas.
With inflatables Sun/Heat = Death, so keep the boat under a stand-off cover whenever possible. This will bring flames, but in my limited experience, PVC will last longer than Hypalon if you don't have to store it out in the direct sun. There's a reason you get longer hull warranties on PVC boats than on Hypalon ones (this used to be true, haven't checked in a few years). The Hypalon fabric is more sun-tolerant, but the really key factor is that the glue isn't, and every seam in a Hypalon boat tube is glued. In a PVC boat, only the floor and transom are glued in, the hull seams are welded. My PVC Zodiac is 25 years old and there's not a curled edge or leak in any welded seam anywhere, truly permanent seams. The glued transom and floor however, have fallen out. My Hypalon Achilles is only 19 or so but lived many years out in the sun. Many seams are going, one night anchored in calm seas with the motor up pulled the transom loose, and the Hypalon fabric is delaminating everywhere. Sun and time are not kind to either fabric. Since I don't live in the tropics, I'll be buying another PVC boat this winter. Hypalon is reportedly more abrasion resistant, but PVC is plenty strong and tough. We have rocks here, not coral, and my PVC boats hold up fine.
Last bit - unless you're going to run the boat lightly loaded, get the dealer to swap the stock prop on your new motor for one with smaller pitch. 40 or 50HP doesn't make a rocket sled if there's any weight, and motors are usually sold over-propped for real world use. You won't miss the top-end on the ocean. Get a portable depth finder, handheld GPS, EPIRB/Personal Locator Beacon, first aid kit, dry box/bag, anchor, and drift line and you're ready to go. (Not really, there's more to it, so do some reading and learn from experienced boaters)
Inflatable Boat Specialists - Bombard Commando
Zodiac Marine USA - The Zodiac range - Diaporama Futura
My Cancuro is not flat bottomed, it has a wooden keel beam which holds the bottom in a V shape and provides lengthwise rigidity and wave cutting ability. I have run many miles in this boat. True, what the fellow above said, they can be bouncy, lol, pick your days for smooth water.
It rolled up in the back of our VW Vanagon and away we went. Later I put it on a trailer.
The boat market is in freefall right now with a huge selection of both new and used boats at dirt prices. It is a buyers market, shop wisely. I see nothing wrong with your plan.
Bouncy, well, let's see, my BW and sorry, I am not advocating only Whaler but I don't happen to have the hull weight for anything other, my 19 footer weighs 2100 pounds bare hull empty, my Cancuro I can just about pick up, actually I guess I can pick it up, sorta, once upon a time. Obviously a 2100 pound boat is going to ride better than one you can pick up. Trust me, the Whaler does not budge a nanometer when I try to lift it.
You will need transom wheels for your boat.
N
Zodiac Marine USA - The Zodiac range - Diaporama Futura
My Cancuro is not flat bottomed, it has a wooden keel beam which holds the bottom in a V shape and provides lengthwise rigidity and wave cutting ability. I have run many miles in this boat. True, what the fellow above said, they can be bouncy, lol, pick your days for smooth water.
It rolled up in the back of our VW Vanagon and away we went. Later I put it on a trailer.
The boat market is in freefall right now with a huge selection of both new and used boats at dirt prices. It is a buyers market, shop wisely. I see nothing wrong with your plan.
Bouncy, well, let's see, my BW and sorry, I am not advocating only Whaler but I don't happen to have the hull weight for anything other, my 19 footer weighs 2100 pounds bare hull empty, my Cancuro I can just about pick up, actually I guess I can pick it up, sorta, once upon a time. Obviously a 2100 pound boat is going to ride better than one you can pick up. Trust me, the Whaler does not budge a nanometer when I try to lift it.
You will need transom wheels for your boat.
N
OP
BeachJunkie
Contributor
I've pretty much narrowed it down to a bare bones style zodiac. I don't need the console or anything like that, as nice as they would be. I think it just takes up too much space. How would I go about registering a boat like this and what, if any, insurance do I need to keep on it? This is another reason for wanting a smaller, inflatable boat. I'll be a college student when I get out and want to maximize my diving options while minimizing my monthly bill figures. I'll try and google the "additional items" that I'll need like running lights and electronics. I'll chime back in if I have questions about those. Thanks again
Registration is just like with any boat, you will either paint the numbers on or use the glue on type or the quasi legal method I used which was to affix the registration numbers and decals to a removal plate which I attached with zip ties to the gunwale ropes.
You may not need a bottom machine, you might be able to do with a hand held GPS like the Magellan unit on sale at Wal Mart now for under 200 dollars that accepts map chips.
We never had any kind of hull insurance on our Cancuro, you know, for some things insurance may not be smart, the amount you pay over a few years exceeds the value of the object insured.
N
You may not need a bottom machine, you might be able to do with a hand held GPS like the Magellan unit on sale at Wal Mart now for under 200 dollars that accepts map chips.
We never had any kind of hull insurance on our Cancuro, you know, for some things insurance may not be smart, the amount you pay over a few years exceeds the value of the object insured.
N
OP
BeachJunkie
Contributor
Do the magellan type gps units work for getting lat/longs on the ocean? Would I be better off buying a used marine gps from ebay or can you download the maps for the easier handheld units? Thanks for the info. I didn't really think about the insurance thing. I thought it was required like it was for cars. I guess it wouldn't really make sense to pay 80 bucks a month for something that only cost 5 grand. Thanks again for all the help Nemrod!
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The Lowrance H20 will accept marine mapping charts as an example, there are others that can also. Yes, you can program in the lat/long for a dive site or a wreck or a published number and navigate straight to it, drop anchor and usually, with a touch of skill, set the anchor on the very spot--all without a bottom machine. Of course a sonar or a side scanner like I use lets me look for structure or oddities that are not on charts etc and on large wrecks or structure I can locate the best places instead of the "generic" center if you follow my drift. In any case, a good hand held GPS is useful even after you get a combo bottom machine. I use my Magellan handheld and often set anchor coordinates or mark objects with it while using my combo sonar/GPS to continue viewing the bottom or holding a different Go To. Imagine a large wreck, you can set the stern coordinates on one and the bow on the other and then set anchor between them.
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NOVIZWHIZ
Contributor
I agree - jet drives are very inefficient - have to get a lot more horsepower for the power you want. I dive out of a 15 ft Scout w/ 50hp 4 stroke Yamaha and a 21 ft pontoon boat w/ 50 hp Evinrude - don't like Mercs, know people who swear by them...know people who swear at them.....never had any luck with them myself, personal thing. never dove out of an inflatable...but then there are people who dive out of kayaks.....
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