AB 10 VL, fantastic dinghy

This is our 4th year with this AB 10 VL dinghy and I have to share how great this boat has served us from Maine to the Bahamas. It weighs in about 120 lbs and it is built on a fiberglass floor. It does not have that common bow locker, so it keeps the weight down. The fiberglass bow curves nearly straight down from the bow, so it gives it a longer waterline which makes it run faster and straighter than if it had a shorter waterline. With a 4hp outboard, I can plane in the dinghy alone, which I find amazing. The tubes are firm, and large, and I only have pumped it up about 3 times over the past year! We carry it up on Kato Marine Davits and lift it with 6:1 blocks. Before this dinghy, we had an Avon Rollup, Air floor but that was wet and had no real v bottom.

If I were buying another dinghy, I would buy this AB 10 VL again, or maybe I would look at the aluminum floor model at 10 feet also as it saves a few pounds.

Here is a photo of two ABs on the beach in the Abacos, notice the BOW curve UP and the fiberglass V in the front.



Link to AB 10 VL
www.abinflatables.com/producto.asp?codigo=44

Link to the AB Home Page
www.abinflatables.com/

Looking at dingys now.....with small O/B as well for our IP-27. Have davits and want to keep it as light as possible.....the new AB 9 with aluminum bottom looks like a real possibility....does the aluminum hold up?? Making repairs to fiberglass is common....how about aluminum??

Thanks....I have really fond the site to helpful as a new IP owner.......thanks to all.

Jeff

Jeff:
We had IP27 #058 for 10 years. We had Kato Davits, the Island Model (larger ones) and we had a 10' dingy! Yes it looked large, but we still could back it into our slip. We did this because of the idea of moving them to the NEXT boat. That is exactly what we did. So if you plan to someday move up in size then get the 10' dinghy and keep it.

AS for AB. Hands down, it is the #1 dinghy out there. You see a lot of Cribe dinghies as well, but it seems like the AB is just as good if not better. We have the 10VL fiberglass and if I were buying again, I would get the Aluminum model. Stronger, lighter. The 9' aluminum would be darn near perfect for the IP27, and hanging it on davits would be no big deal.

So maybe you get the 9' AB aluminum for your 27, and if you move up then the 9' is still OK. If you want more room, then the 10' AB aluminum may be a better choice. Our AB 10' fiberglass will plane with a 4 HP mercury outboard, (just me in) but don't add any more weight.

AS for repairs, I doubt you can hurt the aluminum bottom. If you put a hole in it, then you just have to get it welded or patch it with JB weld or epoxy. I would not ever worry about that.

Go with the AB aluminum and you will LOVE IT...

Hayden

Good day.We have just purchased an Island Packet 38.It has a nice set of davits.We do a lot of diving.We are looking for a dink that will be an inflatable not deflatable to serve as a dive vessel not only a way to shore.any input would be much welcome.thanx Jeff and Tina S/V WINGS

Bettina:
I am still very sold on an AB inflatable dinghy. For the IP, you can go with the 9', 10' 11' or 12' these all seem to fit fine on the stern on davits. I prefer the 10' model. I have used the 10' fiberglass model for many years now, and after seeing several aluminum AB models, I would NOW buy the AB Aluminum model. They seem to set a little higher out of the water and they are lighter as well.

The AB web site is
www.abinflatables.com/

Here are the models I would look at. I think the 11' would work well on an IP38

Lammina 10 AL Aluminum Tenders
www.abinflatables.com/lammina-10-al

Lammina 11 AL Aluminum Tenders
www.abinflatables.com/lammina-11-al

Lammina 12 AL Aluminum Tenders
www.abinflatables.com/lammina-12-al




Hayden

Carol's early Christmas present for me was our new 9.1 aluminum hull A/B RIB. We went with the bow-locker model because it includes the double floor (which is flat and ) reasonably dry except in the sloppiest conditions. Weighs 79# and we hoist on Kato Davits.