MacGregorSailors.com

Is anyone familiar with Aquastar inflatable boats? I having been pricing boats on the internet and came accross this one 8'9" at a good price
Can$769 shipping included.
It is described as "roll-up". The ad doesn't say where it is made, but I suspect it may be China, as North American made boats are almost double the price.
Is it a worthwile buy?
the link is: http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/ ... s270r.html

ooops! price is US$769, not Can$769. Still. it is a good price when shipping included.

Fabric is only PVC, Hypalon is the better material. A high pressure air floor is likely a better performer and easier to handle. Lots of boats in that price range. I would at least get a HP air floor. and if tropical or heavy usage is anticipated, hypalon might be worth the money.

http://www.allinflatables.com/suppliers/index.html

Craig,
I am not finding Hypalon boats in that size and price range. Point me in the right direction please.

I had been considering a Mercury Airdeck (Bustermarine.com) but they are more money than the above. You are correct, at least as far as I have heard from the Marina/Harbor concerning roll-ups. The preferred is a hard floor, either wooden (heavier) or airdeck (@ more money) ...

I'll be tackling this one come springtime also.

Rob Roy, did you check to see if that free shipping offer includes Canada? My past experience is they usually do not, so check first. I recall your Ontario or points east, but how close to the US border are you? I'm quite close, and there are businesses just south (US side) of the border crossings out here that do brisk business as shipping drop box addresses for cdn clients. In my case, it's often way better $ wise for me to use them as my ship to address, take the 20 min (ea. way) trip and pick it up myself. The one I use charges me $4 usd to collect my package and then I deal with customs (taxes, duty) myself. Considering having *anything* shipped adds a minimum of $7 customs handling fee, extra time (often days), and extra shipping $ (always quoted in USD). I'll also try to time my next gas fill up with the trip (right now Vanc. prices are around $1.07/litre vs $0.70/l over the border) and treat it like a Sunday drive.

Regards,
Shane

Don't know how close you are, but to check out dinghies see the Toronto Boat Show. Starts this week

Filled up the Avalanche at CAN$ 0.715 in Whitby, Ontario last night.

A few of us here have purchased from affordable inflatables on ebay. http://myworld.ebay.com/affordableinflatable/ You can usually do better in pricing on an auction or making an offer rather than buy it now (I think I paid $533 for an 8.5 with air floor).

Definitely go with an air floor rather than wood as they are much easier to set-up and stow.

The Aquastar ad. says free shipping to US and Canada. I checked Ebay today and found this one listed in Canada. Similar price, wooden floor, but not Hypalon.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/9-8-INFLATABLE-FISHI ... dZViewItem

It is longer than the Aquastar and price works out about the same. It has the advantage of not extra croos-border charges.

I only did a quick look and found lots of boats with hi pressure air floors. Seems to add about 100 or so dollars to the price. I would think this is well worth the money.

Hypalon will of course cost much more. I was saying that hypalon might be the better answer if you are in a tropical location or if you plan to use and expose the boat to the elements a lot.

I never bought a real dingy yet. Just have an inflatable kayak that I use occasionally, so others experience would be better heeded.

1-1/2 years ago.....

$433 for the 8.5 ft, air floor, ir run a 4 hp johnson on it,

well built, portable, and fits on the bow of the mac perfectly, and I can still use the roller furler.

up here, solar is not the issue, handling is. both types (hypalon and PVC) coatings are basicly on polyester fabric. (in the under 2500 price range).

which would you rather loose with a snapped painter..........PVC or Hypalon........... you can buy 4 PVC for the cost of 1 hypalon, and hte hypalon will not last 4 tiems longer, and it will be heavier.

Waternwaves,

SOunds like a really good deal. What make and model? still available for a reasonable price?

Thanks

Rob Roy Macgregor wrote:The Aquastar ad. says free shipping to US and Canada.
I checked Ebay today and found this one listed in Canada. Similar price, wooden floor, but not Hypalon.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/9-8-INFLATABLE-FISHI ... dZViewItem
It is longer than the Aquastar and price works out about the same. It has the advantage of not extra croos-border charges.

I've owned both wood floor and the now have the air floor. With the air floor I can inflate and set-up the dinghy by myself on the bow of the M with an electric pump in about 5-10 minutes. The wood floor requires a flat surface, the dexterity of a monkey, and skinned knuckles to set-up.

I highly recommend an air floor. I had a slat wood floor in our previous dinghy and it was a pain. Not very stiff and we would sometimes break slats. I would never get a full wood floor as it is too hard to store and assemble on our small boats. You want to be able to travel without towing the dinghy which will take 1 knot to 3 knots(with motor on) off your speed. Then you want to easily inflate it onboard when anchored without a dock or land available.

I bought our Maxxon airfloor 10' inflatable locally for the same price as on the web, $999. It's a PVC inflatable made in China and has been a great boat. In the north there are not UV issues so having hypalon is not necessary. PVC is just as rugged, it's just not as good in the high UV rays of the low lattitudes. If your like me this is even less of an issue as the boat is only exposed when we're out cruising and is in the shed the rest of it's life. It's leaving the dinghy sitting on the dock broiling in the sun day after day without protection that kills them.

The Maxxon will plane at 15mph even with all 5 of us on board using our 6hp motor. You do have to get all the weight forward for a time to get out of the hole, but then it skips along on the surface just great.

The air floor is quite stiff if you get it inflated to the required 7-8lbs pressure. This CANNOT be done with the standard foot pump they supplied. I use a special electric pump that has a low pressure and a high pressure mode. You just dial up the pressure you want and it fills to that pressure then shuts off. I put 3 lbs in all the other tubes and 7 lbs in the floor. They do make a foot pump with a 2nd high pressure stage but the electric is so much easier.

We store the dinghy rolled up across the forward windows. It can be unrolled and inflated on the bow in 5 minutes with the electric pump.

As many articles I read when shopping said, get the biggest you can afford and store. You will not regret having purchased a larger dinghy.

Ssichler,

I’m assuming that you are referring to the “Baltic Boats”? If so, what’s your honest opinion of the product. Would you buy another one? I am looking at the same ones 8.5’ with the air floor.

Thanks,
Harrison

Harrison wrote:Ssichler,

I’m assuming that you are referring to the “Baltic Boats”? If so, what’s your honest opinion of the product. Would you buy another one? I am looking at the same ones 8.5’ with the air floor.

Thanks,
Harrison

Yes that's the boat I have. I think the quality is very good and would definitely buy another one.