Inflatable Boats, Dinghy, Dinghies, Yacht Tenders, Boat Lifts & Davits

PAGE 1 Questions & Answers

Q 9: What material is best for inflatable boats?

A: Hypalon has been the long term "best" material for inflatable boats. The industry has been reducing the thickness and actual Hypalon content to the point a boat that claims to be of Hypalon has a very small amount in the actual fabric and is really using a coating of Hypalon and some use of "high tenacity basic textile" and neoprene to limit air leaks. Of course, there are all sorts of adhesives and "overlapping seams" that supposedly prevent seam failures and air leaks. Oh, I almost forgot, all rigid hull inflatables have separate air chambers just in case one gets punctured to "maximize" your safety! I personally believe inflatables are inherently dangerous and become totally inoperative when one hull chamber is punctured. Think about it, if one hull deflates your boat becomes something you hang on to hoping some one will come by and save you. How is that so safe? I will take my Rigid Boat any day over some oversold balloon.

Q 10: I don't have a way to take my dinghy with me unless I can deflate it and store it in the cockpit. I guess a Rigid Boat dinghy is out of the question.

A: I suggest you consider one of several boat lifts or dinghy davits available from Jatco Marine. They are innovative and are available in all types to work with any boat large or small. Visit Jatco Marine. We have developed a swim platform boat lift from Jatco exclusively for Rigid Boats that works with any vessel with a secure swim platform. This makes the whole process of launching, retrieving and transporting your Rigid Boat simple, safe and efficient. You can launch your Rigid Boat in seconds for that spontaneous evening cruise and retrieve her in 2 minutes after the cruise. No pumping up a rubber boat, no balancing of the motor while trying to hang it on the transom of the dinghy, no finding of the life jackets and other safety equipment and no putting up with a toy boat that can barely make headway in a current that soaks all passengers when the first wave comes by.

Q 11: I need storage in a dingy. My inflatable RIB does not have any. I am constantly tripping over life jackets, pumps, anchors and lines. I even have the fuel tank for my outboard exposed. My passengers are very uncomfortable even though I simply deal with the inconvenience.

A: WOW! You have really learned the hard way about inflatables! The Rigid Boat design utilizes the tube and "V" hull design to maximize storage. The tubes are, guess what, used for storage instead of pressurized air. The Rigid Boat has dry storage room for all necessary items plus those personal items passengers always want to bring aboard. The tubes are flat on the inside gunwales providing several extra inches of space in the width making your passengers even more comfortable. The fuel tank is inside of it's own compartment and the fuel line runs inside one of the tubes to the transom, through a hull boot to the motor. Even you, the Captain, won't have to "deal" with it any longer. Oh! by the way the storage compartments are lockable.

Q 12: How does a Rigid Boat perform as opposed to an inflatable RIB?

A: I first tried a Rigid Boat by purchasing a 10'4" yachtsman and a 15 HP Yamaha. I ran it around for 25 minutes or so and was astonished at the performance. I then added the Dolphin Fin to the outboard and was even more pleased. This is a real boat. It tracks straight, is dry, handles chop very well and is rock stable. I don't believe you will find a RIB in this size class that handles as well, keeps you dry and planes so easily.

Q 13: Since the Rigid Boat has a hard body, what happens when it rubs against my boat?