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[canuckjgc]

I'm moving up from a canoe and I'm looking at a 15.5ft inflatable boat with soft bottom, inflatable keel, and aluminum floor, 6.5ft beam and 25hp 2 stroke tiller, new boat and slightly used outboard.  Plan to use it in the bigger lakes (Chilliwack, Alouette, Pitt), portions of the Fraser, Indian Arm, Sechelt Inlet.  Though not the best boat for everything, it needs to serve a variety of purposes, including fishing, lots of beaching for the kids, stability, swimming off the deck in calm water, etc.  Will live on a trailer.

Thought about a glass boat but it would be much heavier, much older with much older motor (for what I can afford), tougher to beach and roll up the beach (heavy duty beaching wheels are available for the inflatable), more maintenance re: steering, battery, etc, vs. a tiller pull start.  With regard to aluminum, the inflatable is more seaworthy at that size.

Any thoughts?  Open to any opinions here. 

[Brian]

You've got to spend some time on an inflatable before you decide.  I prefer rigid floors.

That said, I have a tin boat that I beach regularly

[Robbie]

How much are you looking to spend? 

[canuckjgc]

Probably about $4000+ all in.  Looking at Chinese PVC boats from Seamax, etc.

[BooBooBear]

If you are interested in a Mark 4 Zodiac (15') c/w 20HP - let me know and I will send you the info... 

[canuckjgc]

For some reason I can't send personal messages Boo - yes I'm interested so long as the boat isn't 10+ years old.  A guy wanted to sell me a 30 yr old Bombard - no thanks, the material is on its last legs.

[typhoon]

Wear a lifejacket and get a good patching kit. A PVC boat is fine for lakes and even slower rivers, but once you start beaching it or encountering sticks and trees you will get a lot of punctures.
I use my PVC boat in the Stave, but I don't beach it with people in it, and I only beach it on mud or rounded rocks (no gravel).
A Hypalon boat will last at least twice as long as a PVC boat, and the material is much more resilient.
My Achilles 12 foot is an awesome boat, though I still wouldn't use it in the non-tidal Fraser.

[BwiBwi]

I got a Zodiac soft bottom.  It's great for lakes and calm sea conditions.  When theres wave then it's not so good.  If you are seriousely in going onto I. Arm and H. Bay then I would suggest going with rigid hull.

[Robbie]

My Aluminum is for sale in the buy/sell. It's a great multipurpose boat

[canuckjgc]

Bwi - does your boat have the aluminum floor?  I wonder how much difference that makes as opposed to an air mat floor.

[BwiBwi]

Mine boat's wooden floor.  It's really heavy.  My neighbour got one with air mat.  It's very sturdy, light and easier to transport (deflated).