Tinny vs Inflateable Zodiac style

[jamcconnel]

HI, I'am keen on getting a small boat suitable for myself and my partner, to be set up primarily for fishing some esturies as well as inshore moreton, however as we have a camper trailer and love camping, were looking for something carriable ontop, and for lifting by hand to launch... Would a inflateable 2.8-3.8mtr with a 15hp be suitable and how do they fish, can they be setup for fishing... or for the same money would a dingy 12ft be better, just looking for as much help as possible, sincerely lost - cause fishing goes great with camping? a boat just an added adventure......

Secondly how well do inflateables handle in topsy turvie choppy seas... ???


Regards
The Preston Family

[BaitThrower]

Never owned an inflatable so cannot say, but if you look around long enough, you will rarely see people fishing from inflatables, instead, they are using them more for transport or to take small boat trips... There has to be a reason for that? Maybe hooks and inflatables don't match?

[on-one]

Inflatables are great - but like any boat there are advantages and disadvantages, they're a lot more stable and comfortable than a similar size tiny, but they are a more fragile, need more power and cost a lot more. I've never had a problem with hooks but the sun knocks them around so you'd want to store it indoors. As for handling choppy seas, I've never seen surf lifesavers using a tiny.

[moater]

I'd be looking at one of the Ocean Craft/Ocean cylinder aluminium boats of around 3 metres. Great boats from what I've heard and I wanted to buy a bigger one of about 4 or so metres but couldn't afford it at the time.Basically it's an alloy 'pontoon' craft and I wanted one to go out into Bass Strait down here in Vic...I think I'll be OK with my Sea Jay 4.55 Magnum though-once I get it set up!...won't be going out into the open water as readily as I'd like though.

Darren

[crossy]

car topper tinnies are a good option. only need up 10hp to move along, dont forget the bigger the motor the heavier it is to carry around. i would recomend a small tinnie to a RHIB. Inflatables cost alot more aswell. If its just you and the missus id be swaying towards a tinnie. but thats just my opinion.

Yours aye
crossy

[rodnreal]

Get a tinnie and a boat loader fitted to your Camper Trailer and then the Mrs can load it for you. LOL

[oldboot]

One other option is a big canoe.......... the coleman scanoe realy grabs my eye.

rated for up to 5Hp, very seriuos conoe

less power required.

square on the end and longer.... therefore easier to get on top.
has all the floatation & is very stable for a canoe.

I don't think the inflatable is a go

cheers

[nautilus]

I have had two inflatables, the first was about 5m with a 40hp - fully inflatable, my current one is 5.3m with a 90hp and is a RIB (fiberglass hull with inflatable tubes). For rough weather, you would be hard pressed to find a safer boat. The number of times my old man has totally swamped both boats and come out ok would amaze you. On one occasion there was so much water in the boat that the petrol take floated out and was only connected by the hose! Problems that we have encountered are fish spines. You do not want any spiky fish anywhere near inflatable boats. Hooks, surprisingly are not too much of a problem. They are very stable (four people can happily sit on one side with no-one on the other side) and can be quite a dry boat (surprisingly). They will bounce off rocks and pylons (but watch for nails in jetties). I have not had a lot of experience with tinnies, but I am not against them either. Dragging a tinny up the rocks is better than dragging and inflatable up the rocks. Pumping them up with a foot pump takes a while, but there are a few 12v pumps that are excellent. When deflated they roll up fairly small. My advise would be to go to a dealer and ask to go out in one. Do the same with a tinny, see which you prefer. the thing to remember is that with a tinny, you always have a sizable boat to carry around, store etc... With an inflatable you can put it in the boot of your car or a big cupboard. Hope this is of some use.

[fez]

jamcconnel,

don't know if it helps however I saw an inflatable for sale on the corner of Dohles Rocks Road and Ogg road today,

details are:
Avon 3.1m
5 person
inc. 5hp merc, pump + oars
$1700ono
0418747653

Cheers,
Fez

[Mac_Attack]

Well you could always grab a polyurethane boat like mine? the sides are filled with foam so its literally unsinkable and two hulls. what do you think?

Cheers Nick

[rizzi jnr]

Hi, i have an inflatable for my self and not very good for fishing in and not stable at all on drift.

cheers

[BrewGuru]

Just been through the same exercise looking for a new tender for my boat, tinnie V Inflatable , i finished up going for a 3.5 mtre tinnie approximately 75kgs and suzuki 6Hp 4 stroke 25kgs. The inflatables worst enemies are wind on the water and UV on the boat. Couple of no so inflatables hanging of boats at MBBC at Scarborugh.
Tinnie far more durable