PVC boat size. Choosing a boat by size

Content

1. Boat size and number of seats
2. Boat size and weight
3. Boat size and motor choice
4. PVC boat video

Friends, in continuation of the series of articles on choosing a PVC boat, we want to talk about choosing a boat by size. What size boat will be optimal for an “egoist”, what size is better to look at if fishing is done with two people, what size boats are suitable for certain gasoline engines - these are the topics we touched on in this article.

The article is based on materials from one of the series of educational films about fishing, “Secrets of choosing and operating boats and motors from the Shcherbakov brothers.”

To begin with, PVC boats that are in an inflated position appear large only when examining the boat in the store. The fact is that in deep water any PVC inflatable boat will not seem as big to you as it initially seemed. If you look at a PVC boat from the point of view of volume, then assessing the entire boat visually, it often seems that it is large. In fact, the working volume of the boat is much smaller than its overall size. Despite the fact that this is an obvious point, it is important to say this. The volume of the cylinders hides quite a lot, so in frame boats, with the same size, the working volume is much larger, but in inflatable boats it is much less. This point should be kept in mind, and if financially possible, it is better to opt for boats with the widest possible cockpit.

As for the space in the boat, it would not be amiss to mention that in PVC soldered boats, due to the non-volumetric bottom, the cockpit will be deeper. In addition to the fact that it will be more comfortable to sit in such a boat, also, due to its larger volume, there will be more space in it than in one similar to the NDND.

Boat size and number of seats

You should also pay attention to how many people are expected to be fishing from your boat. If, for example, you are going to fish alone, then boats measuring 2.8-3.3 m are perfect for this purpose. Why? Because such boats have much less weight - they are easier to assemble alone, easier to carry alone, and have enough space for one fisherman, given his equipment. But it will be very difficult for two spinners to fit in such a boat. Therefore, if you are going to fish from a boat together, then the minimum suitable size for you will be 3.3 meters, and better 3.6-3.8-4-4.2 m. I must say that in a boat even 4.2 meters in size meters - it’s uncomfortable to fish with three people.

There is an opinion that the longer trips you plan to make on a boat, the larger its size should be chosen. First, long-distance trips involve more luggage, which will require more space in the boat. Secondly, you will need greater speed and, accordingly, motor power. Typically, the recommended motor power for boats up to 3.3 m does not exceed 10 horsepower. Well, and thirdly, the larger and wider the bottom of the boat, the more stable it feels on the water.

You should also pay attention to the diameter of the cylinders. The larger the diameter of the cylinders, the higher the boat's carrying capacity. At the same time, such a boat will be much less overwhelmed by waves.

A boat with what diameter of cylinders should I choose?

Packrafts

What conclusions follow from this for the practice of choosing a boat? If you want an ultra-light boat, then you should consider the option of a slender kayak with narrow cylinders made of light fabric with caution (example: Shchukar Light 310 TPU). Small diameter of the cylinders, large relative length and thin fabric - with these parameters the boat will not turn out to be rigid. It will be possible to slightly compensate for the softness of the kayak by increasing the pressure, but this is a dangerous path.

Here are the classic packrafts

(for example, the “Sputnik” type) do not have such disadvantages.
The relatively large diameter of the cylinder (30 cm)
, inflated almost twice in the aft part, and the “tightly built” design without excessive elongation make it possible to operate packraft made of thin fabrics at low pressure. This is an example of a rational design approach.

The above-mentioned Shchukar Light 310 TPU is, of course, faster than a packraft with a similar weight, but due to the problems mentioned above, it is recommended for a strictly limited circle of users - primarily those of light weight. Therefore, this boat is not mass-produced.

Kayaks

For kayaks, 30 cm cylinders are a good solution, although some consider this size to be excessive, and consider 25 cm to be the most suitable.

But it’s best to start from the design of the kayak. If it has a protruding bottom (like, for example, “Barbarian”), then 25 cm cylinders are quite sufficient. If the bottom does not protrude downwards, then it would be reasonable to use 27.5 cm cylinders (a sort of “golden mean”, successfully tested by us and used in Argon and Action kayaks). If the kayak requires increased seaworthiness, then the diameter can be even greater than 30 cm: for example, in the new Fishkayak Evo the diameter of the cylinders is 33 cm, which gives this boat the ability to withstand a fairly strong wave (this is important for fishing kayaks).

Motor boats

Motor boats

The diameter of the cylinders varies
from 30 to 55 cm
, depending on the design, size and purpose. However, an increase in the diameter of the cylinders inevitably entails an increase in the width of the boat, which has a bad effect on its performance characteristics, so a rational solution is to increase the height of the side by other methods (bulwarks, skegs, low bottom, oval cylinders, etc.). An example of this approach is the aforementioned Uran-550F cabot, which, with a maximum side diameter of 41 cm, has a side height of 70 cm, thanks to the bulwark and low bottom position, which makes it suitable for use in very difficult wave and wind conditions.

Boat size and weight

Speaking about boats, relatively speaking, for two anglers (3.6-4.2 m), it should be borne in mind that they already have a more impressive weight. And even together it is not always comfortable to launch such a boat and take it ashore. Therefore, it is advisable to install transom wheels on such boats, with the help of which the boat can be launched into the water and raised ashore without spending extra effort. In this case, you can cope with such manipulation alone - this is an important point.

The fact is that PVC is a heavy material, and a boat made of such material has an impressive weight. If you store a PVC boat at home, then lowering and lifting a 4-meter boat into an apartment alone is a big problem. In general, the comfort of a large boat can easily come to naught when trying to transport it. Owners of small sedans may encounter problems placing the kit in the car. Therefore, before buying a boat, it is very important to check whether your entire kit, including the motor of the boat and all other fishing equipment, fits into the car. And if the kit does not fit, then it makes sense to choose a smaller boat.

As for assembly/disassembly, here boats with NDND will have additional advantages - they are easier to assemble and disassemble and will take much less time. You don't need to worry about plywood slats and their installation. All you have to do is place the boat on the ground and inflate it. In this case, options for boats up to 3 meters are very interesting. In this size, the boat turns out to be light (one person can easily carry it) and already has a keel, which allows you to install a motor with a power of up to 8 hp on the boat.

There is no doubt that for short fishing trips, be it morning or evening trips to the river, you should opt for boats with NDND. For long fishing trips, lasting more than one day, payol boats are preferable.

Boat size and motor choice

When choosing a boat, you should take into account that you will also have to buy a motor. The fact is that for boats of 3.3-4.2 m, you need a motor of at least 8 horsepower, speaking of two riders in the boat, to get it on plane. Therefore, you immediately need to take into account that you will need a motor from 8 to 15 horsepower. If you are not going to move across bodies of water in planing mode, then for any boat you choose, regardless of length, an engine from 2 to 6 horsepower is quite suitable. It must be said that small engines do not allow you to plane the boat if there are two people in the boat, but nevertheless, depending on the power of the engine, you can move around the pond at a speed of 9 to 15 km/h. In many cases, this is enough for fishing.

If you plan to fish alone, then you need to take into account that one rider can be propelled to planing by a motor of at least 5 horsepower, provided that your boat has some other equipment. That is, if you plan to move around a pond alone, and you need fast movement across a pond and at the same time an economical engine, then a 5 horsepower engine will suit you very well. A 4-horsepower engine will no longer be able to plane the boat, and its gasoline consumption will be no less. Accordingly, the speed of movement will be much lower.

It would probably be appropriate to say that today, according to our legislation, a license to operate a watercraft powered by a motor with a power of up to 8 kW (10.8 hp) is not required. And as many of us know, the engine is 9.9 hp. and a 15 hp motor. differ slightly. Also, registration of the kit is not required if, with such a motor, the weight of the boat does not exceed 200 kilograms. The weight of the boat is determined by weighing the complete set (boat, motor, gas tank, oars) without taking into account the boatmaster, passengers and luggage.

First of all, it is assumed that this article will help in choosing the size of a boat for those who have not yet encountered the purchase of a boat, and for many experienced boaters these recommendations may seem obvious. However, if any of our users use the advice in this article before buying their first boat or simply take note of some of these tips, then we published this article not in vain)

How to choose a PVC boat for fishing

How to choose a PVC boat Choosing a boat is actually a very simple task if you know what to do. Here are simple instructions that will help you choose a PVC boat in 5 minutes.

Answer a few questions:

Is comfort on a boat important to you?

Yes - Look for a boat with a large cylinder diameter and a long length; if your budget does not constrain you, then 400-450 mm. No – So you need a light or cheap boat, choose a boat based on price, length, interior space and quality.

How many people do you need a boat for?

Using this table you can roughly figure out how comfortable you will be in the boat. In our experience, there are 2 types of buyers, one is comfortable with three people in a 3100 boat, while others are cramped alone in a 3400 boat. Therefore, we were forced to divide the table into 2 such types of buyers, the names correspond to the type of boats that usually suit them. Economy - inexpensive but reliable boats, Premium - boats with additional options, they are usually heavier.

Important feature! Often long boats are cramped due to the small interior space. We recommend looking at the interior of the boat. A number of 3300 long PVC boats will be the same as a number of other 2900 long models.

What motor are you planning to install?

• Up to 4 hp – possible without a keel.
• Over 4 hp – we recommend boats with a keel.
• Over 8-9 hp – we recommend the presence of stringers in soldered boats or thick ndnd so that the boat does not break and it sails well.

Where will you use the boat?

• Salt water – We recommend welds.
• The scorching sun - we recommend a PVC boat with welded seams, welded components and high-quality PVC material.
• High waves - we recommend a boat with a large cylinder from 400-450 mm and above.

In other cases, you can rely on your budget and select a boat that is convenient in length, price and weight, but do not forget about quality.

Inflatable bottom or hard bottom?

Inflatable bottom for PVC boats:
• + Simplifies the boat assembly process
• + Reduces boat weight
• — Increases the price
• — It’s not so comfortable to stand

Hard bottom for PVC boats:
• + Cheaper
• +More comfortable walking and standing
• — Heavier
• - More difficult to assemble

If you are not constrained by finances, then a boat with LPND is a good solution: buy a boat with a powerful LPND and a good electric pump. Your stay will be comfortable. The boat will assemble itself in a matter of minutes, practically without your participation in the process.

Which motor to choose for the boat?

Approximately 4 hp are required to reach planing. per person:
• 4 hp for 1 person
• 8 hp for 2 people
• 12 hp for 3 people
• 9.9 (15 hp) for 4 people

Is choosing a PVC boat still a difficult task?
Contact the experts in this matter - 8-800-600-01-07 Popular sections: Boats for hunting, Boats for fishing, Boats with NDND, Motor boats, Rowing boats. Popular boats for motor: Aqua Boats, Riviera Boats, Apache Boats, Piranha Boats, Hunter Boats, Frigate Boats, Stealth Boats, Flagman Boats, River Boats, Polar Bird Boats, Inzer Boats for motor. Popular rowing boats: Inzer boats, Aqua Optima boats, Aqua Master boats, Frigate rowing boats, Piranha rowing boats, Stefa rowing boats, Monsoon boats.

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