Walker Bay

Cruisingdad · #1 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

Any of you guys have experience with the Walker Bay Ribs? Your's truly ripped a gash in his Avon over the weekend on the one freaking piece of coral head still sticking up in the anchorage. I think it is repairable, but I have had it with the HPIB.

I was stuck on an AB, but this Walker Bay is really nice. It has a plastic bottom versus fiberglass and a lot of great features. Nice warranty too. This is not the flimsy little WB that they sell in West Marine. It seems comparable to a AVON or AB.

I would like to know your opinions. I have always owned Avon's, so there is a bit of loyalty that way, but I think I may be ready to explore other options. It has to be a RIB. Cost no an issue... well, within reason as I am sure Rolls Royce probably makes a tender. It must cost less than my Catalina (no wise cracks).

AB experience? I have no interst in ZOdiac or PVC models.

Brian

Cruisingdad · #2 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

This is the boat: Walker Bay Boats

bubb2 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

I heard next year they are adding a fiberglass arch!

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

CD—

The folks that own the cat I helped deliver this past year have an AB RIB. They're very happy with it. I'd point out that the fiberglass hull of the AB is far easier to repair than the plastic hull of the Walker Bay, since, IIRC, almost nothing sticks to the plastic hull that WB uses.

chef2sail · #5 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

While we dont have the Walker Bay Genisis RIB, we have the Haplon Walker Bay Odessey with air floor. If I was in the coral area I would have purchase the RIB. The build Quality of the WB is better IMO than most similar brands including the AVON with handles and lift rings for davits already built in for ease as opposed to adding them on. You cant go wrong with their 10 year warrenty also. We have had ours 3 years and it looks new. Part of that is my wife customized a sumbrella cover with slits for the davit strops to come thru so we keep it covered almost all of the time.

Defender had a great deal on the WB RIB a few months ago.

Dave

JohnRPollard · #6 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

Brian,

I notice it has a cup holder. Clearly your name is written all over it.

scottyt · #7 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

i am just throwng in my 2 cents.... at least it has a AL transom that should be able to support a grill

also i agree the plastic bottom repair issue, but i would think the plastic would handle scraps better than frp

tdw · #8 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010

Why not Zodiac ?

I can understand not wanting PVC for your long term live aboard use but as a part time tender ?

We've got an ancient Zodiac. We were given it so it cost us nothing though its at a point where repairing it (needs all new valves) plus the size and weight of the thing has us wondering whether we would be better off with a lighter cheaper PVC job.

This is not our main tender. We only use when we are away at anchor.

Sorry for the hijack B, but I figured it was kind of on topic.....

ps - we are thinking small.....something like a seven footer, air floor.

Cruisingdad · #9 (**permalink**) 01-26-2010

Nah, this thing is going to be the family car. I actually was orginially going to get a center console AB, but sided against because we would always have to pull it and it would really slow us down. Plus, when we head east and south, I would have to ship it. THus, it did not make the cut - at least until I buy my Nordhavn (HEHE).

I am not sold on PVC anymore. I think that technology is on its way out. Hypalon can be patched by me pretty easily - as long as you don't really tear it up. I will certainly try and patch this one, but I need something that can plane and run around with the fam on board, and a HPIB simply is not it anymore.

I have owned a lot of tenders, and been pretty loyale to Avon - but I am not sure they are the best product anymore. A lot of the F/t LA's and cruisers here use them over Avon. However, that Walker Bay really has me intrigued. It really has a lot of good features. I just have not sold myself on their 'name' as I have seen their cheap stuff and it is REALLY cheap. Kinda hard to get that one out of my mind. I also am not 100% on the plastic hull as I am concerned about warping issues in the sun or if it sits on davits for too long (see writeup by the Editor of Passagemaker magazine). It is also no lighter than its fiberglass cousin (in fact, I think a little heavier but not much).

Thanks for all the input guys. I will let you know which way I go.

Brian

JohnRPollard · #10 (**permalink**) 01-26-2010

Brian,

Kidding aside, I have to admit when I saw "Walker Bay" in your title, I thought "Huh?" It wasn't until you posted the link to the dinghy you are considering that I got wise.

I didn't realize they had branched out and had these kinds of offerings. Maybe we could change the title of this thread to "Walker Bay Genesis RIB" so folks in the future will find it more easily?

Seems like they have some clever features (beyond the cupholders.

) I like the arrangement for the fuel tank and how the fuel lines get routed under the floor panels so they're not under foot/getting stepped on/exposed to uv.

Can you definitely hang this puppy in the davits? Seems to me that would be critical.

Anyway, keep us posted as you learn more. This thread could be a good resource for others considering these WBs.