Dinghy ideas

[Kommy000]

Looking for some ideas on what to get for dinghy for my H27. I'm thinking getting an inflatable kind that way i can store it inside instead of dragging it behind the boat all the time or taking up prescious deck space. Everywhere I look the smallest size I can find is 9.6 feet long. I was hoping to get it even shorter just enough for 2 people and no engine. So looking for any advice on this. Also, was hoping not to go over $300-$400 for it.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Try this one;

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|215570|1794282|1794295&id=2723034

or this one, which is the model I owned with my 30-ft sloop; smaller but more $$.

http://www.inflatableboats.net/zodiac-cadet-roll-up-series-cadet-roll-up-200/

 

[Justin_NSA]

Funny topic title. Made me think of the old sailor saying

 

[jssailem]

A step down from Captain Ron's - SARATOGA....

 

[jssailem]

I have an Achilles that is rolled up and lashed to the deck of the cabin for the moment. Out of the way for all but covering main sail.

 

[SailormanDan]

craigslist has older ones that are sometime the shorter 8'8" hard dinks for $2-400, but I haven't seen any shorter. I didn't want to bother with inflating one, but that's the tradeoff vs. towing one. I've also thought about building a nesting dinghy, but that's significantly more than $400.

 

[jssailem]

There is also the collapsible dinghy. It is called the porta-bote
(https://www.porta-bote.com/). Folds up.

 

[Alctel]

I have a porta-bote strapped to my lifelines. Got it second hand

 

[jssailem]

Alctel, How do you like it? How does it perform? Can you carry 2 people and supplies? Stable of tippy?
Tells us more.

 

[flynhi4u]

http://www.boatstogo.com/m/inflatable_boat_sd230.asp

This is the one we are going to get. 7'6" with an inflatable floor. We have inflatable stand up paddle board and the floor of this dink is just like them.

Sam

 

[Alctel]

Alctel, How do you like it? How does it perform? Can you carry 2 people and supplies? Stable of tippy?
Tells us more.

So I originally had one of the newer models with the separate wide transom, a 10fter. It was stable, rowed really well and could carry 4 people.

It was a bit too large so I switched it for an 8ft - but it was an earlier model that had the pointy transom. It's a lot less stable, and can just about carry two people and some stuff. I woulda kept my old boat, or swapped for an 8ft newer model. For me it's still fine - I just wish I had switched it for a newer model.