AB inflatables

[irwinsailor]

My wonderful Alliance 10.6' RIB with its Honda 8 hp were crushed 7-4-06. So now I have been looking for a replacement for my very underinsured boat. I like the AB V-S series RIB. What can you tell me about them? Are there other brands that I should be looking at? The AB is $3300. plus $3000. for the new Honda 20 I plan to buy for it. It will oneday be used in the tropics.
I also would not mind the idea of a small boston whaler if I could find a good used one.

[Vasco]

Gunner,

You've chosen a good one and I'm not saying that just because I've got a 320VL which is the "lite" series. Caribe is another popular brand but even two of my cruising friends who have Caribes prefer my AB. I bought mine when I was in Charleston from an outfit in FL. Even with shipping their price beat everyone else. That Honda 20 is a pretty heavy motor but I guess you don't like two strokes.

[irwinsailor]

A 20 hp Honda only weighs 20LBs more than the 8 HP honda that I had. I must say that I do like the 4 stroke better. I am now using my evenrude 2 stroke and it runs fine and I have no complants other than it makes my eyes water.

[Strygaldwir]

If you can, make sure you get dinghy chaps for it. They really help with abrassion and UV. I'll bet it will double the life of your dinghy.

I have Carribe. The AB looks to be about the same. I have never heard anyone say anything but good about the AB.

[High Cotton]

I have a 10' CARIBE 1999, no issues, period.

[DWT]

Dingy Chaps?

I have seen them on dingy's but always assumed they were made by the owner. Does someone out there make and sell them?

David
69 morgan 30'
CaRolAnn

[Hubec]

I just bought a Mercury 320 heavy duty Ocean Runner RIB for $1490! That's over 1/2 off! Defender's getting rid of their 2006 overstock, check out Boats And Motors Super Deals

PS shipping to the FL Keys was $300, but still, an awesome deal.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by DWT

Dingy Chaps?
I have seen them on dingy's but always assumed they were made by the owner. Does someone out there make and sell them?
David

You’d think (at least I would) that the marine canvass shops would be all over this, but I’ve never seen commercially made inflatable chaps.

SailRite has abbreviated instructions for fabricating an Inflatable Dinghy Cover (Chaps).
Inflatable Dinghy Cover

[olepedersen]

Gunner I bought an AB and a 20 honda last spring, and I love it the 20 hp may be overkill it flies, but it is named " BRUTUS" and it has pulled many agrounded boat off, we have not put a chaps cover on it yet ,but we plan to . Good luck Ole

[chrisr6972]

Last year, I bought a new AB 14VST. I spent a lot of time researching at boat shows and I thought it suited my needs for a tender the best. I have an annoying problem, which my dealer, Lifeline Inflatables out of Fort Lauderdale, and AB Corporate, seem unable to fix.
The fuel gauge shows empty when only 5 gals of a 14 gal tank have been used. I have used it enough to know that it is consistently true. This leaves you with the difficulty of not knowing how much gas is in the tank if you choose to motor on, or the inconvenience of short range if you go and fill up when it alarms.
Based on my conversations with Lifeline, it is apparent that the fuel sender is mounted in the forward part of the tank, so it naturally will go dry before the rest of the tank.
Is anyone else experiencing this issue?