Volaire 390 vs Honwave T38. The results

[Patrick-H]

Re “The only thing that we weren’t keen on is the rope which runs around the top of the tubes - it feels cheap and unpleasant in the hand. ”

Agreed my first improvement

[Bigplumbs]

I have a T38 and looked at the Volaire 3.9 at the boatshow. I was impressed but I just read it is over 15 kg heavier which is a deal breaker for me.

My T38 is only just manageable another 15 kg would be a killer

Dennis

[ChrisParish]

Hi Dennis,

That is a major consideration for me too. I don’t know how @Brerabit manages it on his own.

[kaman]

It's a heavy beast for sure. I've got the 420 Volaire variant - I'd say it's a trailered sib only - too heavy! However it's the most capable Sib I've ever come across so the weight could be considered as being worthwhile.

[ChrisParish]

That’s good to know. I was considering the 420 as a replacement for my T38 but a) I am concerned about the weight and; b) I don’t know how it would handle a following sea - my gut feeling is that it wouldn’t cut in in the same way as the Honwave and would slide down the waves.

@kaman - I presume that you have had the Volaire out in some rough stuff (plenty of it put your way) so what’s it like?

[kaman]

Chris it performs very well in a following seas - better than the T3.8.
Douglas Wicox posted a video on West of Scotland Boating on Facebook a few days back of me in a following sea conditions.
The big tubes stop it ploughing in at the bow as much as the T3.8.
It has a long shaft transom cut down in the middle to take a short shaft engine so it's drier at the back too.
The only negative I have noted is slow speed manouviering in windy conditions. The wind catches the huge tubes and blows it away. Not a major issue as it has oars fitted so I use them to overcome.

[ChrisParish]

On a recent trip my T38 was a pig at low speeds in the wind but i suspect that was due to the bow dodger acting like a sail.

I am very tempted by the 420, but trailering is not an option for me. I was impressed how Malcolm handled his 390 on his own.
I think the 420 would be an “as well as” boat rather than an “instead of” boat, if that makes sense.

I am very interested in how it handles adverse sea conditions because where I boat down here on the Solent it is very prone to some nasty chop as there are three large bodies of water meeting (west Solent, east Solent and Southampton water) which leads to nasty triangular waves which try and smash your teeth out of your head in a small boat.

[kaman]

Hi Chris
It handles the chop very well too.
I think the writing us on the wall for the T3.8
Lots of choppy conditions with those triangular waves you describe around the West Coast of Scotland kicked up in the tide races.
I have a knackered shoulder / neck so I always throttle back in the chop.
I find the Volaire much more comfortable than my T3.8 in the chop.
My T3.8 has now become my caravan / throw it in the car boot boat.
I've bought a mint Tohatsu 4hp 4 stroke and about to change the carb to bump it up to 6hp.
When lightly loaded and properly trimmed 6hp will plane me in my T3.8 as I recently discovered when I borrowed a friend's 6hp Yamaha 4 stroke.

[ChrisParish]

Excellent. I think I might be ordering a Volaire if I get a bonus this year.

[Andy]

Re “The only thing that we weren’t keen on is the rope which runs around the top of the tubes - it feels cheap and unpleasant in the hand. ”

Agreed my first improvement
CCE0587B-4ED2-4A58-9043-A01748A3FB0B.jpeg

Change the rope then !