Is this a good idea?

[Kharon]

I'm thinking about selling my 12 foot aluminum row boat and trailor, keeping the Evenrude engine and buying a Zodiac. Can't dive from the row boat but think I could from a Zodiac. If I'm carefull I think I could fish from it too.

Any opinions? Do they have to be always inflated or can they be uninflated for transport and between uses? Any other considerations that I should know about

 

[Nemrod]

Hmmm, good idea or not, yes you can dive from a quality inflatable like Zodiac or several other "real" inflatable boat brands. Nothing from a department store, no way.

Cannot answer your fishing question, I have fished and caught fish and dived many times from my Novurana Cancura, which is about 14 feet and variously with 25 and 35 horsepower engines. Have run as much as 12 miles offshore, back when I was younger and dumber. But, a good inflatable is going to run a few more dollars than an old aluminum row boat and I doubt the old Evinrude is designed for saltwater use, if that is the intended use.

I prefer boats with DuPont Hypalon construction. Boats with a solid fiberglass bottom cannot be rolled up but they can be deflated. You want a boat that will roll up or break down. Something like this:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/inflatable-boats/soft-bottom/heavy-duty/

N

 

[captain]

I don't know what the cost but I would take a look at them. They aren't toys.

P Series fully inflatable polyurethane boats | Wing® Inflatables

 

[smellzlikefish]

Those wing inflatables look intriguing, but they don't mention how that polyurethane coating stands up to UV compared to PVC and Hypalon.

 

[WickedGoodOutdoors]

Why cant you dive from a 12 ft Alum row boat?

I did so many years before I could afford a bigger boat.

 

[nimoh]

I have been diving on my friend's Zodiac a few times, and it is a great small boat to dive from. In particular, gearing up while sitting on the side is very comfortable. I am not sure of the overall size of his boat, but 4 of us dove off it in steel doubles a few weeks ago, and this was about the max capacity for the boat. We had enough room to gear up one at a time, but the ride out was very slow due to the weight.

 

[captain]

Those wing inflatables look intriguing, but they don't mention how that polyurethane coating stands up to UV compared to PVC and Hypalon.

Polyurethane is the primary component of all top of the line automotive and marine paints. It is literally the clear coat on automobiles. I would say it out performs both PVC and Hypalon.

 

[DennisS]

---------- Post Merged at 10:43 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:39 AM ----------

I used a 12 foot achilles with an evinrude 25 hp for years. It had the wooden floor. I had a rack on the back of the RV bumper where I kept it while traveling. It had the good aluminum wide tire assembly, not the little plastic assembly for moving it. I originally had the small plastic wheels but they were worthless in sand or rough ramps. A 12 ft is crowded with two people and gear, I don't recommend dual purpose fishing/diving trips. They are great boats for running around fishing, just make sure you don't lose any hooks inside the boat.

It was the most troublefree and cheapest boating I ever did. I think I paid $1500 new for the achilles boat and $1500 for the motor, that was a few years ago. I sold the inflatable and kept the motor. I now have a 25 ft dual 4 cylinder inboard dive boat, I spend more time working on the boat than I do diving from it.