We get quite a few calls from users who have an old Zodiac that they’ve had for 20-30 years, we don’t get calls from people who have other brands for as long. At most they’ll have their brand X inflatable boat for 5 years and it’s falling apart or sun cooked. With so many newcomers to the scene that are direct shipped to your door we catch those calls too because there isn’t any support after purchase. With that old Zodiac there’s a dealer network and often times some real know how to overcome what’s ailing the user.
Some of the calls start out with it being a Zodiac but then when trying to understand the caller it’s determined to be a fake brand X they just call a Zodiac in attempts to impress us with their “smart purchase”. We hear stuff all the time like, “It’s better than a Zodiac because it’s the same thing and only cost 1/3 the price.” Um….. no, sorry no it’s not.
Some things are just right from the start, Zodiac’s fabrics and seam construction for example, their I.C. valve and rapid inflate systems too. They’re virtually unchanged since their design and production. Old fashioned construction and materials that work in suiting the applications they were designed for. Newer materials are always being investigated, cheaper production processes implemented in every aspect of our lives from food to toilet paper but most of the benefit in these endeavors enriches only investors and share holders not the end user.
It wasn’t too long ago you stropped your straight razor and lathered up your face for a good shave. Someone with an over abundance of the wrong material made lemons into lemonade and changed the face of shaving with the marketing of the “safety razor”. Safety razors were to make shaving easier and safer than the scary straight razor. People ate it up and the industry changed not because safety razors shaved you better, they convinced the public that it was some how safer and the old way was dangerous despite it dating back to pyramid times and likely before. Fast forward to 2024 and now razors come in plastic disposable shave heads with pivots and special strips to fight the problems they introduce. Landfills are saturated with disposable shaving products, sea turtles get them stuck in their noses and birds and fish have them in their bellies but somehow the shave isn’t as good as the old straight razor despite the carnage. I shaved my face this morning with a razor made in England in 1840 and I didn’t nick, cut, or rash my face at all.
I stopped believing the hype the companies filled my generation with (Gen X), “Two blades are better!”, “Three blades are better!”, “Five blades are better!”, “Made for real men!”. When I was in the miliary we had to shave every day in order to pass inspection, if you had any time off at all you let the hair grow and your skin heal before going back to duty, it was miserable. The expense alone kept you demoralized. Today’s new brand X boats remind me of the shaving myth perpetrated upon us us by unsavory bottom-liners.
Zodiac continues to use the best materials and assembly practices despite the costs and has done so since 1896. Sure we have machines to aid us these days but the core remains the same and in the end it’s people and talent that builds boats to carry the the most precious of cargo, our loved ones and ourselves. When I was but a boy seeking out work and learning from the old timers they’d impart knowlege that sounded dumb at the time but ended up being sage. “Don’t cheap out on a bed or a boat.” was one I remember from around 1970 which seemed weird but considering we spend a third of our life in bed it makes sense, and having been on the water most of my life the second part is crystal clear to me now. Working with search and rescue professionals after my military career has only hammered that point home harded. Getting the calls everyday from people who bought thier inflatable boat from an online only brand discover they’re all alone and the ocean is big. Give us a call and we’ll try to help you but there is no possible way we could stock all parts for all boats, we do sell decent glue and fabric to get you by in most cases though. If you’re a pro user, law enforcement, rescue agency, military, film maker etc. drop us a line or give us a call we likely have what you need or can get it for you. Don’t belive all the shiny marketing online or you’ll end up with razor rash and bumps when it’s time to get wet and do work.
Inflatable Boat Center
2041 SE Powell Blvd.
Portland Or 97202
(503) 235-2628
www.inflatableboats.com
Dealer in Zodiac Recreational, Elite Zodiac MILPRO, Yamaha Outboards sales and service.
