Comments on AB

All's Well

All's Well

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2010
1,160
Houston
Boat Info
'12 58 Sundancer
Engines
900 MAN
I'm just kicking off a search for the right tender -
I've been looking at AB, BRIG, ZAR, etc, probably a 12' as my beam is 16'
There is a AB tender that I plan on looking at Saturday

Is AB considered a quality tender long term?
Are there other brands that I should include in this group?
 
This outfit would be worth a look for you. Have owned a couple (270 and 320) and have a couple friends with them as well. Great people to deal with top quality and warranty. Built for our east coast. Prices are Can$.
http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/sd420.html
 
Thornton69 said:
This outfit would be worth a look for you. Have owned a couple (270 and 320) and have a couple friends with them as well. Great people to deal with top quality and warranty. Built for our east coast. Prices are Can$.
http://www.seabrightmarine.ca/sd420.html
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm wanting more of a center console type that would hold 4/5 people for some extended runs occasionally
 
Yes, AB is a good brand. They typically use hypalon fabric that lasts longer in the sun vs. PVC. That's important for your southern location. I've had an AB Ventus 9VL RIB for a few years and am happy with the quality.

You can also consider Highfield. My local dinghy shop has started to sell Highfield and has been impressed with their quality. According to them, the Highfield aluminum models are a better quality and less expensive than the comparable AB models, and also easier for them to obtain.
 
Footballfan and I have the same AB12 dingy. Very pleased with them other than some minor SS rusting that you have to clean. I've got a 40HP Evinrude E-Tech and he has a 40HP Suzuki (I think - I know its 40HP). they will hold 5.
 
50 Yamaha. Great boat.

Previously had a zodiac yachtline 340. AB is superior in my mind.

Zodiac change the name they sell dinghy’s under, think they are called Avon now.
 
b_arrington said:
Yes, AB is a good brand. They typically use hypalon fabric that lasts longer in the sun vs. PVC. That's important for your southern location. I've had an AB Ventus 9VL RIB for a few years and am happy with the quality.

You can also consider Highfield. My local dinghy shop has started to sell Highfield and has been impressed with their quality. According to them, the Highfield aluminum models are a better quality and less expensive than the comparable AB models, and also easier for them to obtain.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that - I'll add Highfield
 
carterchapman said:
Footballfan and I have the same AB12 dingy. Very pleased with them other than some minor SS rusting that you have to clean. I've got a 40HP Evinrude E-Tech and he has a 40HP Suzuki (I think - I know its 40HP). they will hold 5.
Click to expand...

Good to hear, I'm hoping to find the 12 DLX, it appears that the seating is better in the DLX vs VST
Also, it looks like you have sliding chock on your platform? If so, are they beneficial?
 
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FootballFan said:
50 Yamaha. Great boat.

Previously had a zodiac yachtline 340. AB is superior in my mind.

Zodiac change the name they sell dinghy’s under, think they are called Avon now.
Click to expand...

Great, thank you.
I see alot of Yamahas on tenders, are you pleased with its performance & maintenance?
 
All's Well said:
Great, thank you.
I see alot of Yamahas on tenders, are you pleased with its performance & maintenance?
Click to expand...
I've had a 9.9 and 15HP yamaha. I think they were/are great motors. Have a Merc on my Whaler, but it came with the boat otherwise I'd go with a Yamaha there too.
 
All's Well said:
Good to hear, I'm hoping to find the 12 DLX, it appears that the seating is better in the DLX vs VST
Also, it looks like you have sliding cock on your platform? If so, are they beneficial?
Click to expand...
Ours are DLX...we got them from Suncoast Inflatables in Clearwater.
I've replaced my one piece chocks with GHS chocks. The cradle type that I had were about 2" too high, and if I wasn't full on fuel, the dingy or my waverunner were difficult to slide off when the platform was fully lowered. I have them as forward as possible for CG reasons...

http://www.suncoastinflatables.com/
Footballfan knows the owner...
 
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I was looking last year for the same thing and I ended up going with a Walker Bay generation 340 with a 40hp Honda. Biggest difference we liked about the Walker Bay was that there is nothing to step over inside the boat. They have a wrap around seat in the front so cockpit floor is open for movement. We put 33hrs on it last season and we are very happy with it.
https://walkerbay.com/rigid-inflatable-boats/generation-dlx/generation-340/

this pic gives you and idea of the layout.
https://walkerbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Generation-340-Lifting-Points-Chocks-2018.pdf
 
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Jeremygavin said:
I was looking last year for the same thing and I ended up going with a Walker Bay generation 340 with a 40hp Honda. Biggest difference we liked about the Walker Bay was that there is nothing to step over inside the boat. They have a wrap around seat in the front so cockpit floor is open for movement. We put 33hrs on it last season and we are very happy with it.
https://walkerbay.com/rigid-inflatable-boats/generation-dlx/generation-340/

this pic gives you and idea of the layout.
https://walkerbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Generation-340-Lifting-Points-Chocks-2018.pdf
Click to expand...

That's interesting, I had not seen this before. I like the seating arrangement as well.
 
carterchapman said:
Ours are DLX...we got them from Suncoast Inflatables in Clearwater.
I've replaced my one piece chocks with GHS chocks. The cradle type that I had were about 2" too high, and if I wasn't full on fuel, the dingy or my waverunner were difficult to slide off when the platform was fully lowered. I have them as forward as possible for CG reasons...

http://www.suncoastinflatables.com/
Footballfan knows the owner...
Click to expand...

Are the GHS chocks you're using now the standard (2 pieces per side) bolted ones that come with the platform? I have these but thought the sliding ones would be helpful to add room to access stern lockers, etc.
 
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We love our 12' AB aluminum RIB. My wife fishes from it (we have 2 electric downriggers on removable mounts) and it cleans up easily, and we often beach it. In the summer we stern tie, and sometimes you wind up bumping against rocks.

It's 200 pounds lighter than the fiberglass version.
 
j98052 said:
We love our 12' AB aluminum RIB. My wife fishes from it (we have 2 electric downriggers on removable mounts) and it cleans up easily, and we often beach it. In the summer we stern tie, and sometimes you wind up bumping against rocks.

It's 200 pounds lighter than the fiberglass version.
Click to expand...

That's good to know too ... important to consider weight
 
I have a good friend that has a Zodiac Yachtline on the back of his 55 Sundancer and I have been in it many times over the years. It is a great running tender with a Yamaha 40 HP motor on the back. Even with four adults on board it planes quickly and runs very well. That tender has built in running planes as part of the hull that really helps is get over the hump easily. The fit and finish are top notch If I was buying a tender that is what I would buy.
 
I've got a 11DLX with a 40hp etec. Great tender, smooth riding and I never need to add air. I'd definitely recommend AB.

Paul
 
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