Cheap Dinghy Comparison - Rigid vs Inflatable

Quick backyard test to see which I like better for use on my sailboat.
/ smallcraftcruising
Inflatable:
Bestway HydroForce Caspian 7'6"
Rigid:
West Marine (also SunDolphin) Water Tender 9.4
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[@vanstreun]

I didn't have a whole lot of money, so i bought both of them.

[@SmallCraftCruising]

and then sold the one I didn't prefer... but yeah, that's been mentioned to me hah

[@vanstreun]

Will you get some Davits for Herbert, or will you change to an other tender?

[@SmallCraftCruising]

I do prefer the rigid dinghies, but there really is no great place to put them on smaller boats like Herbert. I'm not sure yet, to be honest. Still researching the options.

[@MyTerii]

Pieter84

[@coachjm310]

ok so it wasnt the smartest thing hes ever said

[@nz_planespotter4013]

i dont have a whole lot of money so i bought both and tested them in my beautiful pool. I need the dinghy to tow behind my sailboat

[@leocovello2721]

Use a dinghy

[@Dlyons35]

Lmao

[@KC08RAS]

Hahaha

[@Domthedon33]

Right! I’m like..this fucking guy

[@cory0702]

Lmao

[@chrisfederoff1047]

“I didn’t have a lot of money so I bought both!” My kind of thinking so I had to watch

[@ognickea7180]

Chris Federoff I was I’m thinking the same thing lol

[@mufuliramark]

I'm not a even boatee type of person and have no intention of buying a dingy but this guy has gone out of his way to inform us of his opinions whilst trying to decide which one to buy. I think its really good and practical. Well done mate.

[@beatzyoutodeath]

The rigid one is better it has more space for cracking open a cold one with the boys

[@SmallCraftCruising]

now you're talking!

[@chris2944]

xlazer xfazer I can picture it right now. Saturday afternoon, all the lads around, a chilly bin, and some cold ones. classic

[@clutchplox]

xlazer xfazer I'd rather crack a cold one in the inflatable so it's more comfortable

[@FourLetterGT]

If we're talkin cold ones you might as well get an aluminum john boat!

[@clutchplox]

xlazer xfazer no the plastic one bc it’s comfy

[@seventhcircleracing3012]

A Home Depot bucket - the great equalizer.

[@tomthompson7400]

nothing shifts water faster than a scared man with a bucket

[@myslice7311]

"I didn't have alot of money".... "so I bought both" lol not hating just laughed super hard when I said it back to myself! Love the video though brotha!

[@storm030786]

west marine return policy is great!

[@msamour]

I have the 12.5 feet version of the hydroforce and I love it. It light for it's size, it handles ny 20hp motor like a champ. It's awesome all around.

[@retrocny5625]

I used to have one of those 10ft rigid tri-hull row boats. It was my first boat as a kid and I used to fish with it. Threw a trolling motor on the back with a battery and I had loads of fun. Great for getting into little backwoods ponds. More room for storage than a kayak but light enough to hand launch reasonably easy. I would throw it on the back of our small utility trailer and tote it around that way. Could even back the trailer down a concrete launch ramp, then flip the boat off and go. I still had it up until about 2 years ago. I beat the crap out of it and it held up well for the decades I had the thing. I don't even know who made it, I won it in a raffle. Eventually I put a small 4 inch fish finder on it, mounted the transducer and put a 45 lb/thrust transom mounted trolling motor on it. That trolling motor moved that little boat really well. Even a 30lb/thrust TM would've been sufficient for that little boat. For a while I looked around for a used 5HP outboard like a Mercury or Johnson but decided against it because I didn't want to put the extra weight of an outboard and portable fuel cell on an already very light boat. The trolling motor was more than enough propulsion for small lakes and ponds anyway.

[@rosevillainsrosevillains3157]

I clicked this video to see just how much I could actually learn, however I’m totally shocked. I feel very confident knowing which I’d choose now. Thank you for going through these test and documenting your results.

[@wudgee]

Thank you that was a really useful video. I like that you showed getting back onto the boats as well. Great idea to fill the boat and see if it still floated, that reassured me, I'm hoping to get a second hand dingy rowing boat in the future. Unloading was a good idea, I'd never have thought of that.

[@ralphnicosia-rusin966]

EXCELLENT, thanks for helping us budget boaters get some better understanding of these boats.

[@duncanburnside1399]

Ralph Nicosia-Rusin fucking budget boater 😂

[@duncanburnside1399]

Ralph Nicosia-Rusin weirdo

[@Rubyfied]

Uninformer Gamer chill

[@cory3100]

Uninformer Gamer Still you, fucking weirdo talking about child porn.

[@spadxiii7293]

Ralph Nicosia-Rusin, you're absolutely right. This was so helpful in finding what I needed

[@johnmosca3655]

I didn’t have a lot of money... and I couldn’t decide which one to buy... so I bought both of them...

[@whiteoutwolf6131]

Exactly what i was thinking

[@tamimaliraqii]

Thank you for taking some time to make this great informative video! Keep it up dude!

[@stevenhardy2898]

I have had 1 of the plasti boats for 16 years now along with a 3.3hp that I use as a tender. Top speed 6mph and its planeing (with a little ballast in the front.) I have discovered its also fun to use exploring the beaches and backwaters in my local area...I take it to places I didn't even know existed before because sometimes the inlets are only 6 inches deep. My left arm works great as a power tilt. If I wanna drive it up on the beach......no problem.If I wreck it ...i'll just buy another. Its also great for taking into the local waterfront restauraunt...because I can park it where no one else does...theres always a spot available. :-) oh..2 gallons of premix lasts me the whole summer. :-)

[@dh5645]

Steven Hardy which plastic boat do you have? Thx

[@stevenhardy2898]

This one. It was only 400 ,15 years ago. www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--watertender-9-4-rowing-dinghy--11985504?recordNum=1 VERY stable. I keep an empty drywall bucket with a lid in it. For ballast I fill with water ,as it keeps the bow down in rough water when by myself.If I want to load the front with beach firewood....no problem with damage.Very durable plastic.

[@SmallCraftCruising]

If you're patient and keen, you can find them on sale for $100-200 off retail.

[@APino-mc2lq]

Small Craft HELLO I NEED TO KNOW HOW CAN I BUY IT AT THAT PRICE SO LOW, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW. I LIVE IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL. AND I WANT TO BUY THAT PLASTIC BOAT, AT A LOW PRICE, SAY $ 200 NOT TO 600. THANK YOU

[@APino-mc2lq]

Small Craft Cruising HELLO I NEED TO KNOW HOW CAN I BUY IT AT THAT PRICE SO LOW, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW. I LIVE IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL. AND I WANT TO BUY THAT PLASTIC BOAT, AT A LOW PRICE, SAY $ 200 NOT TO 600. THANK YOU

[@FelixDaHack]

I rarely make public comments BUT CMON MAN! if the traditional dinghy wasn't tied up, as soon as you were on the bow, WITH OUT THE ROPE it would have 'over ended!'

[@catalinpetre3845]

thank you for this video, exactly comparison that i've been looking for

[@rjturk]

Thank you for this video. I have an inflatable, but thinking of buying a rigid one. Your last point about loading is very true!

[@SkyIrony]

How did I go from watching WWII videos to this, lmao thanks recommended

[@brenbascos]

Amazing review.. thanks for the comparison. Helps so much in deciding which is which.. thumbs up.

[@mattdabney4109]

Awesome show, thanks. First side by side comparison of dinghies and informational to which works better in different instances.

[@mikebrown1972]

Great review, really appreciate the time you took to make it! Thank you!

[@vivianaaa4152]

This is a great video showing the demo

[@FrankAsper]

Awesome comparison video! Very great demo of them too!

[@christophervela5447]

Honest straight up review.. Nice

[@rogeramadon4064]

EXCELLENT video - Very informative!! Thanks for sharing!

[@1288Franco]

I used to fish offshore here in PR with the west marine tender! It’s was pretty well ridged and filled with foam, overpowered with a 9.9 merc, which put it on a plane pretty easy but really scary, boat would stick pretty hard to the sides but overall thou dangerous, sailfish and small Marlin were a blast from that ‘boat’...also I bought it back in 2006 Puerto Rico cost was $650!

[@Boooyayaydhh]

I watch this video every year I jus love it.

[@franknickell2191]

Never thought about loading and unloading

[@e.rivera4251]

Great video lots of info on dingy boats. I will go with the solid one and put some sealer onto the seam to keept the water out.

[@flyingdutchman6984]

I came here because a friend was thinking about getting the West Marine Water Tender to fish on a small lake. It looks like we'll need to pop the seal and pack it with some butyl tape before he hits the water. It seems like a perfect little and cheap fishing boat for one person. Thanks for your review.

[@Jmmondeau]

excellent display. Thank you. I use your video as a demonstration for comparisons. Well Done.

[@mgillespiedesign]

Indeed, I might just get the Water Tender!

[@wordzenpix]

Very helpful, comprehensive test. Thanks.

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

Great video. I wouldn’t have even thought that the Westmarine boat would leak at the seam.

[@retro8696]

That's a really easy fix to which is not that bad where if that other one gets a leak its done.

[@qtube15]

why is it tied up, are you worried it will float away?

[@SmallCraftCruising]

the string was just to keep the boat in frame of the camera, otherwise it would move around too much

[@cooper3795]

😂

[@Avianca-rr3rf]

Small Craft Cruising the entire pool was in frame though

[@celticjay2306]

qtube15 Its a control

[@andreasiversen3683]

Its also bec of hurtig him self i Think ?

[@MatthewFordVictoria]

I chose an Inflatable because it deflates, and can be rolled up and stored in a duffle bag, and tossed in the back of our car, while a solid boat requires a roof rack and tying it down so it doesn't blow off. Plus you need a large place to store the solid one, but the Inflatable can fit in a storage cupboard. The biggest benefit of the Inflatable is that it's so much easier to carry than a heavy boat that requires a person at each end.

[@bigglyguy8429]

As a tender for a bigger boat, the rigid type will smash into it, has to be lashed or mounted somewhere it will catch the wind, waves and get in the way etc. I was seriously considering getting a couple of kayaks but rigid just comes with a lot of problems compared to something you can deflate and fold up

[@captainmarkgray8856]

Great demo video! They make floatation collars that you put on the sides of a hard dinghy. I prefer an inflatable with a sail kit and electric motor for as a dinghy when cruising but it all depends on your usage but I would always have a sail kit at least. I made a video of one of my lake dinghies (the set up).

[@youtubeman1ac173]

I don't have a lot of money so I bought both of them

[@terrycollins2935]

flash git .////////////

[@buildingfilming]

KZbin Man1ac he was gonna return one of them so It didn't matter anyone really can spare $400 just for like two days if you have a sustainable job

[@buildingfilming]

Fox Wright k

[@moneyinformant7781]

This comment was stolen

[@bruin4937]

Cool comparison video ... and a few laughs added into the mix. :-)

[@bengrizzlyadams6187]

The inflatable is more handy as a tender at many levels, but above all because you can you can stay close to your boat and board easily without damaging your hull, even with weather.

[@JoshuaJoshua0]

Fun vid! It would be interesting to see how the rigid dinghy behaved after sealing the seams.

[@worldbikeboatparty5860]

Thanks for the boating tips!

[@capitolbassfishing]

interesting review...never really thought about the pros and cons of those two types.

[@Frisher1]

Hello, I know you wont see this but what do you think is better for the inflatable (personal use, coolers, family) ? Aluminum floor or Wood floor like the one in this video?

[@tompinion4138]

Great assessment. We actually keep two dinghies on our boat, a 10 ft rigid hulled inflatable with an outboard and a wooden pram with oars. The inflatable is our primary dinghy and the pram is more of a water toy but can be used as a dinghy as well. They both have their good and bad points.

[@SmallCraftCruising]

That's the idea of the video. "Better" is only better if its better for you. Every design has its trade-off and compromise.

[@jabbastwin]

Great work man !

[@trubyproctor3862]

I dont have alot of money and I was debating between the two so I bought both

[@Commanderziff]

I'm assuming he returned one of them? Because yea, that part makes no sense.

[@Frisher1]

@@Commanderziff Or he was gonna buy a bigger one of these so he tested them in a smalm version??

[@bbjnimens]

well done comparison. thank you

[@trangenusa]

Great video thanks so much, very useful, I would get the rigid, my nightmare is a puncture hole by a fish spine if I catch a large fish to use for fishing; like local off-shore.

[@philgray1023]

I had one and was out fishing. A nice warm day lying back catching nothing, and as the hours passed I noticed the inflatable tubes were getting nice and comfortable. Then I noticed why. They were both going down. Try rowing an inflatable that is folding in the middle. That was the last time.

[@arnomaas6452]

that quite a nice review actually , good job !

[@myparadiseonbantayanisland9030]

Keep in mind that you would also have a motor to add to the weight, balance and floatation too.

[@nwdualsport]

Install a semi rigid flotation collar on the rigid boat, try sealing the seams where they molded the top to the bottom and hope that might help

[@RuggedSportsmen]

I was the same way about 8 months ago. I went with a BRIS inflatable. It looked better made than the hydro force and I got the 9'8 aluminum floor version with inflatable keel and slapped on a brand new 2016 mercury 9.9 four stroke and the thing flys with two people! I even got it to plane with 3 and fishing gear! Its such a good dinghy for the price I think I got it for for like 700$ on amazon!!

[@louiejordan7625]

Wonder what would happen without the ropes on either end? They seem to taught allot when he was on the stern/bow

[@kyleshepperd8057]

Congratulations on 1,000 subs

[@JCinematic]

Very helpful video!

[@gray7873]

Had that same inflatable. Lasted 6 years

[@nathansgym]

Good Review. Like it.

[@showbiznizz]

Great video!!

[@jeepcollector91]

Great video. Thanks for that.

[@joeterranova4574]

video was great !! thank you very much !!

[@jesupgoloven1185]

This was very informative; thankyou.

[@starofdavid9919]

Inflatables every time, just so versatile.

[@kobiancello6742]

The front won’t sink when u stand on it when a 45 kg engine on the back

[@MrTWOproductions]

Looking for a cheap dinghy. Don't have a lot of money so i bought both of them. LOL.

[@vizi0123]

My thoughts exactly!!!

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

i was just teasing you..great video really...thanks

[@johncorson6599]

You went to a bit of trouble doing all that check out .. thanks .. it was useful to know as I am considering buying an inflatable but not one that small ...

[@chriscarr8907]

John Corson I just bought a ten foot and I’m mounting a 15HP on it

[@johncorson6599]

Chris Carr should haul butt ! I’m thinking of getting a 15 to 18 footer with a 30 - 40 hp later this year

[@G3RMZONE]

"quit playing with your dinghy"

[@msredneck001]

Good test, thanks

[@sysublime5091]

Ok final test try folding the tri hull up and stowing it below deck.

[@mrsatire9475]

and then try inflating it in an emergency

[@sysublime5091]

@@mrsatire9475 thats what a liferaft is for.

[@mrsatire9475]

@@sysublime5091 " thats what a mommy govt is for" - Not if I can help it.

[@sysublime5091]

Mommy Govt might not be able to get too in time. Remember you have to save yourself first.

[@mrsatire9475]

@@sysublime5091 - Mommy Govt might not be able to get too in time. Remember you have to save yourself first.

[@kavemanthewoodbutcher]

Thank you, sir. Most helpfull

[@Apollo9733us]

I have a Boston Whaler but they are not cheap, but serves as unsinkable and rigid with 15 hp Murcury 4 stork with lifting harness and some other factory installed options, but botom line you get what you pay for. It tows great. Inflatables? Zodiac would be my choice. I guess it just depends on what your using it for. Boston Whaler as a tender, to me is 2nd to none. You can fill it full of water and it will never sink and are very stable. Like I said they are expensive, around 12,000 to up to 15,000 but as a tender that can take on a lot. You can find them used for much less but you will never have a problem with this boat, whether fishing as a stand alone, or as a tender

[@talktech687]

Yeah. Whalers are the most rigid and safest power / dinghy boats on the water. There is a video of these people who drove a whaler through a channel that was cut in half.

[@mississippiapple1078]

Thank you! Very useful

[@joshkentopp721]

problem fixed don't stand on the side

[@cooper3795]

What if you fell overboard and needed to climb back in but you're 300 pounds ?

[@myleshebert5107]

I have the same boat and climbing in from the side is relatively stable.

[@sirmounted8499]

if you weigh 300+ pounds you should get a bigger boat

[@PainterD54]

Looked at a couple of those kind of boats and they both were very heavy. I thought plastic boats were supposed to be light? Well it appears that they were waterlogged between the inside layer and the hull. They both no doubt froze over winter, causing even more damage by the ice expanding between the layers. No wonder they sell them cheap.

[@mrfingers1920]

Does either one have beer holders? Got to have beer holders.

[@wcresponder]

Two for everyone on board. Right hand and left hand.

[@Avianca-rr3rf]

Beer is gross... for poor people, tastes like crap. Wine is so much better..

[@kdks9873]

great video

[@xranger707]

Thanks. Useful info.

[@efrainfortiz]

Thanks!!! This help me to choose

[@juliantunge8371]

Didn't have a lot of money, so i bought both of them.😂😂😂

[@rbo350]

I like the inflatable for carrying lots of weight, I have looked at the west marine dingy and wondered how stable it was, I wonder haw it would perform with closed cell foan filling the cavity between the hulls would this increase the boyencee and cut down on dipping an edge.....thanks for the vid

[@burtvincent1278]

I swore I would never buy another inflatable but bought my third one last summer. Constantly repairing leaks. Plastic for my sailboat dingy this summer for sure!

[@bigglyguy8429]

How long do they last you? And how do you get the leaks, just age or from rocks or..?

[@burtvincent1278]

Everything from rocks to rats. Crease points when they are rolled up and stored. They just start leaking. I have one I haven't even investigated, not worth the effort to me.

[@holdencommodorehsv]

Informative video, thanks Logan Paul.

[@justinryan5433]

do you think the rigid would be good for canals? i have nasty canals and want a cheap boat to go across them

[@petermaulbeck161]

Oh man what a nice ending I love black screen

[@shs8989]

This was great...thanks

[@automotovlogs7211]

Great video

[@Bionic24]

Would have been better to compare the West Marine with the 9'3" version of the Hydroforce inflatable. It has almost double the load capacity and is much more stable. the 7' version is more like a kids toy.

[@garyseeseverything8615]

Thanks for the video

[@fransiscarumiris9519]

Good inform. Thanks... 👍

[@ammoalamo6485]

Nice comparison. I had no idea they came that small or 'cheap', nor did I think that plastic one was going to be fully sink-proof. They need a motor for a real test, but flipping the boat and drowning a motor would be hard-core for any tester. BTW. did the seller take the odd boat back for a full refund, or did you keep it as a float toy for the pool? Add pillows, some foam, and cup holders and it would make a great place to lie back, float around, and solve the world's problems - like pool overcrowding.

[@SmallCraftCruising]

Original plan was to sell the boat I didn't like, but I ended up using them both for different reasons. so I still have them. And I did a follow up video testing the tri-hull in a lake, so you can see how it does with a motor.

[@lizbnson]

I was trying to figure out what your decision was with regard to which one you would keep.

[@67cuda38]

1 dingy, 2 dingy, your dingy ! Good test.

[@ramsenalbazi7435]

One more test. Can you transport the rigid one in the back of a 2001 Honda Accord?

[@mrsatire9475]

Forget the dinghy, you need a car.

[@Frindleeguy]

I suspect he meant vs buying a high end "real" boat like a BW or WB.

[@vkhiev]

Nice test n comparison

[@adambrown3918]

I'm totally jealous for a lot of reasons. 6ft and only 170lbs? I'm 5'6" at almost 200lbs. I really have to put down the Burgers and beers. LOL! Also having $1000 bucks to test out these items is quite lucky. Sorry. Maybe one day; a boat will be in my future. What a luxury! I wish you well and stay safe especially if you're near that Overhaul inlet in Florida. Yikes! You have a new subscriber. 😊

[@robertdavena1804]

You mean haulover

[@Texaca]

....stop eating anything that has Sugar, White Rice, potatoes, or flour, or any combination of the above, including Substitute or artificial Sugars.. Eat cauliflower or any Cruciferous vegetables. . 200lbs is obese at 5'6" dude, take care of the yourself 🤔

[@bendover2684]

Ive never been more shocked about an explanation why someone subscribed.

[@sammmy4495]

@@Texaca how dare you

[@darb4091]

go Vegan, live healthy and happy, buddy.

[@EliteLordTM]

can u use the inflatable one behind a 65 horsepower boat? Like hanging after in high speed

[@ronaldharris6569]

interesting but because of the lines attached to hold you in position the flip over tendency is still open

[@1kuhl1]

Boat reminds me of my sons rubber duckys. One day I went to clean the bathroom and put bleach water in the tub. Squeezed the bleach water in and out of the duckies and a bunch of mold came out. $o I'm pretty sure that with the lousy seal there is mold.

[@TheSs11111]

I have no money so i bought both of them

[@thereisnopandemic]

Each dinghy is $500, not much money to spend.

[@TheSs11111]

@@thereisnopandemic you will know if its a lot after Crysis:D

[@bendover2684]

@@TheSs11111 Crysis?

[@socamirkovic4046]

I'm poor boy i don't have money (only house with small swimming pool) so i bought 2 new small boats . . .