Excel 430 volaire . just finished upgrades . New seats , Rod holders and transom wheels fitted. I've gone bigger but with an air floor so it's actually lighter.
...I have my transducer on a 2 foot long square aluminum rod...using one of the transom wheel brackets so I can swing it up or lock it down, same as a wheel...pointing it forwards under the raft keeps the engine's lower unit from blocking the scan..
I really enjoy your content, to the point I've copied your blueprint and I will be receiving it all within two months, maybe be able to get out this summer. Thank you for the inspiration
Thanks. I got the seats from here. I sprayed them black and glued on some black fabric I had . The seats have doubled in price because of the high demand. www.vidaxl.co.uk/e/boat-seat-foldable-backrest-with-blue-white-pillow-41-x-51-x-48-cm/8718475853732.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw24qHBhCnARIsAPbdtlIXuSB4uIczoG6gWRr3mDl3Ra8if8XkVJH1zjgDoB9CKNIbtCyALhEaArGvEALw_wcB
Hi I prefer the airfloor. I can have a bigger boat and still it's still much lighter than my old ally floor boat. Excel make a brilliant airfloor and with it inflated to 6psi, it feels solid under foot . It's also a smoother ride and seems to skim across the waves. The ally floor would sometimes slam into the waves . Thanks for watching 👍
Thank you, my 15 foot boat came in and I got it with aluminum floors. Thing weights a ton, looking possibly replace the floor with and air deck. Thank you for your insight!
Hi there, Love your videos, massive inspiration. Hopefully I can visit Scotland this year with my family. I have a similiar setup with a 20hp Tohatsu and a Honwave 40ae. I was wondering what is you propeller size?
Hi Many thanks Hope you have a great time in Scotland. I use this one ssimarine.co.uk/collections/tohatsu-propellers/products/propeller-9-1-4-x-9-for-tohatsu-outboard-9-9-15-18-20-hp-14-splines-9
Hi Graham No it never moves an inch with the ratchet straps. I have two fish finders. The one works at low and high speed but the garmin will only work at cruising speed. It starts flashing when on the plane. Thanks
Hi. I notice u said in 1 of the comments that you are gonna get some protective flooring for the air deck. I'm looking for exactly that for my Honwave38 air deck. Did you get some? Many thanks.... jj
Hi Yes I got some of this mat from the range. It works really well held down with gear. www.therange.co.uk/leisure/sport/fitness-equipment-and-accessories/yoga/eva-roll-mat/#332647
Very nice boat. Shame we can’t get them in the US. Did u upgrade because of a puncture in the old one? How is this one different? Also is that an air floor?
Hi Yes it's so much bigger. Not only length, but in width and depth . I needed this for all my gear. And because its an air floor , it's still lighter than my old one. The air floor is surprisingly solid because it's such a high psi.
How come just 20 hp on the 430 volaire ? I ordered one too same 430 boat air deck. But i also got a yamaha 20 hp 4 stroke. Im really worried will be to small. How you doing with that 20 hp you got ? Going well ??
@@pr1tch1 i put 60 kilo of water in a barrel and lift it as comparison. My F20 yamaha has 60 kilos. I also tried to lift 100 kilo the weight of a F30 with 30hp . I managed …. But with too big of effort to load in cars and drag on a shore to boat. So I’m glad you say 20 is ok. I was worried is insufficient.
Hi The bison was a brilliant boat and definitely underrated. My bison was a 3. 9m ally floor and I wanted a bigger boat with air floor. I'm looking to get a smaller boat for solo trips soon and that will be a bison. Have fun , they're a brilliant boat.
@@pr1tch1 Thanks mate, you've put my mind at rest. I was inspired by one of your videos to buy the last 4.2m Bison from the retailer. I have only set it up in my garden so far and it seemed to tick all the boxes ( it was Army green for a start lol!) but being new to boats I knew I was taking a chance. It was VERY expensive though. Have bought a new 20hp Tohatsu F1 so hopefully should last a good few years (or have reasonable resale value if i get bored or run out of money!). Thanks again for being an inspiration, even my wife who does not do camping is interested in giving the scottish wild camping a try. Any tips for the midges?
@@jjs3287 that sounds a brilliant setup . The Tohatsu is a fantastic outboard and so reliable. We always take lots deet ' jungle formula ' which does the trick. To be honest , there's probably only once where we were really bothered by them. Definitely not as bad as we thought they would be. Have fun.... it opens up a whole new world.
Hi If there's just two of you 3.9m is fine. I go two up with lots of camping gear so I went for the 4.3m . The 4.3m airfloor was lighter than the 3.9m ally floor.
@@pr1tch1 Thanks We're the same, two of us plus plenty gear. Terry at excel recommended the 430. I think I'll go for that one. Cannot wait!!! Hopefully see you out there
Nice boat! You mention it being lighter than your alloy floor boat because of the air floor, and that you don't trailer it - but I checked the specs and it says 88kg.. That is quite heavy even from an alloy floor boat.. Can you lift it in and out of the car by yourself, carry it etc?
Hi , Its 500mm longer than my old one and much bigger tubes but still comes in lighter. The problem you have is all the weight is in one load rather than two so you really need two to carry. I may get a trailer soon. thanks
Thanks for posting this I’m trying to choose between the valaire and the vanguard at the moment and can find almost no info on the valaire .. I’m wondering how you find the air floor does it feel solid under foot ? Also does the light weight of the boat make it handle differently with one person … another video in detail of this boat would be really helpful to perspective buyers ..
Hi Ian I've only added the upgrades , I've never tried it on water yet. Hoping to get out in the next few weeks. I've been assured by a guy I know, who's had most make of sibs on the market that the volaire is an excellent sib. He said the air floor on the volaire is superb. It surprised me how firm it was under foot . The boat seems so much bigger compared to my 3.9m . There's loads more depth because of the bigger tubes and it's much wider . Apparently its a very smooth ride compared to the ally floor and the only downside was its not the best at turning at slow speed. Even though its so much bigger than my 3.9m it's still lighter. I don't trailer my sib so I doubt I'll go back to an ally floor. I've also purchased some protective flooring for piece of mind .
...I have my transducer on a 2 foot long square aluminum rod...using one of the transom wheel brackets so I can swing it up or lock it down, same as a wheel...pointing it forwards under the raft keeps the engine's lower unit from blocking the scan..
cool boat. very inspiring. thanks for sharing.
I really enjoy your content, to the point I've copied your blueprint and I will be receiving it all within two months, maybe be able to get out this summer. Thank you for the inspiration
Many thanks for the kind words. It means alot.
Nice setup there.👍🏻
Nice setup👍
Could you share a link for seats.
Thanks
Thanks. I got the seats from here. I sprayed them black and glued on some black fabric I had . The seats have doubled in price because of the high demand.
www.vidaxl.co.uk/e/boat-seat-foldable-backrest-with-blue-white-pillow-41-x-51-x-48-cm/8718475853732.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw24qHBhCnARIsAPbdtlIXuSB4uIczoG6gWRr3mDl3Ra8if8XkVJH1zjgDoB9CKNIbtCyALhEaArGvEALw_wcB
Hi there, love the video. Just wondering which you prefer more ? The hard floor or the air floor ?
Hi
I prefer the airfloor. I can have a bigger boat and still it's still much lighter than my old ally floor boat. Excel make a brilliant airfloor and with it inflated to 6psi, it feels solid under foot . It's also a smoother ride and seems to skim across the waves. The ally floor would sometimes slam into the waves .
Thanks for watching 👍
Thank you, my 15 foot boat came in and I got it with aluminum floors. Thing weights a ton, looking possibly replace the floor with and air deck. Thank you for your insight!
Hi there, Love your videos, massive inspiration. Hopefully I can visit Scotland this year with my family. I have a similiar setup with a 20hp Tohatsu and a Honwave 40ae. I was wondering what is you propeller size?
Hi
Many thanks
Hope you have a great time in Scotland.
I use this one
ssimarine.co.uk/collections/tohatsu-propellers/products/propeller-9-1-4-x-9-for-tohatsu-outboard-9-9-15-18-20-hp-14-splines-9
@@pr1tch1 Amazing, thank you so much!
How do you get on with the transducer just strapped on? Does it ever come loose? Do you get full reception at all speeds?
Hi Graham
No it never moves an inch with the ratchet straps.
I have two fish finders. The one works at low and high speed but the garmin will only work at cruising speed. It starts flashing when on the plane.
Thanks
Hi Steve how are the seats in new position from the others .
Hi. I notice u said in 1 of the comments that you are gonna get some protective flooring for the air deck. I'm looking for exactly that for my Honwave38 air deck. Did you get some? Many thanks.... jj
Hi
Yes I got some of this mat from the range. It works really well held down with gear. www.therange.co.uk/leisure/sport/fitness-equipment-and-accessories/yoga/eva-roll-mat/#332647
Very nice boat. Shame we can’t get them in the US. Did u upgrade because of a puncture in the old one? How is this one different?
Also is that an air floor?
Hi
Yes it's so much bigger. Not only length, but in width and depth . I needed this for all my gear. And because its an air floor , it's still lighter than my old one. The air floor is surprisingly solid because it's such a high psi.
Look up stryker boats, or innovocean
What updates on the boat?
How come just 20 hp on the 430 volaire ? I ordered one too same 430 boat air deck. But i also got a yamaha 20 hp 4 stroke. Im really worried will be to small. How you doing with that 20 hp you got ? Going well ??
Yes plenty fast enough. I only use half power at the most.
Any bigger and it will be impossible to carry .
@@pr1tch1 i put 60 kilo of water in a barrel and lift it as comparison. My F20 yamaha has 60 kilos. I also tried to lift 100 kilo the weight of a F30 with 30hp . I managed …. But with too big of effort to load in cars and drag on a shore to boat.
So I’m glad you say 20 is ok. I was worried is insufficient.
I just bought a boat similar to the one you had (Bison marine 4.2m?). How was it for you guys? What made you upgrade it?
Hi
The bison was a brilliant boat and definitely underrated. My bison was a 3. 9m ally floor and I wanted a bigger boat with air floor. I'm looking to get a smaller boat for solo trips soon and that will be a bison. Have fun , they're a brilliant boat.
@@pr1tch1 Thanks mate, you've put my mind at rest. I was inspired by one of your videos to buy the last 4.2m Bison from the retailer. I have only set it up in my garden so far and it seemed to tick all the boxes ( it was Army green for a start lol!) but being new to boats I knew I was taking a chance. It was VERY expensive though. Have bought a new 20hp Tohatsu F1 so hopefully should last a good few years (or have reasonable resale value if i get bored or run out of money!). Thanks again for being an inspiration, even my wife who does not do camping is interested in giving the scottish wild camping a try. Any tips for the midges?
@@jjs3287 that sounds a brilliant setup . The Tohatsu is a fantastic outboard and so reliable.
We always take lots deet ' jungle formula ' which does the trick. To be honest , there's probably only once where we were really bothered by them. Definitely not as bad as we thought they would be.
Have fun.... it opens up a whole new world.
@@pr1tch1 Thanks Stephen.
Lovely. What transom wheels do you use and would you recommend them. Nice sib. Thanks Steve 👍
Hi , These are from Excel . very well made .
thanks
Hey man, I really like your videos, great work! Can't decide between the 390 and 430 😬😬... Any help 😣?
Hi
If there's just two of you 3.9m is fine. I go two up with lots of camping gear so I went for the 4.3m . The 4.3m airfloor was lighter than the 3.9m ally floor.
@@pr1tch1 Thanks We're the same, two of us plus plenty gear. Terry at excel recommended the 430. I think I'll go for that one. Cannot wait!!! Hopefully see you out there
@@jobdone7392 Have fun ! It opens up a whole new world 👍
I also made order for 4,3 meter air floor.
@@mihairadupop2491 have fun. It's a brilliant boat
Nice boat! You mention it being lighter than your alloy floor boat because of the air floor, and that you don't trailer it - but I checked the specs and it says 88kg.. That is quite heavy even from an alloy floor boat.. Can you lift it in and out of the car by yourself, carry it etc?
Hi , Its 500mm longer than my old one and much bigger tubes but still comes in lighter. The problem you have is all the weight is in one load rather than two so you really need two to carry.
I may get a trailer soon.
thanks
@@pr1tch1 makes sense - once you get a trailer though, there are hardly any reasons left for having an air floor instead of alu..
Was the bison well made?
Brih you gotta talk in your videos and explain everything you done fsct other wise we don’t know anything 😂😂 tho fact
Where did you get those seat,look great !!
Hi
I've posted a link on the comments.
Thanks and good luck
Thanks for posting this I’m trying to choose between the valaire and the vanguard at the moment and can find almost no info on the valaire .. I’m wondering how you find the air floor does it feel solid under foot ? Also does the light weight of the boat make it handle differently with one person … another video in detail of this boat would be really helpful to perspective buyers ..
Hi Ian
I've only added the upgrades , I've never tried it on water yet. Hoping to get out in the next few weeks.
I've been assured by a guy I know, who's had most make of sibs on the market that the volaire is an excellent sib. He said the air floor on the volaire is superb. It surprised me how firm it was under foot . The boat seems so much bigger compared to my 3.9m . There's loads more depth because of the bigger tubes and it's much wider . Apparently its a very smooth ride compared to the ally floor and the only downside was its not the best at turning at slow speed.
Even though its so much bigger than my 3.9m it's still lighter.
I don't trailer my sib so I doubt I'll go back to an ally floor. I've also purchased some protective flooring for piece of mind .
@@pr1tch1 thanks for your reply hope you enjoy the Volaire and look forward to some on the water footage 👍