All You Need to Know About Inflatable Boats

Love for water has been an inherent part of human nature. From slashing in the cool bath tub in childhood days to extreme water sports, wateractivities always attract us in one way or other. Adventure and water sports lovers completely understand the role of a good boat when they venture out in a sea, lake or river. Designed in a scientific way to provide you maximum safety and efficiency, Inflatable boats are powered by either an inboard or outboard engine to achieve optimum efficiency while navigation or floating.

Since an inflatable boat has to pass through various obstacles in a water body, it becomes highly essential that they are made of a durable material. Made from material that has a Hypalon and PVC coating, inflatable boats ensure proper toughness and resilience for bridges, rocks or branches during its journey in the vast expanse of water. The ergonomic design and seats ensure that the riders do not have any kind of discomfort while riding. Moreover, two large buoyancy tubes on the either side provide support to an inflatable boat. The buoyancy tubes creates a center of gravity that enables the boat to sit flat on the water surface that makes it difficult to topple even in high water pressure regions.

RIBs can be used for a variety of purposes. Their safe, sturdy and reliable design makes them perfect for not only recreational purposes, but also for professional and commercial purposes as well. Different inflatables are available in the market to suit your particular needs. A majority of inflatable boats come with an option of oars for manual navigation, as well as with motors for achieving higher speed and efficiency. In addition, the puncture resistant inflatable boats can be folded that make them perfect for beachside or some river excursion. Being more affordable and durable than the traditional boats, these boats are also less bulky and easy to store.

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UK Marine Industry [Infographics]

Billhigham Marines releases its first {Infographics} about UK's leisure and small commercial marine industry. We tried to highlight some Interesting UK Stats

• 1.1 million boats/craft are owned by UK households
• 5.9% of UK adults went boating in 2011, which is 3.2 million adults

The Info graphics also highlights boating purposes and UK's adult boating activity participation in various events.

UK Marine Industry [Infographics]

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Choosing Tohatsu Outboard Engine for Your Inflatable Boat

Choosing an efficient and reliable outboard engine for your inflatable boat is no more a challenging task. With plenty of options available on the Internet, you can easily get what you require. Outboards such as Tohatsu outboards are well known for their excellent efficiency, less noise, smokeless exhaust and fuel sipping features. When you need an outboard on which your inflatable boat can rely, look no further than Tohatsu outboard engines.

These outboards are ideal for boating enthusiasts for personal as well as professional use. The excellent engine propulsion system ensures that your inflatable boat performs well and allow you to enjoy each moment on your boat. There is a varied range of outboards to choose in the market. It is advisable to find a reputable supplier to help you get the right outboard so that you could your water activity an fun filled experience. Modern Tohatsu designers have come up with a modified range of outboards that are actually distinct from other types of outboards.

These outboards are compact in size, have low engine emissions and excellent fuel economy. Ideal for many boaters- make Tohastu outboards your choice and feel the benefits they offer.

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The Evolution of Rigid Inflatable Boats

The rigid inflatable boats that we use today were initially developed in the beginning of the 20th century. However, the principle of buoyancy aids obtained from air being squeezed in a ‘bag’- has been used for thousands of years. Some ancient pictures show men crossing water on inflated animal skins. To ensure the right degree of buoyancy and stability, there was a need for more versatile and robust inflatable boats and inflatable structures.

The actual evolution of inflatable boats started with the development of rubber coated fabrics that were used by the airship industry but several airship accidents held back the further development of hydrogen filled airships. Societe Zodiac – an airship maker based in France decided to use the rubber coated fabrics for air filled boats and in the year 1934 he manufactured 2 seater inflatable kayak followed by an inflatable catamaran. The company later added a floor connecting the buoyancy tubes and this is how the modern Zodiac inflatable boats evolved.

After World War 2, the development of inflatable boats took a major leap forward with new synthetic materials - neoprene and Hypalon - being coated onto nylon fabrics. Further, with the production of new generation of glues, inflatable boats could now cope with hard natural elements without becoming brittle, (as natural rubber does) and they also became impervious to salt, UV rays and petrochemicals.

Inflatable boats became popular, and with the progress of manufacturing techniques, boat users appreciated the possibility of combining the inherent buoyancy and stability of an inflatable boat with speed of modern planning hulls. Inboard and outboard motors were then used in these boats – this gave more speed and control to the vessel.

Manufacturing of rigid inflatable boats, tenders and kayaks has now moved into mass production era. RIB manufacturers have developed several sophisticated models of such boats and use high quality heat weld seamed PVC and vinyl materials for coating. The future for RIBs and inflatable marine structures looks bright and the support for the owners and operators of these products is also excellent.

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Tips for Outboard Motor and Inflatable Boat Repair

When you are going for an outboard motor and Inflatable repair, the primary thing to consider is that spark, fuel and compression are all working properly. Generally a gasoline fuel is used for an outboard motor and it is combusted to drive the pistons up and down. Spark is typically the ignition source that allows the fuel to combust. Compression is integrated in the cylinder that allows the pistons to move efficiently. Since each component has potential to perform in unexpected ways, outboard motor repair requires testing and verification of each part. Fuel issues can often be traced back to the ignition system in case the cylinder that is responsible for sending a pulse signal to the fuel pump is not working efficiently.

There are numerous types of outboard motors, hence the repair process may differ depending on the design as well. If the engine is not running properly a good place to execute the outboard motor repair process can be compression. Each spark plug should be separated and the testing device can be screwed into one of the plug holes. Then the engine can be cranked or turned over a couple of times until the needle over the gauge stops rising. In case, any of the cylinders are considerably lower than the others, this indicates there is perhaps a mechanical issue the outboard motor.

You can find more tips on outboard motor repair and get your boat repaired from a reputable online outboard motor repair service provider.

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What are Outboard Motors?

Outboard motors are typically used to push boats through the water at faster speeds. You can find these outboard motors along with ribs in a wide variety of power levels used for everything from small-sized rowboats to large-sized fishing boats. 

The outboard motors appear in both electric as well as gasoline powered versions. The electric versions are often smaller and deliver less horsepower in exchange for a noise-free ride. These outboard motors from Tohatsu, Mariner, Yamaha are beneficial for smaller watercrafts or for fishing to mitigate noise that may scare away fishes. On the contrary, gasoline powered outboard motors are quite noisy but can provide much more power. These begin as low as two or three horsepower for small watercraft and can reach well to hundreds to power large fishing boats. Another possibility to increase power is to have multiple outboards. It is certainly not uncommon to find large fishing boats powered by two or even four outboard motors all attached with the same steering wheel.

Outboard motors are usually durable and can often last for a longer period of time. However, appropriate care is required. The two biggest threats are carbon and heat. Boat owners must always ensure that the engine's cooling system is functioning to combat heat. With appropriate care, outboard motors can provide you several years of service.

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Ideal Outboard Boat Motors - Tohatsu, Mariner

Finding the ideal outboard boat motor requires careful consideration of various factors. The size of the boat and its desired usage are perhaps the most important ones.

Other considerations while selecting the right outboard motor includes the type of water on which the boat needs to be used along with the experience of the boat owner. It is advisable for boat owners to choose an outboard motor that is less powerful. The design of the outboard boat motor can also be a deciding factor since some boat motor designs are not available in all sizes. Tohatsu, Mariner, Mercury, Force, Johnson are some of the good manufactures of boat engines.

Fixing an oversized outboard boat motor on a boat can lead to several problems. One of the most common problems is the inability of the boat to come up on plane. Likewise, a smaller size motor can not generate the speed to allow a large boat to rise up out of the water. This can be a big safety issue, as the motor might not be able to push a large size boat against a strong current. This can result in unbalancing of the boat and harm to the boat owner.

It is often recommendable to an inexperienced boat owner to choose a smaller and less powerful boat motor. Purchasing a large motor might excite you at the initial stage but can lead to disaster.  A larger size boat moving at a top speed is easily affected by the smallest movement of the controls. Beginning with a smaller motor is a productive method to gain good amount of experience. Once you have mastered, the small size outboard motor can be traded with a replacement of a larger model.

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Affordable Inflatable Boats

The ergonomic design, safety and operational efficiency of inflatable boats make them very popular among professional and amateur boaters. Rigid inflatable boats are now coated with hypalon or a PVC material which makes them truly puncture resistant. So you can not only have kids aboard, but also your pet dog for a wholesome joy ride!

An outing by the river or seaside becomes more enjoyable when you can actually ride the waters and with rigid inflatable boats, such activities become safe and pleasant for the entire family. If you are planning for a short holiday by lovely waters, make sure that you pack the right gear for a nice time. There is a wide range of inflatable deals with products such as rigid inflatable boats, kayaks, propellers and outboard engines for inflatable boats. Inflatable boat are also easy to pack and carry!

If you are in search of some tailor made deals on inflatable boats and other marine equipment, Bill Higham Marine is the one stop shop for all your needs. You can browse through a collection of the best inflatables, RIBs and outboard engines from the most famous global brands including Yamaha, Parsun, Suzuki, Mariner and Flover among others. Let your shopping for inflatable deals begin at: www.billhigham.co.uk

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Rigid Inflatable Boats for Fun on the Waves

Rigid Inflatable Boats, also called RIBs are the latest rage in the world of power boating. RIB is a light weight, high performing, and high capacity boat constructed with a solid, well- shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The inflatable collar of this boat makes it sufficiently buoyant even when a large quantity of water is splashed aboard. RIBs typically cope better with rough seas as they are hard to sink and better absorption of heavy loads by their flexible tubes adds to their efficiency.

The safety and operational efficiency of these boats has made them very popular amongst professional as well as amateur boaters. An outing or short vacation on the beach or by the river side can be made a lot more fun with boating. Indeed, what good is a beach or riverside trip without a joy ride on bubbly cool, waters? So add this delightful waters ports gear to your vacation kit and check out some good RIB deals. There is a wide range of sizes and engine horse power options available in the market if you are looking for RIBS for sale.

Bill Higham Marine has an array of the best RIBs, Inflatables and outboard engines from brands such as Mariner, Flover, and Tohatsu. Purchase yours at: http://www.billhigham.co.uk/

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Ribs – A Great Boating Innovation

Inflatable boats are the best thing to have happened to boat sports. Not only are they inexpensive and flexible in terms of storage, they have also proved to be of great utility for recreational diving and fishing activities. However, the stability of an inflatable boat is the deciding factor for the end user, and that depends entirely on the design and the material used on the flooring of the boat.

This problem of stability has been eliminated with the advent of RIBs, or Rigid Inflatable Boats, a brainchild of innovative boat designers who clubbed the positives of inflatable sports boats and those of rigid wood, fibre or metallic boats. A Rib is just like an inflatable boat on top, and like a rigid boat made of moulded fibreglass or aluminium at the bottom. And this hard bottom is what gives this kind of inflatable boat exceptional durability, and higher performance rates. So much so that some ribs can handle outboard motors even up to a 100 horsepower.

If you choose to purchase one of these smart utility boats, make sure you fit it with a suitable outboard motor as well. It could be either a 2 stroke outboard, or 4 stroke one. But whatever you choose, make sure you do your homework before picking your combination.

For more on information about quality and ribs for sale , visit: www.billhigham.co.uk

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Tohatsu Outboards

Outboard motors have been in the market for more than a hundred years now. The first four-stroke outboard motor was invented by Cameron Waterman as a student at Yale. He patented his innovation in 1905, and turned it into the first commercially viable outboard engine that ran on petroleum.

 Mass production of machines based on his design was already taking place by 1907. Waterman later sold his proprietorship off to Carl Kiekhaefer and his company Kiekhaefer Marine. Many give the credit of producing the first ready to use outboard motor to American-Norwegian inventor Ole Evinrude. However, Evinrude’s outboards actually came out two years later than Waterman’s, in 1909.

Today, there are quite a few options available in the market for quality outboard motors. But one brand has kept a consistent and reliable presence for as long as one can remember. Tohatsu outboards have led the market in the 2 stroke outboard motors arena for quite some time now. Their flagship TLDI range is known to perform like a 4 stroke engine when it comes to fuel mileage, providing the power and lightness of a 2 stroke engine at the same time. They have also been making waves, no pun intended, with their smaller 4 stroke range. Tohatsu outboards are well known for their affordable pricing as well, there products starting from less than GBP 550.

For more details, visit: www.billhigham.co.uk

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Main features of Tohatsu outboards

Tohatsu is one of the most reliable brands that deal in a wide range of 2 stroke and 4 stroke outboards. They design outboards to provide incredible oil and fuel savings by utilising an air helped direct fuel injection system to precisely mix air and fuel.

Some of the main features of Tohatsu outboards include

• Air supported direct fuel injection system that provides exceptional fuel economy
• Extremely silent operation
• Lightweight, compact and easy maintenance
• Low emission and efficient air compressor

Tohatsu outboards are durable, fuel efficient and has all the standard features that you need to have in your outboard .There is an outboard motor to fit everyone’s needs. Tohatsu outboards come in a wide range of models and different horsepower. Tohatsu’s four stroke series include many models to horsepower ranging from as much as 30 in MFS30 to as little as 2.5, in the MFS2.5.The brand’s 4 stroke line offers superior fuel economy when compared to its 2 stroke line. The company also claims that 4 stroke series has an excellent horsepower to weight ratio. The 2 stroke series of Tohatsu outboards weigh less than their 4 stroke counterparts and also cost less.

If you want to know more about Tohatsu outboards and Outboards for sale, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk

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Mariner Outboards – Buying the Right Outboards

Want to repower your craft with one of the best outboards?

If yes, then your foremost choice should be Mariner outboards. Mariner outboards have been the only choice of many professionals including Commercial Fishermen, Royal Navy and RNLI. These outboards now come with a 5 years optional warranty. This makes Mariner outboards more reliable and trustworthy than any other outboards for sale.

Mariner outboards are well known for their power and versatility. They come in various models, 2 or 4 strokes varying in horsepower, length of shaft and other upgrades. If you want to have an outboard motor that has a gear shifter integrated onto the tiller, you must go for a Mariner outboard. It is because these outboards for sale are the only brand that has a shifter built right into the twist tiller. Most of the latest Mariner outboards are highly efficient out performers and are SmartCraft enabled. They use a fuel injection system developed from the sophisticated multi-port technology of the motor industry. A 4 stroke Mariner outboard would provide you all the performance benefits that you want, plus astonishing levels of refinement.

Therefore, consider buying Mariner outboards for your inflatable to have a good experience.

If you want to buy 4 stroke Mariner outboards or want to know more about outboards for sale, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk

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Outboards for sale – Access a powerful boating experience

With rapidly developing technologies for reducing weights and increasing efficiency, it is really an exciting time for boat owners to buy outboards for sale for their use. Your inflatable boat will really have a fresh lease of life if you add affordable new power to it.

When you are buying outboards for sale, especially used outboards, the most important factor is buying from a reputable company. It is better to purchase an engine from a well established outboard engine dealer with a warranty than to get it for £100 cheaper from ebay and find that you have bought a lemon.... Today there are various outboards manufacturing companies who have guaranteed to live up to high standards of quality and dependability. They provide customers with access to a powerful boating experience.

Outboards for sale provide individuals the ability to outfit their water crafts with exactly the type of power they require. They provide an opportunity to enjoy every activity to maximum level on water. Nowadays, manufacturers have designed new outboards for sale keeping the needs of every type of users in consideration. Look for an engine that meets your requirement and budget, and if you need to spend a little more than you thought initially, it may save you hundreds in the longrun.

For more information on outboards for sale and Tohatsu outboards, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk

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Buy Mariner outboards for smooth performance

Mariner outboards manufacture some of the most sophisticated outboard engines available on the market today. They are one of the most recognised and established brands in the world market of outboards.

When you buy Mariner outboards, you are buying expertise that guarantees to do the job you want safely and reliably at sensible prices. These outboards protect your investment in the best possible ways with comprehensive 5 year warranties. They comprise a range of different models, 2 or 4 strokes varying in horse power, length of shaft and specifications like tiller control, remote control, manual and electric start to name but a few.

The Mariner four strokes offer you the maximum in boating pleasure. Outstanding fuel economy means lesser running costs and all Mariner four-strokes provide you with smooth, quiet power to make you enjoy your time on the water in affordable comfort and style. Some of the low noise features of these outboards are full cowls, an air intake silencer and through prop exhaust. The latest Mariner outboards are highly efficient outboard motors and are SmartCraft enabled. They are the preferred engine for inflatable boats the world over, buy only from a reliable dealer who holds good repute in the market of outboards.

If you want to buy Mariner outboards or want to know more about outboards for sale, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk the UK’s largest outboard engine dealer.

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Buying new outboards for sale?

The choice of which outboards for sale best suits any individual user is very much a personal one but there are a few tips that you must consider to make your buying easy. You must buy one that provides the most horsepower and performance and is the easiest and most economical to maintain and operate. 

With advances in technology, outboards for sale are considered the most reliable source of power for boating. There are many brands available with wide selections of horse power, ranging from 2hp to 350 hp. You must prefer buying quality outboards such as Mariner outboards and Tohatsu outboards. You must rely on your dealer’s experience and knowledge to match you with the boat in the price range you want. 

A big factor to consider while buying outboards for sale is whether you want a 2-stroke or 4-stroke. It is totally upon you to decide because it will depend upon how you will be using your outboards. You must prefer buying one that uses fuel more efficiently, that means an improvement in economy and a cleaner burn. You must check for the list of standard features when you shop for Mariner outboards. Do complete inspections of propeller, fuel hose, fuel tank, fresh water flush, gauges, control boxes and tiller handles. You even need to check the lengths of manufacturer’s warranty so that you will come to know how long are you protected by the engine’s warranty.

If you want to know more about outboards for sale, Mariner outboards and Tohatsu outboards, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk/

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Buying the ideal horsepower Tohatsu outboards

For many people the decision to purchase outboards is based on brand loyalty or past experience with a particular brand. There are many brands available in the market to cater to the needs of individuals who love to take to water. Before finalising on a particular type of outboard, you must try to find out more about Tohatsu outboards because they promise to serve a variety of purposes including commercial fishing, marine transport, recreation and competition. They are developed with advanced technology and know how and are surpassed in safety, reliability, fuel efficiency and durability by no other brand.

Tohatsu outboards come in a range of horsepower and you must put the right horsepower on your boat. You must never exceed the horse power rating of your boat. While choosing the right horsepower for your boat, you must take into account the weight of the boat, weight of the passenger or gear and your expected use of the boat. If you are confused about the horsepower of the Tohatsu outboards, you must discuss with your dealer about it. They will be more than happy to help you find the best Tohatsu outboards for your particular needs.

If you have decided to buy a 4-stroke Tohatsu outboard, then you must use genuine TCWIII certified oil that has been formulated to handle the higher performance. It must also be formulated to combat the harsh operating conditions of the marine environment. You must refer to the owner’s manual for the proper oil type and amount to add and for the proper break-in and operating procedures.

If you want to buy Tohatsu outboards or want to know more about Mariner outboards, please visit www.billhigham.co.uk/

 

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Which outboard engine for a 3.4m inflatable boat cont’d

Ok, so you have chosen your application, be it displacement speeds, planing speeds with a light load, planing speeds with a heavy load, or watersports. Next lets look at which brands of engine I would recommend you choose for each application. Now I know we sell mariner outboards, parsun and Tohatsu outboards. But I will try to be as objective as possible - although I will choose these ultimately in some of the applications but for good reason!

For displacement speeds: if you want a VERY portable engine then go for the honda 2.3hp, its light - 13kg, and better built than the Suzuki, we NEVER see problems with the honda 2.3! If you want max power go for the tohatsu outboards or mariner 3.5hp (its the only 3.5 on the market and its very light @ 17kg). If you want the best value 2.5 on the market go for the parsun 2.6hp, don’t be put off by the new name, we sell over 50 of these per season and they are RELIABLE as hell!

For light load planing go for the Parsun 8hp or 9.8hp, its the lightest on the market (35kg) and also very reliable. If you want a premium brand, the next lightest is the mariner outboards / tohatsu 8 and 9.8hp offering, its only 2kg heavier than the parsun, and 3 kg lighter than its other nearest rival.

For fast planing you have a good choice of 20hp engines. The best is the honda 20hp, its light and excellent (although quite old technology). Otherwise the tohatsu 20hp is only 50kg, as is the mariner outboards 20hp.

There we go - in a nutshell, you should know which one you want now, so give us a call for some prices!! 0161 790 7678 bill higham marine.

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Which outboard should I fit to my 3.4m inflatable boat?

Its a question that people ask me all the time, so I thought I would address it here!

First of all what do you do with your boat? Is it a family runabout, do you need to pull toys with it? Does it even need to get on the plane? If you have a nice shiny new super yacht and you need a tender boat then you will be looking at 4 - 5 m ribs for sale. But if like the rest of us you just have a little inflatable boat for messing around with the family at weekend. Firstly we will look at the boat owner who does not need to get on the plane. The engine choice for this application is simple in my mind, 2.5hp - 3.5hp is all you need. Any more is over egging the pudding, you wont be going any faster, just using more fuel and making more noise, maybe making a bigger wave too. So stick to 2.5-3.5hp, this will push you at more than the boats max displacement speed of around 6mph.

Next up lets look at planing the boat, now with ribs for sale of the same size you will need slightly less hp, but with inflatable boats for this you will need a minimum of 6hp if you have only one light helmsman, and max 20hp if you want to tow wakeboarders etc. Asa rough rule for a 3.4m inflatable: an 8hp 4 stroke from tohatsu outboards will plane 1 adult and a couple of small kids. 10hp from mariner outboards will plane 2 adults, 15hp will plane 4 adults or tow kid on ringo etc. 20hp will fly and tow wakeboarder/skier as long as they aren’t over 10 stone. I will tell you which are the best engines to buy in my next blog.

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The CMC power trim and tilt system

The CMC power trim and tilt system, after market ptt for outboard engines

There are a few after market power trim and tilts available these day, but the benchmark system comes from CMC in america. There are two models of power trims, the pt130 is rated to 130hp and is the most powerful system on the market rated at over 780l0b of pressure, it is suitable for all outboards for sale and almost any boat application, from ribs for sale to fishing craft. The baby of the bunch is the CMC pt35 power trim / tilt system, it is rated to engines upto 35hp and is VERY well priced and just as reliable as its big brother. The beauty and reliability of The CMC power tilt system is down to its construction, it is manufactured from barstock aluminum, 1/2” thick, there are no ferrous components and it is completely saltwater proofed and submersible. The CMC power tilt and trim has been in manufacture for many years and is the number one choice for racers the world over due to its amazingly fast rate of trim, in most cases twice as fast as those on new outboards for sale today. The system carries a 2 year part and labour warranty and is available from the UK through various outlets. For good efficient service you can buy from bill higham marine, we offer a next day mail order or in house fitting service to suit your requirements. www.billhigham.co.uk

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