CTFreeDiver
02-03-2005, 07:04 PM
Performance Inflatable Boats in the USA -- As of January 2005
I have a 2003 15.5 ft Xtreme Predator by Murray Elliott and a 2001 Mercury 60 HP that I found at a Mercury dealership as a left over. It came with a factory warranty. My primary use for the boat is a means of transportation to areas where only much larger boats will travel for the purpose of freedive spear fishing.
I had hoped to put together a website with the things I had learned about the dealing of this sport but the following should suffice my intent to inform future buyers in the USA. The utter lack of information about the availability of boats in the USA makes entry into this sport very complicated for the novice. I spend a significant amount of time on the ocean all over the Rhode Island shoreline and nearby Islands. I have yet to see another Performance Inflatable Boat out on the water.
The following lengthy compilation of information is the opinion of one Engineer. As merely an owner of a Performance Inflatable Boat with absolutely no retail affiliation to the aforementioned brands or retailers I have made some observations over the years about the sport.
The sport of recreational / racing Performance Inflatables is in a total state of disarray in the USA. Due to gross lack of organization and the fact that most of the retailers of the hulls are simply trying to make a quick buck constitute the foundation of why the sport has never really prospered. There are only a very select few that put the effort into the sport because they love it. The most common thing I have found is that the people involved with Performance Inflatables are all too willing to throw verbal cheap shots at other retailers which is disheartening to a novice looking to enter the sport. When I was shopping to buy one of these boats I came across many types of people… some professional and most very far from it. I found that many of the people selling the boats did not have stock on hand, we can import this or import that, and many of them spoke of trying to sell the idea of me personally becoming a dealer for the hulls. They spoke of great margins and the theory that this sport is just itching to take off in the USA. When I go to buy a vehicle I simply want the vehicle with some type of warranty to ensure I didn’t get stuck with a lemon. I want to leave with that vehicle, not the dealership.
My journey to acquire a Performance Inflatable and outboard engine was an ordeal. It took a full six months to get the hull! It was a custom order and agreed upon in writing to be delivered by a deadline date. Many problems arose and all but one of them was simply out of the hands of my retailer and due to the practices of several others involved within the sport. I purchased the hull from the owner of the of the now non-existent website: “www.performanceinflatables.com” He was very knowledgeable about the sport and he was the best source of organized information in the USA I, as well as everyone else that visited his now non-existent website, could easily see. He tried to bring some organization to a sport much in need of it. I believe the ordeal of my boat was the final straw for him... after I finally took delivery he all but disappeared from the sport. He was the most professional and sincere retailer I found at the time. His knowledge helped me more that he knows.
To say that Insurance Companies steer clear of these boats is an understatement! Many companies will not insure the boats simply because the word “inflatable” is spoken. When an insurer hears that the boat is a small inflatable with a hull weighing X amount of pounds and rated for a 70 HP outboard which weighs more than the hull… the dead silence you hear on the other end of the phone is the insurer questioning your sanity. Soon there after the silence is broken by the words, “It sounds like fun but, there’s no way we will insure it.”
The largest commercially available outboard for these boats with a short shaft (15” mid-section) in the USA is only 40 HP. The last year a commercial short shaft was offered in the USA that I know of was back in late 2000 and those were marked 2001 engines. Those seeking to get a short shaft outboard have to do business with home mechanics. Finding a good, honest, mechanic is tougher than finding someone to insure one of these boats. The only way a mechanic becomes proficient is by fixing a lot of broken stuff. How do you determine if the home mechanic trying to sell you an outboard is through their “breaking stuff phase”? It requires a lot of homework to locate the said mechanics former customers. If it were only as easy as walking into a dealership and leaving with a new 50-70 HP short shaft.
I looked into purchasing a NEW 50-70 HP Yamaha from an overseas dealer and a factory warranty was very important to me. I spoke with a warranty department service representative at Yamaha North America where I learned that a NEW imported Yamaha would be considered for a factory warranty on a case by case basis. Yamaha North America was very keen on seeing the original service-slip / checklist that should be issued by every authorized Yamaha dealer selling a new outboard.
Shore access for surf racing is another huge problem in this particular region of the USA. The pictures I see of racers in S.A. and Europe illustrate them driving their vehicles / trailers on the beach and launching the boats in the surf zone. ScreamAndFly.com forum member Berg969 is located near New York City, forum member Fast Fred is near Boston, and I’m in the middle near the Rhode Island border.... shore access is near non-existent! A lot of shoreline communities in this area have gated entrances and only owners can pass-go. Fishermen are arrested for trespassing when they’re just trying to fish... let alone launch a boat. 100 feet of shoreline sells for $500,000+ US in the Northeastern USA. When you do happen to find a beach it is almost certainly marked by swimming area buoys meaning stay away. The liability involved with having a “surf racing” event is not the idea of a good time to an Insurer.
When I take my boat out I hear second hand stories of people that are so infuriated by the sheer sight of my little inflatable out in areas with boats twice it’s size that they have threatened to take shots at me. The fact that the boat wheelies to get up on plane in rough seas really finds a sore spot in them. Inflatables are truly seen as second rate in the USA. I was out by a beach very popular with boaters this past summer. I had been racing around on the boat in open water and then approached the beach / harbor at wake speed. As I approached the shore there was a couple keen on my little boat… They’ve never seen anything like it, etc. The woman asked, “What big boat are you off of ?” I replied, “This is the big boat!”, to which she replied, “I’m sorry.” This same conversation has happened on two different occasions.
Performance Inflatable Racing was given the opportunity to go mainstream in the USA when the American Power Boat Association (APBA) gave the little inflatable boats their own division. The division was called Superlight Tunnel Boats. The boats went from a Special Events Class to a nationally recognized Division and due to lack of racers was demoted back to a Special Events Class. The American Outboard Federation (AOF) has also become involved with Super Light Tunnels. The Michigan racers have these little inflatables running 80+ MPH on flatwater.
If it doesn't say Boston Whaler or Grady White on the side of the boat... The vast majority of the people in the USA don't want anything to do with it.
Review by brand:
Aquarius Inflatable boats… I hear they are pretty well built and are considered fast for a performance inflatable hull. I have yet to lay eyes on an Aquarius hull.
Ceasar… I have never seen a Ceasar hull although, I know they win a lot of races on the other side of the pond.
Dux Inflatable Boats… Michigan, USA. Dux manufactures Performance Inflatable Boats of many sizes and for many applications including tenders, race boats, and rescue boats. They offer an unprecedented 10-year warranty on the hull which only applies to the original owner. They were featured in an episode of “Baywatch” about 10 years ago where the scantily clad lifeguards we all love went out and had fun in the boats as they were supposedly testing them for rescue applications. The boats were originally marketed as being capable to handle a 50 HP short shaft engine while South African boats of other manufacture were rated for 70 HP. Overnight it seems Dux decided that their race hulls (the Dux Hammerhead) were good enough for 70 HP outboards and marketed them as such. The boats developed a reputation for falling apart with maximum horsepower. Even with 50 HP in surf conditions the Dux brand earned a bad reputation concerning longevity. The guys that own them and want them to last have had to take creative approaches to reinforce their transoms. I see that Dux has done the right thing and presently their max horsepower rating is 50 HP for their race boats.
I eagerly sought out a Dux dealer in my area to see their boats first hand. What I found was a dealer who knew very little about inflatables, period. The dealer had no experience with hulls of different manufacture and said he heard they were made poorly. I found that statement to be just the opposite. The Dux boats I saw (2002 models) just did not impress me at all. They utilized an aluminum transom that is through bolted to “ears” on each pontoon. There were wrinkles in the fabric where the ears torqued to accept the aluminum transom. The nosecones lacked features such as a grab rail and the seams lacked symmetry from one pontoon to the next. I remember being very put off after seeing the Dux line; from the handholds, to the grab lines, and even the profile of the hijackers. Dux has advertised that they are transitioning to a new 200,000 square foot facility and I am keen in what that will bring to the North American market. Dux also has an interesting picture of a Mercury Racing 60 HP 4-stroke on their website.
Seawolf Inflatables… Michigan, USA. This company has developed out of discontent among those who once worked for Dux Inflatable Boats. They appear to be knock-offs of the original Dux Inflatable line of boats in every sense of the word. The formation of this new company is a shining example of discontent within the very small Performance Inflatable community in the USA. I do not know if they are built exactly as the original Dux line, they may be better?? Their website is all too “copy cat” of Dux Inflatable Boats.
SuperDuxx, aka: Canadian Dux… sold in Canada. The same as Seawolf Inflatables.
Gemini… They are / were used by Florida racers for flat water racing and I was told by more than one racer that they personally thought they were poorly made. The hulls had a lot of difficulty dealing with the hot south Florida sun and Mercury 60 HP outboards. One story I heard of is that a retailer of the Gemini’s in Florida supposedly stored many of the hulls rolled up in a storage container that also included a significant amount of race fuel. PVC glue and strong fuel fume’s in a hot and humid storage container did not mix. The hulls were sold, fell apart quickly, and lawsuits followed. This is yet another example of why the sport has failed to prosper in the US.
Mako Inflatable Boats… The first one I saw had a carbon fiber nosecone and looked very rugged. The seams were symmetric from one pontoon to the other and overall it looked to be of very good manufacture. The transom was further reinforced (aftermarket) for the 70+ HP outboard on the transom. I recently saw a newer one and I had a very similar reaction to it as I did when I first saw the Dux line. It just did not look as nice or as well built as the first one I saw. I look forward to taking a better look at one of the new hulls.
ThunderDuck Inflatable Boats… California, USA. I do know that they are no longer manufactured. I did see one of the hulls and it looked very rugged. They had a reputation for being the best rough water hull in the late 1990’s.
Xtreme Inflatable Boats… South Africa. Their race boat is the Xtreme Predator. This manufacturer is headed by the International Man of Mystery, Murray Elliott. Murray originally taught the people at ThunderDuck how to build Performance Inflatable hulls as well as the people at Dux Inflatable Boats. When I first saw one of his hulls my first observation was that it was truly overbuilt compared to all the other brands I had seen. All of the seams were symmetric from one pontoon to the other. The handles and grab lines were the most robust of all the hulls I had seen. The hijackers are sealed to eliminate any foreign objects from coming in contact with the hijacker tubes and also serve to create a very rigid running surface. The transom is stainless steel and is secured in a manner that seems to be a mystery to the rest of the industry. The result is a very, very, secure transom to pontoon interface that will not flex with even the craziest 7,000 rpm, 70+ HP outboard you can bolt to the transom. In short, Murray’s attention to detail sets the standard for which to compare the manufacture of all other Performance Inflatable hulls. Compare for yourself! I purchased an Xtreme due to these qualities.
Hull and Outboard Retailers:
American Xtreme Marine… Florida, USA. They started out in the vicinity of New Jersey and advertise that they are now the exclusive importer of Xtreme Inflatable boats. Their background is with high end, deep vee, go fast boats and that is whom they primarily market their Performance Inflatable Boats. They have put together a very nice website although, I don't think it has ever been updated. They were very enthusiastic when they first started marketing the hulls at Poker Runs and appeared in many online forums offering demo’s and free video’s. In the very small market of Performance Inflatables they were quick to talk down on other retailers which I really didn’t care for. They also had a part in the delay of my personal Xtreme Predator. When my custom hull was grossly over due and fully paid for, they had pictures of it on their website, which I found out after the fact.
Mad Dog Inflatables… Massachusetts, USA. One of the owners is www.screamandfly.com member “Fast Fred”. I would not hesitate to get a Yamaha through Fast Fred. When I got my hull I combed the country to find a new 50-70 HP short shaft outboard and exchanged e-mails with 3 of Fred’s past customers I found through various forums. They told me they ran the piss out of their engines and they kept running great. One had a failure and the guy (the customer, not Fred) admitted operator error.... He flew too high for too long... too often... and had a partial meltdown. These boats are run hard and to have an engine that can take that beating and still ask for more is very comforting. If you go through the process of ordering an engine from Fred the end result will be an outboard custom made for your needs that gets you back to the dock at the end of the day. Fred can make your toy mild or wild!
Outboards Unlimited… Connecticut, USA. I know the owner is www.screamandfly.com member “Berg969”. He is a very active forum member and frequents S. Africa. He has put a lot of effort into developing his outboards to keep them light and very fast. Outboards Unlimited is worth a look for Performance Inflatable Boat hulls and for 50-70+ HP short shaft outboards.
Suncoast Marine… Michigan, USA. This retailer looks to be making a valiant effort to exploit the fun factor of Performance Inflatables. I know they used to (and possibly still do) offer Xtreme Inflatable hulls and I also see that they currently offer the Seawolf line of boats. I have spoken with them on the phone a few times. My first impression was that they are very enthusiastic about the sport and that they will stand behind their product.
Congratulations if you have made it this far. In Conclusion I would be very cautious of doing business with most of the people involved with Performance Inflatable Boats although there are some very sincere and knowledgeable people out there if you look hard enough. This sport is truly “Buyer Beware” at present. I would like nothing better than for this topic to generate some constructive criticism about the current state of Performance Inflatable boating in the USA but, if the past is any indicator, cheap shots will follow.
Mike Jette
Connecticut, USA
I have a 2003 15.5 ft Xtreme Predator by Murray Elliott and a 2001 Mercury 60 HP that I found at a Mercury dealership as a left over. It came with a factory warranty. My primary use for the boat is a means of transportation to areas where only much larger boats will travel for the purpose of freedive spear fishing.
I had hoped to put together a website with the things I had learned about the dealing of this sport but the following should suffice my intent to inform future buyers in the USA. The utter lack of information about the availability of boats in the USA makes entry into this sport very complicated for the novice. I spend a significant amount of time on the ocean all over the Rhode Island shoreline and nearby Islands. I have yet to see another Performance Inflatable Boat out on the water.
The following lengthy compilation of information is the opinion of one Engineer. As merely an owner of a Performance Inflatable Boat with absolutely no retail affiliation to the aforementioned brands or retailers I have made some observations over the years about the sport.
The sport of recreational / racing Performance Inflatables is in a total state of disarray in the USA. Due to gross lack of organization and the fact that most of the retailers of the hulls are simply trying to make a quick buck constitute the foundation of why the sport has never really prospered. There are only a very select few that put the effort into the sport because they love it. The most common thing I have found is that the people involved with Performance Inflatables are all too willing to throw verbal cheap shots at other retailers which is disheartening to a novice looking to enter the sport. When I was shopping to buy one of these boats I came across many types of people… some professional and most very far from it. I found that many of the people selling the boats did not have stock on hand, we can import this or import that, and many of them spoke of trying to sell the idea of me personally becoming a dealer for the hulls. They spoke of great margins and the theory that this sport is just itching to take off in the USA. When I go to buy a vehicle I simply want the vehicle with some type of warranty to ensure I didn’t get stuck with a lemon. I want to leave with that vehicle, not the dealership.
My journey to acquire a Performance Inflatable and outboard engine was an ordeal. It took a full six months to get the hull! It was a custom order and agreed upon in writing to be delivered by a deadline date. Many problems arose and all but one of them was simply out of the hands of my retailer and due to the practices of several others involved within the sport. I purchased the hull from the owner of the of the now non-existent website: “www.performanceinflatables.com” He was very knowledgeable about the sport and he was the best source of organized information in the USA I, as well as everyone else that visited his now non-existent website, could easily see. He tried to bring some organization to a sport much in need of it. I believe the ordeal of my boat was the final straw for him... after I finally took delivery he all but disappeared from the sport. He was the most professional and sincere retailer I found at the time. His knowledge helped me more that he knows.
To say that Insurance Companies steer clear of these boats is an understatement! Many companies will not insure the boats simply because the word “inflatable” is spoken. When an insurer hears that the boat is a small inflatable with a hull weighing X amount of pounds and rated for a 70 HP outboard which weighs more than the hull… the dead silence you hear on the other end of the phone is the insurer questioning your sanity. Soon there after the silence is broken by the words, “It sounds like fun but, there’s no way we will insure it.”
The largest commercially available outboard for these boats with a short shaft (15” mid-section) in the USA is only 40 HP. The last year a commercial short shaft was offered in the USA that I know of was back in late 2000 and those were marked 2001 engines. Those seeking to get a short shaft outboard have to do business with home mechanics. Finding a good, honest, mechanic is tougher than finding someone to insure one of these boats. The only way a mechanic becomes proficient is by fixing a lot of broken stuff. How do you determine if the home mechanic trying to sell you an outboard is through their “breaking stuff phase”? It requires a lot of homework to locate the said mechanics former customers. If it were only as easy as walking into a dealership and leaving with a new 50-70 HP short shaft.
I looked into purchasing a NEW 50-70 HP Yamaha from an overseas dealer and a factory warranty was very important to me. I spoke with a warranty department service representative at Yamaha North America where I learned that a NEW imported Yamaha would be considered for a factory warranty on a case by case basis. Yamaha North America was very keen on seeing the original service-slip / checklist that should be issued by every authorized Yamaha dealer selling a new outboard.
Shore access for surf racing is another huge problem in this particular region of the USA. The pictures I see of racers in S.A. and Europe illustrate them driving their vehicles / trailers on the beach and launching the boats in the surf zone. ScreamAndFly.com forum member Berg969 is located near New York City, forum member Fast Fred is near Boston, and I’m in the middle near the Rhode Island border.... shore access is near non-existent! A lot of shoreline communities in this area have gated entrances and only owners can pass-go. Fishermen are arrested for trespassing when they’re just trying to fish... let alone launch a boat. 100 feet of shoreline sells for $500,000+ US in the Northeastern USA. When you do happen to find a beach it is almost certainly marked by swimming area buoys meaning stay away. The liability involved with having a “surf racing” event is not the idea of a good time to an Insurer.
When I take my boat out I hear second hand stories of people that are so infuriated by the sheer sight of my little inflatable out in areas with boats twice it’s size that they have threatened to take shots at me. The fact that the boat wheelies to get up on plane in rough seas really finds a sore spot in them. Inflatables are truly seen as second rate in the USA. I was out by a beach very popular with boaters this past summer. I had been racing around on the boat in open water and then approached the beach / harbor at wake speed. As I approached the shore there was a couple keen on my little boat… They’ve never seen anything like it, etc. The woman asked, “What big boat are you off of ?” I replied, “This is the big boat!”, to which she replied, “I’m sorry.” This same conversation has happened on two different occasions.
Performance Inflatable Racing was given the opportunity to go mainstream in the USA when the American Power Boat Association (APBA) gave the little inflatable boats their own division. The division was called Superlight Tunnel Boats. The boats went from a Special Events Class to a nationally recognized Division and due to lack of racers was demoted back to a Special Events Class. The American Outboard Federation (AOF) has also become involved with Super Light Tunnels. The Michigan racers have these little inflatables running 80+ MPH on flatwater.
If it doesn't say Boston Whaler or Grady White on the side of the boat... The vast majority of the people in the USA don't want anything to do with it.
Review by brand:
Aquarius Inflatable boats… I hear they are pretty well built and are considered fast for a performance inflatable hull. I have yet to lay eyes on an Aquarius hull.
Ceasar… I have never seen a Ceasar hull although, I know they win a lot of races on the other side of the pond.
Dux Inflatable Boats… Michigan, USA. Dux manufactures Performance Inflatable Boats of many sizes and for many applications including tenders, race boats, and rescue boats. They offer an unprecedented 10-year warranty on the hull which only applies to the original owner. They were featured in an episode of “Baywatch” about 10 years ago where the scantily clad lifeguards we all love went out and had fun in the boats as they were supposedly testing them for rescue applications. The boats were originally marketed as being capable to handle a 50 HP short shaft engine while South African boats of other manufacture were rated for 70 HP. Overnight it seems Dux decided that their race hulls (the Dux Hammerhead) were good enough for 70 HP outboards and marketed them as such. The boats developed a reputation for falling apart with maximum horsepower. Even with 50 HP in surf conditions the Dux brand earned a bad reputation concerning longevity. The guys that own them and want them to last have had to take creative approaches to reinforce their transoms. I see that Dux has done the right thing and presently their max horsepower rating is 50 HP for their race boats.
I eagerly sought out a Dux dealer in my area to see their boats first hand. What I found was a dealer who knew very little about inflatables, period. The dealer had no experience with hulls of different manufacture and said he heard they were made poorly. I found that statement to be just the opposite. The Dux boats I saw (2002 models) just did not impress me at all. They utilized an aluminum transom that is through bolted to “ears” on each pontoon. There were wrinkles in the fabric where the ears torqued to accept the aluminum transom. The nosecones lacked features such as a grab rail and the seams lacked symmetry from one pontoon to the next. I remember being very put off after seeing the Dux line; from the handholds, to the grab lines, and even the profile of the hijackers. Dux has advertised that they are transitioning to a new 200,000 square foot facility and I am keen in what that will bring to the North American market. Dux also has an interesting picture of a Mercury Racing 60 HP 4-stroke on their website.
Seawolf Inflatables… Michigan, USA. This company has developed out of discontent among those who once worked for Dux Inflatable Boats. They appear to be knock-offs of the original Dux Inflatable line of boats in every sense of the word. The formation of this new company is a shining example of discontent within the very small Performance Inflatable community in the USA. I do not know if they are built exactly as the original Dux line, they may be better?? Their website is all too “copy cat” of Dux Inflatable Boats.
SuperDuxx, aka: Canadian Dux… sold in Canada. The same as Seawolf Inflatables.
Gemini… They are / were used by Florida racers for flat water racing and I was told by more than one racer that they personally thought they were poorly made. The hulls had a lot of difficulty dealing with the hot south Florida sun and Mercury 60 HP outboards. One story I heard of is that a retailer of the Gemini’s in Florida supposedly stored many of the hulls rolled up in a storage container that also included a significant amount of race fuel. PVC glue and strong fuel fume’s in a hot and humid storage container did not mix. The hulls were sold, fell apart quickly, and lawsuits followed. This is yet another example of why the sport has failed to prosper in the US.
Mako Inflatable Boats… The first one I saw had a carbon fiber nosecone and looked very rugged. The seams were symmetric from one pontoon to the other and overall it looked to be of very good manufacture. The transom was further reinforced (aftermarket) for the 70+ HP outboard on the transom. I recently saw a newer one and I had a very similar reaction to it as I did when I first saw the Dux line. It just did not look as nice or as well built as the first one I saw. I look forward to taking a better look at one of the new hulls.
ThunderDuck Inflatable Boats… California, USA. I do know that they are no longer manufactured. I did see one of the hulls and it looked very rugged. They had a reputation for being the best rough water hull in the late 1990’s.
Xtreme Inflatable Boats… South Africa. Their race boat is the Xtreme Predator. This manufacturer is headed by the International Man of Mystery, Murray Elliott. Murray originally taught the people at ThunderDuck how to build Performance Inflatable hulls as well as the people at Dux Inflatable Boats. When I first saw one of his hulls my first observation was that it was truly overbuilt compared to all the other brands I had seen. All of the seams were symmetric from one pontoon to the other. The handles and grab lines were the most robust of all the hulls I had seen. The hijackers are sealed to eliminate any foreign objects from coming in contact with the hijacker tubes and also serve to create a very rigid running surface. The transom is stainless steel and is secured in a manner that seems to be a mystery to the rest of the industry. The result is a very, very, secure transom to pontoon interface that will not flex with even the craziest 7,000 rpm, 70+ HP outboard you can bolt to the transom. In short, Murray’s attention to detail sets the standard for which to compare the manufacture of all other Performance Inflatable hulls. Compare for yourself! I purchased an Xtreme due to these qualities.
Hull and Outboard Retailers:
American Xtreme Marine… Florida, USA. They started out in the vicinity of New Jersey and advertise that they are now the exclusive importer of Xtreme Inflatable boats. Their background is with high end, deep vee, go fast boats and that is whom they primarily market their Performance Inflatable Boats. They have put together a very nice website although, I don't think it has ever been updated. They were very enthusiastic when they first started marketing the hulls at Poker Runs and appeared in many online forums offering demo’s and free video’s. In the very small market of Performance Inflatables they were quick to talk down on other retailers which I really didn’t care for. They also had a part in the delay of my personal Xtreme Predator. When my custom hull was grossly over due and fully paid for, they had pictures of it on their website, which I found out after the fact.
Mad Dog Inflatables… Massachusetts, USA. One of the owners is www.screamandfly.com member “Fast Fred”. I would not hesitate to get a Yamaha through Fast Fred. When I got my hull I combed the country to find a new 50-70 HP short shaft outboard and exchanged e-mails with 3 of Fred’s past customers I found through various forums. They told me they ran the piss out of their engines and they kept running great. One had a failure and the guy (the customer, not Fred) admitted operator error.... He flew too high for too long... too often... and had a partial meltdown. These boats are run hard and to have an engine that can take that beating and still ask for more is very comforting. If you go through the process of ordering an engine from Fred the end result will be an outboard custom made for your needs that gets you back to the dock at the end of the day. Fred can make your toy mild or wild!
Outboards Unlimited… Connecticut, USA. I know the owner is www.screamandfly.com member “Berg969”. He is a very active forum member and frequents S. Africa. He has put a lot of effort into developing his outboards to keep them light and very fast. Outboards Unlimited is worth a look for Performance Inflatable Boat hulls and for 50-70+ HP short shaft outboards.
Suncoast Marine… Michigan, USA. This retailer looks to be making a valiant effort to exploit the fun factor of Performance Inflatables. I know they used to (and possibly still do) offer Xtreme Inflatable hulls and I also see that they currently offer the Seawolf line of boats. I have spoken with them on the phone a few times. My first impression was that they are very enthusiastic about the sport and that they will stand behind their product.
Congratulations if you have made it this far. In Conclusion I would be very cautious of doing business with most of the people involved with Performance Inflatable Boats although there are some very sincere and knowledgeable people out there if you look hard enough. This sport is truly “Buyer Beware” at present. I would like nothing better than for this topic to generate some constructive criticism about the current state of Performance Inflatable boating in the USA but, if the past is any indicator, cheap shots will follow.
Mike Jette
Connecticut, USA