Excel Volaire RD 390 - Pictures and keel jumping

[sonny1]

with regard to what you buy not resemballing the pictures on the manufacturers website then i can say the mercury ocean runner 420ive just bought from barnet marine is a perfect example of that ,,,,,no rowlocks and oars just useless paddles,very disappointed and no bench seat (165pounds ) extra but barnet marine did a good job, they didnt promise any more than they delivered .prices were keen ( i did price match with two other big names) and they did nearly do it in their predicted timeframe, im talking about the thick end of 9k here so not chicken feed. they were the cheapest and their advice was good.

[Brerabit]

You raise an interesting point @harrison and in essence, similar to the question from @chris moody about cutting the webs. I’ve just assumed from the start they are somehow vital and that function dictates form i.e. they are the optimum shape and size and no more.

I’m starting to think that might be a bit naive and perhaps they were just made big enough to deal with worst case and out of convenient leftover shapes in the cutting pattern so If they can be judiciously reduced, it’ll tidy things up a lot

The only way to be sure is to make sure the boat is properly trimmed - I think I’m nearly there - and then see what sort of splash they are actually deflecting - if any.

I need to do the ally spacers quickly if only as a temporary solution because I don’t think the wooden ones will survive another launch and then I’ll have a bit of breathing space to work out the best solution with or without webs or spacers.

[Bigplumbs]

I had a look at the Volaire 3.9 at the Boatshow this week and was very impressed. Looked very spacious inside. The only thing that concerned me was the fact that the bow seems to have very little deadrise and I wonder how dry the ride will be in a little chop.

We took our Honwave T38 out into the solant which was quite rough and we managed to stay very dry with hardly any water over the bow at all

Dennis

[kaman]

Bigplumbs the Excel is far far, dryer ride than the Honwave. As a current owner of both Sibs I can say that with 100% confidence! The bigger much more buoyant tubes of the Excel give it the edge all round IMO!

[Bigplumbs]

Kamen

Thanks for the information. What about the extra weight ?

[kaman]

Yup B.Ps it is a good bit heavier.
One of my mates who has a T3.8 tried lifting the Volaire 390 in it's bag and couldn't manage it. He takes his T3.8 on his caravan holidays and lifts it in the back of his 4x4.
Weight not an issue for me as mine is trailered.
All on our recent trip could see the Exels outperformed the T3.8s in all aspects.

[ChrisParish]

If you get a chance, could you possibly post some pictures of your Volaire setup?

[kaman]

Volaire 420 next to Honwave T3.8

Volaire 420 next to Honwave T3.8

[ChrisParish]

Thanks for the pics.

I’m Impressed that there is room for an aux - is that mounted on the transom or just in front of it?

I also notice you got one of the ones with the curved bow - the drawings online are inconsistent.

[harrison]

Thanks for posting pics of your new Volaire 420...looking very smart in its red livery.

Also interesting to see the 420 comes with those nice curved tubes and much more attractive than the facetted ones I've seen on both the 390 and 530.

As @ChrisParish mentioned the online brochure photos and tech specs are all over the shop!