[C320-list] Newport Inflatable Boats

[Larry Frank]

Thanks all who replied to my question on dinghies.  I have not made a decision yet and you have given me some additional things to consider.

Larry
WindSwept
1995 C320 #246

On 9/28/20, 9:44 AM, "C320-list on behalf of John morrison" <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com on behalf of sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:

    Check out BCI marine.  arobitaille at bcimarine.com. They are a distributor for inflatable boats and they handle such makes as AB; Brig; and Capelli. None of these boats are made in China. They will talk you through the products and advise a dealership where they can be purchased.
    Good Luck
    JohnM; 1999#574
    > On Sep 27, 2020, at 12:53 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
    > 
    > I suspect most if not all of these inflatable dinghies are made somewhere in Asia these days. So the issue is not so much the point of manufacture as it is quality control.
    > 
    > Some distributors – as a former customer, I strongly suspect Costco – just buy dinghies from whoever is making them in China, Vietnam or where ever. The major names – let’s say Achilles, Zodiac and several others – have more at stake and exert quality control over the manufacturers to ensure they don’t get flooded with complaints.
    > 
    > On its web site, Newport has some surprisingly frank background on various types of dinghies, how they are manufactured and what you can expect from them. It is a little biased against Hypalon, or CSM, and understates its quality, but that is to be expected from a PVC dealer.
    > 
    > Jack Brennan
    > Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
    > Tierra Verde, Fl.
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > Sent from Mail for Windows 10
    > 
    > From: Angus Henderson
    > Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2020 12:31 PM
    > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
    > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Newport Inflatable Boats
    > 
    > John, I am looking for a replacement inflatable and would prefer not to buy a Chinese made boat.  You suggest that there are some competively priced alternatives in our arena (southern Ontario).  Can you share some ideas?
    > 
    > Angus
    > Hull 999
    > Georgian Bay
    > 
    >> On Sep 27, 2020, at 11:42 AM, John morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:
    >> 
    >> I have a Walker Bay 270 Hypalon RIB that I bought in 2007. It is a great boat and very safe with the 17” tubes. My only issue is the weight, as the hull is made of some sort of marine plastic. The upside to this is that it is virtually indestructible. I haul this boat ashore on every kind of shoreline imaginable and it stands up to it all. The tubes show no signs of failing yet! If I buy another dink it will have an aluminum hull which is significantly lighter and it’ll be PVC tubes as we only operate 6mo/a year here on lake Ontario. I wouldn’t buy a boat made in China and I know of other Places which make good products for a competitive price.
    >> JohnM; 1999#574
    >>> On Sep 26, 2020, at 3:35 PM, RONALD HODEL <ronandgail2 at me.com> wrote:
    >>> 
    >>> Love my Achilles inflatable floor hypalon. Hypalon if you’re going to be in the sun without chaps I’d say. When we cruised Mexico on our 320 pretty much all the rafts in the sea of Cortez were hypalon (and many had chaps as well.) The Costco rafts sure start showing their wear after a season or 2 if left in the sun out here in sunny Southern California. (So do the west marine rafts.) In my opinion, not that you have to pay full price for things but it does seem you get what you pay for. Hypalon is more persnickety about how it’s repaired, however. 
    >>> 
    >>> Ron
    >>> Lokomaikai #1070
    >>> 
    >>> Sent from my iPhone
    >>> 
    >>>> On Sep 26, 2020, at 12:24 PM, Mark Calisti <mjcalisti at msn.com> wrote:
    >>>> 
    >>>> My 9.6 SeaEagle gave out after nearly 20 years at the start of last season. I was able to keep it that long as we often kept it on the hard protected from the sun just steps from the slip when we had the boat in NJ. Adding davits a few years ago and moving it down to Solomons, MD where it was exposed to the elements day after day, it only lasted a couple of more seasons. I had a cover, but it wasn't suitable enough during those really hot days and its age probably contributed.
    >>>> 
    >>>> Anyhow, back to your question. I bought a Delmar 9.6 for close to $900. I bought it during a sale and maybe received $100-200 off list. Thus far, it is pretty solid although we use it much less than when we were up in NJ. Compared to the SeaEagle, it much more aerodynamic with larger pontoons and I think a bit less beam for a better ride. We have a heavy 6 HP and I have no concerns about the transom strength, although I do remove it and attach to the stanchion when sailing longer distances. What would be nice is if Newport sold a cover that is just for the pontoons. The cover they sell would require cutting holes for the davit and it's a bit difficult to close up a cover like that after each use. I happened to email them today to see if they would add that to their product line.
    >>>> 
    >>>> 
    >>>> Mark Calisti
    >>>> #749
    >>>> Solomons, MD
    >>>> 
    >>>> ________________________________
    >>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com>
    >>>> Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2020 2:43 PM
    >>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
    >>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Newport Inflatable Boats
    >>>> 
    >>>> If you sail year round in or near the tropics, you probably should spring
    >>>> for Hypalon.   If you are up north I guess I'm skeptical that a well made
    >>>> and thoughtfully constructed PVC dink wouldn’t hold up pretty well
    >>>> considering the price difference.
    >>>> 
    >>>> We bought a WM fiberglass bottomed PVC RIB about 4 summers ago and so far
    >>>> I'd give it a B-    My issue isn't the PVC, it's the poorly sealed transom
    >>>> board that the paint is already blistering on and I assume taking on water.
    >>>> Sigh.  Fortunately we paid about 2/3 their normal price during a 4th of
    >>>> July sale.
    >>>> 
    >>>> The Chinese dinks seem to be ok.  I know a lot of folks are buying the
    >>>> Costco highfeilds and seem to be doing ok with them.   If I was using it
    >>>> for an offshore safety boat I’d probably think twice about these soft
    >>>> bottomed knock off dinks.
    >>>> 
    >>>> I guess those really cheap ones are otherwise fine if you don’t mind buying
    >>>> a new dink every five years or so...they are pretty darn cheap.
    >>>> 
    >>>> FWIW
    >>>> 
    >>>> Troy Dunn
    >>>> Hull #514
    >> 
    > 
    >