Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

[optium]

I'm a newbie of boating, wanna purchasing a Zodiac boat, but I can not figure out the difference among the Zoom, Cadet, Typhoon. I was told that the wooden floor is easy to be dameged by salt water or be cracked by treaded. I can not find aluminum floor in the above types. And the air floor is enough light to me to lift it to the car roof, I pretty like this type, but I still worry about it's stablility and the direction controlling. So maybe someone would give me some advice. (I have 4 persons (2+2), so the 260 size is perfect.)

 

[emoney]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

I'm not a fan of air-floor systems, personally. I just don't think you can safely maneuver around the craft with them. I've had my small, 8' plywood floor dinghy for a long time and it's still holding up having spent it's entire life in salt-water. Having said that, it's always been a "dinghy" so it's not getting constant, daily-type use. It's a "roll-up" type floor system with a front-hinged piece of plywood on top that I paint with floor paint.

Of course, aluminum floor, or even the fiberglass solid hull-type units are better, but quite a bit more expensive. Have you gone to "zodiacmarineusa.com" to look at the differences in the models? They've got a pretty good website that shows the specs on each model in the line-up. Basically, a lot of the differences are in thickness of material, material type, floor type, etc. The Zoom is their "entry-level" boat while the Typhoon is a Bombadier vs. Zodiac and the Cadet is probably the biggest seller with a bunch of different floor options.

 

[optium]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

Thank emoney for your useful reply. By your experience,I'm now accept the wooden floor, but I tend to dry the board every time after using the boat. I have gone to the website zodiacmarineusa and compared the material of the three type, cadet use "StronganTM DuotexTM 2 x 1100 decitex fabric", while typhoon and zoom use "1100 decitex material". So cadet is most tough among them. I still can't understand why typhoon is called bombard, so I don't know which type is better for me, Typhoon or cadet? There is a link to Costo selling typhoon 310s.
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product...g=en-CA&Sp=C&ec=BCCA-EC20646-Cat20525&topnav=

and there is another link to sell Cadet 340s.
http://inflatableboats.iboats.com/Z...on_id.644959225--store_id.370--view_id.853646

I am hesitated....

Thank you again.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

Why do you need to buy a Zodiac brand inflatable, there are other brands around that size & price with alum floorboards and all recreational sibs using Strongan, PVC are 0.9mm.

Happy Boating

 

[optium]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

Would you please recommend such a brand? I'm glad to know more. Thanks.

Why do you need to buy a Zodiac brand inflatable, there are other brands around that size & price with alum floorboards and all recreational sibs using Strongan, PVC are 0.9mm.

Happy Boating

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

Could check Mercury Inflatables, Saturn Inflatables around 330-340 mt or bit large if you preffer, should stand well for their warranties.

Happy Boating

 

[Mlmg]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

I went thru this process a few months ago, ended buying a 340 Cadet solid floor. For my 1st boat I wanted a zodiac or mercury because of the warranty station, either brand is serviced by a local marine. I have heard good things about Saturn but the limited warranty (2 years vs Zodiacs and Mercury's 5 years)and the closest warranty station being 2 and 1/2 hours away scared me away. Didn't want this for my 1st boat.

 

[Peter_C]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

I don't follow which boat is the best, because for me it is the cheapest, or in my case, barter.

This thread might have some info for you. I haven't read it though.
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/what-inflatable-would-you-recommend-49791.html

What about a West Marine boat? Often they have sales, and the store manager might be able to work an even better deal, especially if they have it in stock. In the next month or so as boating season winds down there will be some good deals available for most all manufacturers and retailers.

 

[optium]

Re: Need advice of purchasing Zodiac inflatable boat

Thank you guys. As a newbie, I learned much by the above clue. Zodiac and Mercury may be on the top position in inflatable, also conveniently to buy and post sale service, but the alum floor of both are too expensive to a first time buyer. Air floor is not so easy to operate as rigid bottom boat, so I'm now considering slate floor or alum floor(fiberglass is the best but too expensive). I checked a little more, and find Coleman 900xs seemed perfect to me. http://colemanpowered.com/en/9-inflateable-boat.html
Length 8’8”
Width 60”
Tube Diameter 16.5”
Air Chambers 3
Capacity 3 People, 880 lbs
Oars 65” (2 incl.)
Weight 69 lbs
HP Rating 5 HP
Material Thickness .90mm
Material Composition 1000 denier, 3 ply polyester mesh
Seat Composition Marine Plywood
Floorboard Composition Aluminum

Is there anyone used it? Could you give some reviews and advice?
Many thanks!