wheels 544 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Hey Wheels, 3+ years later, what's your long term verdict? Has it held up? They're still in business and prices look good. I'm gonna need to make a purchase in the next few weeks so sussing options. I am in touch with the new owner of it and it is still in great shape. The only negative I have had is my knees always get in the way when I am rowing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Romany 162 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 thanks for that Lateral. I have had exp. with isocyanate cross linkers b4 - nasty stuff. Made nonsense of carbon activated face masks in very short amount of time, and makes people sh*t faced unless they take serious protective steps.. However - excellent heat and water resistance, so kind of makes sense. What did you clean the surface down with to begin? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elliot749 28 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I’ve got a WildCat 2.6m, love it. Well priced, stable and carries us well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkMT 68 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I am in touch with the new owner of it and it is still in great shape. The only negative I have had is my knees always get in the way when I am rowing Thanks Wheels. Good to hear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I am in touch with the new owner of it and it is still in great shape. The only negative I have had is my knees always get in the way when I am rowing I thought a craftsman never blames his tools! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wal 27 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Ah yes But... A good craftsman doesn't use s#*t tools...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Young Entertainer 61 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I have a aqua pro, probably 15+ years old, have taken it from boat to boat, lives outside on a dinghy rack uncovered, finally admitted it needed some love last xmas and got it retubed, 3rd the cost of replacing and hopefully will see another 10 years out of it with the same abuse. best thing is it takes the entire family and supplies in a single trip an keeps my arse dry in a bit of a chop Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Bought a NZ-made Aquapro about 5yrs ago. Was awful with manufacturing fault from factory - twisted tubes - which meant handles and rowlocks out of alignment relative to waterline. Made for strange handling. Give them due they took it back and ‘fixed it’ which involved unsticking stuff and repositioning it relative to waterline. I had asked for a new replacement (mine was 1 week old when I noticed the flaw) but they couldn’t because they said the whole batch they had in the factory at that time had the same issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neil 35 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Years ago we had a Southern Pacific roll up and it lasted well over a decade with no problems and most of that time it was left outside in the NZ sun. More recently we've had an Aakron which started to literally fall apart in less than 2 years, seams failing, rowlocks falling off etc. That experience meant our next one was a new larger Southern Pacific and am very happy with it. Also the SP was made just around the corner from us in Kumeu so not only are they good dinghies it's also supporting a local NZ business. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Yup as and when my Aquapro dies I’ll probably get a SP Shearwater. I had a look at them and they look good. Although of course my Aquapro with the dodgy start in life was made by the same people! The redeeming feature is that, as you say, they are relatively local (if you’re buying in Auckland) and you can expect better hands-on service if you need it (which I did) than buying an overseas brand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dtwo 157 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Loving my Seafarer 2.4 rib. Made in TPU so should be good for a while. Bought it in June and haven't added any air yet... https://www.seafarerinflatables.co.nz/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkMT 68 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Given the price and Wheels' report, I think I'm happy to take my chances with Ocean Inflatables... http://www.inflatableboatsnz.co.nz/models/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Has anyone got any first hand experience with the trukit? https://truekit.nz/collections/all/products/true-kit-discovery?variant=30006782022 I need a fold up boat rather than a hard bottom one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elliot749 28 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Look up the Wildcat model on Trademe, I have one of their 2.6m roll ups, it’s awesome. Same style as TrueKit . WildCat is Akl based , but will ship anywhere I think Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 66 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Yep I have a True Kit Navigator. The main plus with the "cat" design inflatables with the paddle board type higher pressure floor is the rowing performance. So good that I have never used the outboard since I got it. Also the light weight as I lift it up on to the roof. The down side is the ribbed protection pads under the hulls which disintegrates to the stickiest mastic type crap you can imagine. When I suggested they use something better the guy said use the UV cover. A pretty average response to customer feed back I thought. So we swapped the protection for a vinyl ourselves and much better Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkMT 68 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Look up the Wildcat model on Trademe, I have one of their 2.6m roll ups, it’s awesome. Same style as TrueKit . WildCat is Akl based , but will ship anywhere I think https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/dinghies-rowboats/inflatable/auction-2408252641.htm Though curiously, their website only describes a rigid polyethylene product... https://www.wildcatboats.co.nz/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 336 Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Yep I have a True Kit Navigator. The main plus with the "cat" design inflatables with the paddle board type higher pressure floor is the rowing performance. So good that I have never used the outboard since I got it. Really? Conventional wisdom is that inflatables row like crap. Encouraging if not the case with this brand as I prefer to row for fitness and less mucking around than with outboard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,745 Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Old Avons could row well ( i have beaten a hard dinghy in a race). It's because of the rowlocks. I believe it is still possible to buy just the rowlocks so it would be an interesting exercise to retrofit them on some other brands and see if there's a difference. Those rowlocks also allowed you to throw away the crap oars all inflatables come with and get a decent pair. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 66 Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Most inflatables, in particular RIBs bow steer badly. The cat style with pressure floors don't and actually track pretty well. The limiting factor is then the rowlocks first and then the flimsy oars they give you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 336 Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 Most inflatables, in particular RIBs bow steer badly. The cat style with pressure floors don't and actually track pretty well. The limiting factor is then the rowlocks first and then the flimsy oars they give you. Could you technically attach the railblaza rowlick attachment to a beefier wooden oar....or are they only good enough for the lightweight aluminium jobbies? And yes, I have a pair of the aluminium type oars, and geez they are very flimsy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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