2009 Zodiac Yachtline 380 DL

Rigid inflatable boats are probably best known as rescue machines. With deep-V fibreglass hulls and inflatable tubes, they offer the ultimate combination of sea-keeping and security.

As a cottage boat or a cruiser’s dinghy, the Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 380 DL, powered by Yamaha’s new F40 outboard with electronic fuel injection, can also rescue parents from teenage boredom and inactivity.With a 12-foot, 6-inch Yachtline at the cottage dock or tied at the cruiser’s transom, parents will never again hear “there’s nothing to do.”

Because 14- to 16-year-olds are limited by licensing regulations to boats with 40 hp or less, PWCs are out of the question. The cottage ski or wakeboard boat is also likely to be out of reach.

A 380 DL, with a 40-hp engine, is fast, fun and legal. It’s also ultra-safe. There’s almost nothing teens could do to hurt them themselves or this boat. The 380 is stable at all speeds, easily handles waves and tracks very well. I couldn’t make it hook, even in tight turns at top speeds. As if that wasn’t enough, the fuel economy is outstanding.

For power- or PWC-deprived teens, an inflatable like this is perfect. For starters, it’s a real boat, with a helm console with windscreen and stainless steel grabrails. There’s another stainless steel grabrail at the bow and several grabhandles on the tubes. Also, it’s simple to maintain. The vinyl seats, non-skid fibreglass floors and durable SHARC fabric tubes will easily hose down or wipe off.

There are a couple of comfortable seats at the helm, with room for a couple of passengers up front. And even if the kids pile five of six of their friends into the boat, don’t worry – the official maximum payload is 1,620 pounds and the boat will move a little slower.

With a reasonable load, the 380 DL provides thrills with no spills. The boat accelerates to 20 mph in 5.47 seconds and reaches 30 mph from a standstill in 8.7 seconds. At top speed, the F40 pushes the test boat to 36.1 mph at 5900 rpm.

This is enough power to pull teen-size water-skiers or wakeboarders. The engine registers only 86 decibels at top speed, so it will be easy on tender eardrums.

And at the end of the day, when adults want to head to a local restaurant, the 380 DL will provide a stable and classy looking ride.

TEST BOAT ENGINE
Yamaha F40, 45.6 ci / 747 cc, inline three-cylinder, fuel-injection four-stroke gasoline outboard producing 40 hp, driving a 14-inch pitch aluminum prop.

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)
0-20 / 5.47 ; 0-30 / 8.75

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)
5900 / 36.1

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)
3000 / 13.2 ; 3500 / 18.4 ; 4000 / 23.

SOUND LEVEL AT CRUISE (4000 rpm)
Helm– 83 dbA

SOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED
Helm– 86 dbA