Selva 320 VIB after 3 years of testing: it proves to be indestructible

No maintenance and no storage at the end of the season: this is the fate that befalls the Selva 320 VIB once the summer is over. The procedure is: deflation, valve opening, random rolling up and tying up on the deck, without any protection until the following season. This way, we subject the equipment to a stressful and unusual life on board our beloved boats, so that the test period can easily simulate twice as long or more.

The “1,000-mile cruiser in the Tyrrhenian Sea” has set sail from Varazze, en route to the Aeolian Islands, passing through Capraia, Pontine and Campania Islands, before returning to Varazze if Aeolus will allow it, touching Sardinia and Corsica.

Installation

We untie the knots and ties that held the Selva 320 VIB to the mast and open it on the foredeck. It is very dirty of course, the initial white colour has turned into a warm shade of desert sand.

Large salt crystals have formed inside, which we remove without paying too much attention; the hand inflator pushes air into the tubes, which appear to be intact, as do the valves which, once tightened, do not leak air at all. As we inflate it, one by one the five air chambers gain pressure, one by one they all reach the right tension. A good start, no doubt about it. The tubulars of the Selva 320 Vib are just stiff enough, and the high-pressure inflatable dunnage is just as stiff. It’s ready to be launched: the dinghy is quite light, we literally throw it overboard, its knotted retaining line on the bow eyebolt is the one used to tow it aft while sailing, the fastening point shows no sign of sagging.

Now it’s a matter of washing it and restore it to its former glory, if possible – who knows if we’ll succeed… A special cleaning product for the rubberises fabric of the tender is juts what we need: a few sprays to moisten the originally milky white surfaces of the dinghy, 15 minutes of waiting and…. voilà, as if by magic, the whiteness of the synthetic fabric is practically back to its former glory – we certainly didn’t expect it to go so quickly! The high-pressure pneumatic floor, characterized by its non-slip surface treatment, is also easy to clean, as are the transom and stabilizing flaps.

We are surprised by the aesthetic result, the performance demonstrated by the construction materials and the accurate and resistant workmanship with which this Selva 320 VIB is made, also because winter was long and climatically heavy and the various lockdowns did not even allow us to check our boat and equipment.

We have now been sailing for a while and the dinghy is often put in the water and hoisted aboard by the same fixing point.

We have also deliberately left it in tow in wind and sea situations, but this tender does not suffer at all!

Selva 320 VIB Test

We’re using this Selva 320 VIB during our “1,000-mile cruise in the Tyrrhenian Sea”. The tender is proving to be an irreplaceable travelling companion as we almost always stay overnight at anchor.

I’m amazed by the generous diameter of the tubulars, which gives the boat exceptional stability and, above all, makes it very dry when sailing with four people aboard in a short windy wave.

The very rigid pneumatic keel creates a truly stable and non-slip surface while the open V shape channels what little water there is amidships towards the stern.

The V-hull is more than sufficient to achieve good directional stability, which is essential in strong wind.

The oars, with their hard rubber seat that keeps them secure when not in use, are well-sized and fully usable.

The lightness of the Selva 320 VIB seems to be at odds with the solidity and quality of the materials, but it gives us great pleasure when it comes to launching and hauling the dinghy.

Selva Marine

Viale dell’industria 13 – 23037 Tirano (SONDRIO). Toll-free number: 800 357 935

SELVAMARINE.COM

Previously published articles

July 2019: SELVA 320 VIB AND SELVA GUPPY2.5; A REVOLUTIONARY TENDER-OUTBOARD DUO. THE TEST BEGINS