As much as I enjoyed taking to the water in my Kayak, the reality is that any more than an hour in the seat gives my back grief! 

I started to look at open canoes, at least they offered some wriggle room. But these aren’t ideal for one but could allow the family to join in…..but would they paddle? 

Then I remembered meeting with a SIB owner at the caravan park north of Oban. A SIB (Soft Inflatable Boat) is an inflatable boat that can pack into the car and can take an outboard motor. 

That had me browsing the usual places checking out what was what. I joined the Rib.net forum  where information is readily available, if not from historical posts through the ever so helpful members. 

So having identified a complete outfit I set off on my 800 mile round trip and arrived back with this…….

  
….much to my daughters delight. 

The 3.8mtr boat weighs in at just under 50kg, as does the 20hp 4st Honda outboard. 

The inflatable floor goes to 0.8 bar so is almost rigid, the V shaped hull helps in the rough stuff.