I am considering downsizes my current boat to a 3.4 - 3.9 RIB but really hate the idea of repairing tubes as there is pretty sharp rock where a I beach launch the boat. Prefer the RIB shape to standard tinny as the primary use will be to slowly cruising around in sheltered ocean bays on good days with potentially 5 adults on board. I need the load carrying capacity of the RIB shape. I also may use it for snorkelling spearing so prefer the pontoon sides to get in out. I would really love to be able to either be drag it up the beach up by hand, or wheel it up on dingy wheels. I am keen to keep the boat weight to less than 100KG as I would be happy to take the petrol and motor out of the boat to drag it up the beach. Has anyone ever tried to drag something like this up beach http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/scarborough/motorboats-powerboats/3-8m-superduck-aluminium-zodiak-kounis-industries-/1031165113 Would be keen to know what these boats are like in the water in case another one comes up for sale as I don't think they are making them anymore. Or if any of the Queensland mob has ever been in one of the small ocean crafts www.oceancraft.com.au/meet-maggie-by-brady.htm Other suggestions welcome.
The boat almost what you want, is the Polycraft tuff tender. Problem is they are only 3 mtr. Poly will slide easy on sand and they are indestructible, stable and around the weight your talking. Poly boats can be slippery so you want good handles to get back in from the water though
The super duck idea is good and Ali is also solid, the problem is they tend to stick in the sand and won't drag so easily. Okay if you not dragging it by hand, but if you are the keel , similar to a Ali dinghy tends to dig itself in as you pull it.
An inflatable will simply not last
not sure about 5 people offshore in a 3.4 to 3.9 metre rib. I use a 3.4 metre avon and a 4.2 metre quicksilver off the nose of the big boat as tenders and have filled the avon with water overloading it with 5 guys and diving gear, and that was in the relatively protected water of porpoise bay. The 4.2 is a much better size prospect and in hypalon the quicksilver weighs around 106 kg as a tiller steer. If you want something more robust, then i suggest looking at alutech scorpions. They're built in south freo and they are a super robust aluminium rib. Ive got one of the 5 metre ones and its the most stable and robust boat ive been in under 20 feet. Towed it behind the big boat to the abrolhos last month. 6 guys, fishing gear and craypots weren't a problem for it. George at alutech can build them from 3 metres up. He could probably build one under 100 kg. I havent been in a kounis rib, but i know that the scorpions are bullet proof and supremely stable. They need to be though because they are ugly as sin. Other options such as the plaka poly dinghy's are great the 3.6 is a fantastic locally built rig but comes in at around 116 kg empty. dinghy world has just bought in the european whaly poly ribs. They seem solid but look a little narrow. Youre right though you'll wreck an inflatable dragging it near rocks. The other option is a good light weight tinny with dinghy collars.
. If theres two of you and you get a pair of dinghy fold down wheels then 100-120 kg is absolutely no problem. If you go out alone than id try to keep the weight down. The 3.4 avon weighs around 110 kg with motor and fuel. i can drag it up the beach about 10-20 metres to get it above the tide line, but id hate to drag it any further than that by myself.
Yep completely agree about Scorpion boats. Especially the ugly part. But they are bullet proof. The other good point about them is he manages to still keep the internal space up by having square tubes so you can still move around inside. Im not such a fan of say the super duck. I find that style very wet
jbshack and sameh thank info.
Going to have look at some of poly options out there but the Scorpion sounds interesting. Sameh thanks for the info on the dingy fold down wheels as that was going to my next questions as to whether or not they work. The beach I will be using is fairly hard pack sand so I don’t think they will sink and I plan to get the largest inflatable wheels I can find. A 4 meter lightweight scorpion with some really robust dingy wheels could be ideal.
fold down dingy wheels work just fine. Personally all of those aluminium ribs etc are pretty exxy. I would just go a normal tinny. Vnose punt, or hornet style if you want more stability for diving out of. If you are a millionaire waterfront property owner (sounds like it) and funds are unlimited get a sealegs.
yoy could get a beach launch trailer made (just a frame with big wheels) and still use an inflatable. Then you could get an ozduck.
I used to be in shares in a Superduck. As mentioned above it is a very wet boat and not easy to drag up the beach. Also pays to take your dentist and Physio out with you as the ride in even the smallest chop was extremely harsh.
I have a 4.2 meter RIB center console with 30 merc and the boat goes hard. Regularly fish between 10-20km out to sea and never had a problem. Had some reasonable hard days out there and the thing is unsinkable though you do get very wet if its a bad day (20 + knots).
Its super light for beach launching which I do often. I bought it for a first boat, and even though I do want a bigger boat the practicability in towing, launching, scurfing, fish9ing and FUEL its harder to justify a bigger boat. Also I have had a few knocks with a pylon and the thing is tuff as. Highly recommended
Mine is a southern Pacific with hapalon or what ever its called tubes (10 years old and no punctures, or bad wear)
