Re: Honda Marine - Honwave Air Floor Range- (Quality Control Issues)

[ChrisParish]

I’ve been looking at the pics that people have posted in the quality control thread and I have to admit I am feeling a little sheepish. Some of them are awful.

[Brerabit]

I’m hoping to make time in the near future to do my VHF ticket with Sarah at Dorset Marine Training so when I’ve got that lined up perhaps we can arrange something. I’ll PM you.

I’ve also just noticed @chris moody y mention his surprise at the firmness of the hull/floor. It really surprised me as well. For some preconceived reason I expected it to be ’sort of bouncy’ not at all. It’s surprisingly solid. There’s a slight cushioned feel underfoot but together with its relative flatness the ribbing and the textured surface, it’s a very stable area to move around on - should the need arise.

[Martin]

I’m hoping to make time in the near future to do my VHF ticket with Sarah at Dorset Marine Training so when I’ve got that lined up perhaps we can arrange something. I’ll PM you.

I’ve also just noticed @chris moody y mention his surprise at the firmness of the hull/floor. It really surprised me as well. For some preconceived reason I expected it to be ’sort of bouncy’ not at all. It’s surprisingly solid. There’s a slight cushioned feel underfoot but together with its relative flatness the ribbing and the textured surface, it’s a very stable area to move around on - should the need arise.

Inflate the boat, turn it upside down- can you stand on the V without it bending/Caving in ?

Martin

[Brerabit]

Are you winding me up? No? ok…

To be honest and to date I haven’t really felt it appropriate. It’s performed very well, superbly in fact and I feel it would be churlish to reward it by jumping up and down on its arse. However, should the occasion arise, I’m pretty confident it will support my weight as firmly on its underside as it does topside. It is after all one solid, tensioned and braced, lump of air.

What’s really good though is that when you put it in the water the right way up, it works even better. It goes straight, doesn’t collect air under itself and provides a nice flat deck - result.

[harrison]

You’re loyalty to the marque is commendable @ChrisParish and I am genuinely pleased that you get so much pleasure from your T38,


I’m sure you and @harrison would love your boats that little bit more if they were straight.

Been following this with interest and have a few points to raise.

Firstly I seem to be perceived as a staunch T38 fanboy. Actually nothing could be further from the truth despite having one. Purchased recently and well aware of the quality issues, it was the most suitable boat that filled my particular needs at this moment in time.

Secondly there is no such thing as the ‘ultimate sib’
There are numerous designs manufacturers have of creating a keel in their sibs, all have advantages/disadvantages depending on your requirements. I’m not going to bore everybody with all the different options as most are fully aware of these, and those that don’t can always search old threads, where more than once I/we have debated all the options.

Thirdly I took exception to Brerabit’s crass comment on the other thread;

“it’s inexplicable when you read some of the disappointment and frustration T38 buyers have recounted on these pages. Perhaps having suffered themselves they want others to share some of their grief…”

What the fook!!

Fourthly, trying to keep an open mind on the Volaire air bed floor, but until the Excel boys can be bothered to turn up for a meet, then this whole discussion is purely hypothetical.

[Brerabit]

Some points to answer @harrison but not necessarily in order.

“it’s inexplicable when you read some of the disappointment and frustration T38 buyers have recounted on these pages. Perhaps having suffered themselves they want others to share some of their grief…”

This was never a serious accusation, was not intended to be taken seriously and quite frankly, I’m not entirely sure why you’ve have made such a serious point of it. When taken in context with its foregoing where I was at a loss to understand why, given the history which is unfolding in the other post, we were still not warning people off buying them. The end comment was not intended to shame anyone but simply highlighting the potential result of what appeared to be our passive acceptance of something totally unacceptable coupled with the initial lack of response to @martin ’s post. If anyone was genuinely offended I apologise completely and without reservation - but I suspect that may be to a flock of one.

I have never regarded you as a fully paid up T38 fan. In fact I remember your sympathetic response to the “I’m getting a little concerned “ thread I posted when, as a potential T38 buyer, entirely based on very strong recommendations from this forum, I became increasingly aware of the Honwave QC issues which had been running on this site for some time.

I’m also aware of the problems you have personally experienced with EBC and Honda for which you have my genuine and heartfelt sympathy. The same goes for anyone else who has suffered the pain of buying a boat that subsequently became a disappointment on delivery and was then faced with the hassle of returning it. Were it me I’d be incensed.

However, you did get my goat with “but until the Excel boys can be bothered to turn up for a meet”
I don’t know whether you are unaware or just being provocative, perish the thought.
I did bloody turn up. I loaded my boat and motor bought it down to the coast, stayed overnight in a hotel and was really looking forward to it when on the evening before, I discovered that it had been cancelled - apparently because no one wanted to swap engines and a jolly out to the Needles was preferred - but not by me, which as it turned out was a good call.

I did turn up - I did bother - but you lot all buggered off to do something else.

With regard to the Ultimate SIB, I couldn’t agree more. If it does what you bought it for, it’s right for you. It’s also usually the case that when something excels in one area it may be compromised in another. Which is why this forum has a responsibility to not only advise objectively on what is good but also where necessary, warn of potential problems.

Your attempts at keeping an open mind regarding the Volaire whilst commendable, appear to be failing. Your likening of the Volaire construction to an air bed is about as valid and informed as describing the T38 hull as two paddle boards glued together.

For my part, the T38 failed my risk assessment and I bought the Volaire which I’m exceedingly happy with and have said so. However, as this discussion seems to be exercising some people disproportionately for reasons I don’t fully understand, I think I’ll just bow out and watch from the sidelines.

[Martin]

Are you winding me up? No? ok…

To be honest and to date I haven’t really felt it appropriate. It’s performed very well, superbly in fact and I feel it would be churlish to reward it by jumping up and down on its arse. However, should the occasion arise, I’m pretty confident it will support my weight as firmly on its underside as it does topside. It is after all one solid, tensioned and braced, lump of air.

What’s really good though is that when you put it in the water the right way up, it works even better. It goes straight, doesn’t collect air under itself and provides a nice flat deck - result.

Hahahaaa... love it.
Hell No,I wasn’t winding you up, I actually did that with my old T38ie out of curiosity and I have to say I was gobsmacked that the V maintained it’s profile and the floor didn’t buckle.
Though I must admit, I didn’t jump all over it

Martin

[billysince1976]

Chaps..
I can see some of the posts/replies in this topic are starting to rattle a few cages, please please please.... think before you post, re-read before you reply, and more than anything please don’t get disgruntled with one another.
It’s a discussion forum and everyone will have their own points of view and each need to be able to voice their opinion without the fear of attack...
We’ve got a superb forum here, let’s keep it a happy place pls.

Thanks,
Martin

[ColoradoFourWheeler]

Inflate the boat, turn it upside down- can you stand on the V without it bending/Caving in ?

I'm not a T38 owner, nor likely to ever be one since from everything I've been able to determine is that Honwave is sold only in Europe. That being said, this statement intrigued me and makes me want to try this on my SIB. What is the intended result? If I stand on my inflated V-hull is the expectation that with the flooring and side supports all in place that standing on the hull won't do anything at all? Is this to simulate hitting waves aggressively? By doing this test on my older SIB it adds an interesting control to the test - i.e., "hey we can do this just fine on a 2001" or "other boats do this too".

[Brerabit]

Thanks @Martin, I’m all for a little levity.
In fact, the vision of you jumping up and down on an upturned T38 hull prompted a number of humorous captions in light of current topics. So many jokes, so little time...

…but in the interest of forum harmony I’ve restrained myself.