Hypalon Vs PVC

[burlu]

Hi all,
I'm about to buy a new 16 foot dinghy but a little confused whether to buy it in hypalon or the less expensive PVC.  The difference in cost is quite considerable. Is the material so superior in function, longevity, durability and maintenance that justifies the extra cost?
p.s. I was told that the PVC material nowadays  has improved and it s not worth-it anymore investing money in a hypalon rib; this was a sales person of one of the main local boat shops.   
I do not intend  keeping the rib at sea and  will be stored in a garage.
Would appriciate your opinion.

[baghira]

Burlu definitely hypalon.
I own one of the best ribs on the market, and my only regret is that it is in PVC.
Search reviews and look in the internet.

[Meccanic]

http://falconinflatables.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Comparison-hypalon-valmex.pdf

[baghira]

Interesting testimonial.....
It would be interesting to hear other views....

[skip]

Very interesting read. Indeed one would expect developments in the material and processes used to glue and bond RIB tubes.

In this comparison, the key points to take are on buying a RIB made in this case with Valmex PVC and high quality thermo-bonding, because as the article highlighted, most PVC is low grade coming from China and with cheap plasticizers.

I've always known Hypalon to be extremely durable and preferred in the Med Climate, but then yes I've heard about it being the glue that fails, so this is certainly an interesting innovation assuming one can find a RIB with material like Valmex along with these high quality bonding processes.

[baghira]

As I said... This was one testimonial from someone selling only PVC Ribs.... (previously selling also Hypalon as BWA, Lomac etc).....

I would not take a decision based on 1 view.

I have seen PVC ribs and hypalon, and after years, one is in a much better condition, and the feel of touch of hypalon is much nicer than PVC.

Another issue is that PVC are glued in some parts as well, and therefore there can also be glue failure.... PVC welded tubes are glued to the fibre and in some other points. And what is worse Glue failure (which can be glued again) or material degeneration???/ which is to be thrown away?

[joe]

proset baghira

[Meccanic]

For the past 35 years, MECCA has been importing dinghies for the local market: ranging from Sevylor, Maxxon since 1989, Lomac, Capelli, BWA, Promax, Quicksilver, Blackfin and Valiant... a little bit of knowledge I think we gathered and I shared the link above not to write my own write up as you would say that I might have a direct inclination to like a material and not another! I do remind you that at MECCA we do not manufacture but we Import and therefore Importing Hypalon Ribs and Importing PVC Ribs would make no difference at all.

The situation is that most Italian manufactrers tend to use Hypalon since it is easier to produce, design and project it to finish with ease. Hypalon required no investment in cutting machines or termo-welding machines which costs thousands of euros and high tech workers to manage these machines are required and costly.... A good scissors - blade and templates are all the required tools for cutting hypalon tubes.

On the contrary PVC requires all new machinery, welding machines, cutting machines and CAD programs to finish the end tubes. The good thing is that a whole tube can be manufactured in 1/10 of the time required by hypalon, 10 tubes can be cut at one go and welding is so much faster and fool proof than gluing.
PVC originating from Korea and China - are the cheapest one can find while the highest quality is GERMAN MEHLER VALMEX. All ribs designed in Europe are not all opting for VALMEX due to the best properties that the fabric offers and yet, still half the price of Hypalon. This is the reason we only import tenders, dinghies, ribs with tubes in GERMAN MEHLER FABRIC.

Mecca Imports BWA and BLACKFIN which are all manufactured in Hypalon since the particular high end designs, spacious layouts by the Italian firms are not offered by MAXXON, VALIANT or PROMAX. Yet it must be understood that in today's world, PRICE is a compromising factor and selling just Rolls Royce would turn us as dealers bankrupt! who would buy a 2m hypalon tender at Euro 1000 when a German Mehler tender by MAXXON or PROMAX is Euro379?

I do understand that for buyers this is not an easy decision. Yet, most importantly the hull factor V shape and depth, width of Rib, height of tubes from sea are far more important!

Now to drive you all crazy: Fiberglass V Hull or Aluminium V Hull~?

http://www.highfieldboats.com/international/