The name Avon has for years been synonymous with inflatable boat design. Names like Redchrest and Searider remain on the lips of the boat buying public even after 25 years or so after first appearing on the market. That said, over the course of the Last five years, the sheer quantity and variety of products entering the market place have to some extent caused Avon to get a little left behind in the minds of many when thinking in terms of Rigid Inflatable Boat design. New and exciting craft built by professional enthusiasts and designers alike have pushed RIB technology to its limits and in some cases well beyond! But where has all this advancement seemingly left Avon?

At the very least they no longer hold the mantle of being thought of as the industry standard, for several other RIB builders now share that privilege, albeit for different reasons. Nevertheless, I think it would be true to say that the Avon heritage has left the word quality firmly stamped in the minds of the boat buying public who associate the Avon name with a whole variety of items – everything from life-rafts to commercial sea going vessels.

The last twelve months have been interesting from an observer’s point of view. Not only have Avon benefitted from the corporate might and resources of their one time arch competitor and now new owner, Zodiac, but also the Avon product range now shows a definite move towards the ‘purist’ sector of the RIB market. Besides the smaller entry level type of RIBs now being built by AVON, all of which, it has to be said, are perfectly valid (we started our RIB exploits with a 3.45 Avon Super Sport – a great little boat), the larger 620 Adventure gives particular credence to the fact that the company is at last addressing the modern large leisure RIB market. This particular 6.5 metre craft is a medium vee hulled vessel which has been designed and fitted out with the intention of appealing to both the traditional sports-boater as well as the RIB enthusiast who desires a family boat with a degree of cruising ability. This boat certainly has great visual appeal and its looks set it apart from much of the competition. Avon are not alone on this project though, for the particular boat you see pictured here is an example of some very expert imput from at least two other key parties.

Utilizing the range of products from highly regarded console and seat supplier, Outhill Boatbuilders Ltd, the fitting out skills of Chris Lewis and the electronic wizardry of Tolley Marine, Salterns Boatyard have not only established themselves as one of the finest Avon dealerships in the country but they’ve also become responsible for producing what might be described as the ‘Luxury Avon’ fit out. Being just over 6 metres in length she represents the optimum size for a variety of applications. Whilst her size and weight means she remains easy to tow and launch, additionally, the 620 represents a good length of boat to take offshore. She clearly makes for a super family day boat, but overall design suggest her hull design length and overall design suggest her capabilities might include some ‘Channel hopping’ and coastal cruising. Though the current 24 gallon fuel tank would need to be supplemented or increased if the latter was to be considered. As regards her hull, it errs more on the side of medium than true deep vee. This means she is quick to get up on the plane, does not require a great deal of power to perform and will possess good load carrying character­istics. This last point is an important factor, as the 620 is designed to carry a total of 7 people. However, bear in mind if you're thinking in terms of extended cruising, then remember the general rule of thumb, the deeper the vee the more forgiving the ride. This doesn't mean the boat will be any less seaworthy or capable of looking after you if push comes to shove, but for the reasons of comfort and the advantage of being able to make better headway in steep head seas, a deep vee hull is normally associated with offshore applications. Lastly on the subject of her hull, the boat's full length parallel spray rails ensure she runs true and assist in generating a good amount of lift when underway.

The boat as we said is fitted out to a very high standard and boasts a full specification which includes such items as the excellent new Navico Axis VHF, a stylish raked double arch mast, nav lights, marine Hi-fi, stowable fenders, bilge pump, and even a satellite navigation system and teak styled decking. From this aspect the full 620 spec is pretty much a turn-key package. Attention has been given to detail in all aspects of the build and its clear thought has been given to the whole concept as opposed to it being approached from an ad hoc point of view. As on all other models in the range, the 620's hypalon sponsons come with a 10 year warranty. White though is not a colour that is generally conducive to long life. In fact, coloured hypalons in general will all degrade to a greater or lesser extent based upon how much UV they are exposed to. I'm afraid to say, grey remains the only fool proof option if you really want your tubes to retain their lustre year after year.

The latest power packs being offered are both Yamaha engineered and include the 150 VMAX or the highly efficient F100 four stroke engine. These are both well suited to the boat in terms of weight and performance. However, when we tested the boat it carried a Honda 130 hp outboard and the boat then had a top end speed of approximately 50 mph. The brochure actually boasts speeds of over 70 mph but I'm doubtful of this for in my experience there are very few true 70 mile an hour boats on the water today. Prove me wrong Avon if you wish! It was also difficult to get a true impression of the RIB's capabilities on our day of test as a tight deadline had meant this prototype had not had the opportunity of having her engine set up correctly. Hence, she was subject to chine walking at speed, a fault usually easily remedied.

Despite this last observa­tion based upon our single trial, I feel this model is a very valid addition to the current European RIB lineup and represents a commendable step forward for Avon into a market they should after all be dominating. Salterns Boatyard deserve praise for their excellent work too, may it continue to be rewarded.

HMS


AVON INFLATABLES LTD

Dafen, Llanelli,
Carmarthenshire
SA14 8NA.

Tel: 01554 882000
Fax: 01554 882039