Boat Supply, Boat Tests, News

Selva 320 VIB: 5 years of testing for an out-of-the-ordinary tender

It has now been a full five years since we began testing the Selva 320 VIB inflatable keel tender. It has been a very long period where this tireless traveling companion has been subjected to the most perverse and severe endurance tests.

The tender has never been garaged, it has spent every winter on the deck of our sailboat without anyone taking too much care to clean it or fold it up: of course, we did this on purpose, to put it under maximum stress and in order to simulate during these years a wear and tear double or triple that to which a normal boater would have subjected it.

Five years in which the Selva 320 VIB tender has been towed for well over 5,000 nautical miles, like two years ago when we took it with us in the ‘1000 miles in the Tyrrhenian’, subjecting it to really enormous stress.

This year we put another 900 or so nautical miles on its shoulders between Sardinia and Corsica, mostly leaving it towed by the boat all the time, so as to also take full advantage of the zero-impact recharging effect of the Epropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo outboard.

In short, a truly indispensable tool, especially for those who, like us, spend most of their time sailing and at anchor.

The Selva 320 VIB inflatable keel tender test.

As we do every year, we take it off the deck; it is still all full of saltiness because, purposely, we had not rinsed it, which apparently impacted its color, which, of course, is no longer that bright white it was some years ago. There are also several creases, resulting from the fact that we had closed and folded it in 10 minutes maximum without paying too much attention to the shape.

It inflates quickly, the creases disappear, and again, there is no damage from deterioration. The tubulars fill uniformly so I focus on the most delicate parts, namely the valves, which are the area where air leaks are most likely to occur, but nothing: it is inflated, stable and ready for battle.

Of course it needs a cleaning, and after an application with a special product, the accumulated salt and various fouling go away and the tender regains its natural whiteness. The whiteness is absolutely comparable to that of first use.

The workmanship of this Selva 320 VIB is of great quality and, apart from the obvious and symptomatic ‘signs of time,’ I do not find at first glance any problems that would affect its beauty, tightness or reliability.

But I go into detail and check the flaps (yes this tender is the only one to have them), I go over the whole V-shaped hull with my fingers, then I go to the handrails, the tow attachments and the engine support plates, but nothing: it is a great fighter, a smile appears on my face as I think that it has done very well this year too.

We have hoisted it aboard very little this year, even in very windy and rough sea conditions we have always left it in the water as much as possible: it is now in its fifth year of testing but its condition is really impeccable.

We use it a lot.

Sometimes to pick up some guests who come by to visit us on the boat, sometimes to run small or big errands.There is always to go ashore for supplies or to retrieve something, or simply to go ashore in the evening and get to some little restaurant.

Basically it is always in the water: even when sailing for long stretches we keep it there so that it can take the waves and the sea and stress its joints. In addition, the fact that we always leave it in the water as well as being comfortable is also very useful because we have an Eproplusion Spirit 1.0 Evo electric motor that recharges autonomously as we drag it pushed by the wind. This is something I always get excited thinking about: maximum output, minimum expense and I never get stranded.

Between nights spent at anchor, rough seas, time spent working but also, and most importantly, enjoying sailing, we have put another 900 miles on its shoulders this year, but it doesn’t seem to have felt them at all and in fact I seem to pick up a note of sadness the moment we go to put it away.
It is the last year of testing and we have to prepare it for its return, a due act that, in order to pay the right tribute to this high-quality product, will take place in a few days, during the Genoa Boat Show, at the Selva Marine booth.

The Selva 320 VIB in detail

The tubulars are large and sturdy, clearly suggesting all the quality of Selva, the one we are used to. However, the structure is very light, as befits a tender that must be winged and launched frequently. The dimensions are more than sufficient for what we need: 3.20 m long by 1.53 m wide, with a footprint of 1.41 square meters.

Perfect for transporting 4/6 people without any problems and in great safety.