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Post by NigeL on Jul 23, 2010 18:11:46 GMT 1
Actually direct copy of the "Spetznaz" dinghy .... that's Russian Special Forces. Light enough 1 person can carry whether inflated or not ... Holds 2 on seats or 4 where 2 are on tubes. Price ? $100 .... with oars, pump, seats, carry bag and a repair kit ! Length 2.5m Only downer is the floor is fabric and needs slats or ply to firm up. But of course that then puts it outside 'Spetznaz' use !! Out of bag :  Threaded valves with auto seals :  2 tube inflation :  Up ready to use :  Yours truly :  Excellent value - only thing is not suited for engine .... |
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Post by ggt on Jul 24, 2010 8:58:32 GMT 1
That looks great.
I've spent the last 9 months wondering what to get as a small tender come get-ashore come go-exploring boat, oscillating between an inflatable, hard dinghy and a very small kayak, and that seems to fit the bill more than most.
Are you going to carry it round on SA when you're out cruising?
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Post by NigeL on Jul 24, 2010 9:41:27 GMT 1
That looks great. I've spent the last 9 months wondering what to get as a small tender come get-ashore come go-exploring boat, oscillating between an inflatable, hard dinghy and a very small kayak, and that seems to fit the bill more than most. Are you going to carry it round on SA when you're out cruising? I have an old Avon Redcrest on SA ... basically because I can fit a small outboard ... This russian job was bought to carry on my race boat in Tallinn ... when I sold the boat, I kept the dinghy as a back-up spare ... the Avon is pretty old .. |
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Post by NigeL on Jul 24, 2010 9:43:56 GMT 1
That looks great. I've spent the last 9 months wondering what to get as a small tender come get-ashore come go-exploring boat, oscillating between an inflatable, hard dinghy and a very small kayak, and that seems to fit the bill more than most. Are you going to carry it round on SA when you're out cruising? On Ebay - you can get the inflatable sport boats ... usually German jobs that are made for river / lake fisherman. I know of two guys out here with them and they are actually very good. The floor is like a Lilo style - inflated ribs so stiffens it up nicely. They take electric outboards and price is well below that of a conventional inflatable. |
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Post by ggt on Jul 24, 2010 11:19:50 GMT 1
On Ebay - you can get the inflatable sport boats ... usually German jobs that are made for river / lake fisherman. I know of two guys out here with them and they are actually very good. The floor is like a Lilo style - inflated ribs so stiffens it up nicely. They take electric outboards and price is well below that of a conventional inflatable. Yep, I think I know the ones you mean; Navigator III and similar. I'm also taken with the Intex Seahawk II which is less of a toy than it looks or its £110-ish ebay price tag suggests. It also bears some resemblence to your Special Forces special! One of these is probably the best bet but I don't fancy them in wind or against the tide and they'd not be suitable for one ambition which involves a mile and a half up a horribly shallow river against the ebb for which I really need a kayak. Oddly, I've dithered so long that the kayak world has been catching me up and there are now at least three sit-on-tops on the market around 8ft or 8ft6 LOA and sub 18kg which means I should be able to pick one up and stash it on-board without it being in the way. Not very good for the boat-to-tender transfer bit and 3x the price though... |
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Post by NigeL on Jul 24, 2010 13:12:53 GMT 1
Biggest problem with inflatables are the oars. They are like the dinghy designed to pack into similar space. First thing is to put them away in the store for later if you sell dinghy. What you do is get a standard pair of oars for a rigid pram dinghy ... longer and better blade.
Rowing then takes on another world as suddenly you can row near enough like a fixed dinghy ... especially if you have an inflatable with the keel.
No Inflatable is any good against wind / tide ... I wouldn't even fancy rowing that in any dinghy to be honest. That's why I advocate the engine .........
At Hillhead Club years ago when I was there - one member had a 'Beach-Toy' dinghy ...... served him well for small closed harbour, he even used it to sort his to shore at Priory bay BBQ's etc. Trick then is to paddle .. not row. People made comments as they do ... but he ignored them and never had any trouble with it.
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Post by searush on Jul 27, 2010 20:47:36 GMT 1
Is it bullet-proof, Nigel?
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Post by NigeL on Jul 28, 2010 7:22:31 GMT 1
Is it bullet-proof, Nigel? ;D |
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Post by ggt on Jul 28, 2010 23:36:46 GMT 1
Is it bullet-proof, Nigel? ;D Not if you shoot it with rubber bullets  |
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