Intex Nessie

Production years: 1996 - 1998
Dimensions: 196 x 130 cm
Weight: 2.05 kg
Chambers: 2 or 3 depending on the version, body, rear paws,  #2 valves on tail and of top of right rear paw or both rear paws.
Construction: Matte 0.35 mm vinyl, all pinched seams

Description:
Classic round body double ride-on dragon made of thick but very soft smooth matte vinyl.

Interesting facts:
The box says Dragon ride-on however the design in 1996 according to copyrightencyclopedia was registered under the name Nessie ride-on. Also she was advertised in 1997 newsletters as  Nessie ride-on. So she's usually called Intex Nessie.
The prototype on the box has a seam around the neck while the actual ones doesn't.
There was a different version made later by Intex with 4 valves on the front paws and on the neck probably with inner chamber inside the neck too. This version has a blue warning text on the left front paw instead of the black one on the tail. This version is very rare.
1998 toys are usually made of two different vinyl sheets on sides, you can notice a little different pattern on each side of her snout.
Two patterns of paw pattern used digonally.

Production notes:
Intex #58580
The 1996 version has a little softer vinyl and narrow pinched seams (all the same)
The 1998 version has extended pinched seams on negative curves of the back seating areas. However it wasn't really an improvement, the thick inflexible part of the seam tends to overload the vinyl right next to the seam causing leaks.

Repair notes:
Inspect regularly the seams on the negative curves of the seating areas first. In sunny weather you can see through the seam to estimate if it is ok, or needs preventive repair before taking her on water vacation.

Water use:
Adults can comfortable sit on the back seat. The other option is to gently lie on her with your legs behind the rear paws. The middle part is soft enough so you can lie comfortable on her between tail and the neck.

Personal notes:
She was the first one I really dreamed to have and it took me almost a year to find one in spring 2012 on ebay. She was on a long way, came to me from Brazil after four weeks.
On her first birthday next year I talked her that we don't have to deflate now as we had to last year. She became the second one stable inflated here.
I took her to water many times and she's water companion to spend the whole days on water at home, on vacations.. I'm taking her also on winter vacations just to have someone with me smiling in the morning when I wake up.