Where and how do you store your inflatable dinghy

[Nichole340]

I have an Achilles Haypalon dinghy. Every year, I take it home, wash and clean it, and store it, inflated on rolling plastic creeper. The kind used to get under a car. And every year I dance around with it, moving it from place to place in my very small garage. Annoying!
One year I deflated it and carried down into my basement and layed it on a wide board (deflated) for the winter. But that's awkward, heavy and dangerous to do.
So where and how do you store your inflatable dinghy for the long cold winter months?
Thank you for the advice and ideas.

 

[dlochner]

Our dinghy, a small Achilles RIB is suspended from the garage ceiling.

 

[Nichole340]

Did you build the lifting system yourself? I've thought of doing that. I do have a small area that would fit the dinghy. It would be low but I could walk under it. Your RIB would be much heavier than mine so weight shouldn't be an issue.
What straps and pulleys do you use?

 

[jon hansen]

in my barn basement, on it's flat bed trailer, inflated, but limp, upside down, with a tarp over it, between the four barrel swim raft and the fishing boat, in line with the old jeep cause it seems to never freeze down there most winters.

i converted a small fishboat trailer to a flatbed with astro turf years ago. it's worked ot nicely

fun fact: your the first to ever ask in over 50 years

 

[dlochner]

Did you build the lifting system yourself? I've thought of doing that. I do have a small area that would fit the dinghy. It would be low but I could walk under it. Your RIB would be much heavier than mine so weight shouldn't be an issue.
What straps and pulleys do you use?

The RIB weighs about 80 lbs. I just used some blocks I had and ⅜" Regatta Braid I picked up in the sale pile at Hamilton Marine in Searsport.

It is hung by eyes in the RIB hull, so no need for straps.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Deflated,. In its bag, inside the boat.
I am considering just keeping it deflated on the foredeck, in it's bag, this winter.

Previous sailboat was small so dinghy was deflated and stored in the heated garage in the back of our pickup truck which is only driven in summer.

I wonder if storing inflated in the rafters is better. My garage has a 10ft ceiling so clearance would be no problem.

 

[Nichole340]

in my barn basement, on it's flat bed trailer, inflated, but limp, upside down, with a tarp over it, between the four barrel swim raft and the fishing boat, in line with the old jeep cause it seems to never freeze down there most winters.

i converted a small fishboat trailer to a flatbed with astro turf years ago. it's worked ot nicely

fun fact: your the first to ever ask in over 50 years

Never hurts to ask, I say. And I do, a lot.
Jon, you and Dave probably have colder winters than I experience. So storing in my unheated garage shouldn’t be an issue for the dinghy. Right now I have it laying on a wide shelf, deflated and rolled. I’ll do some measuring this weekend to see if raising it up is feasible for me.

 

[dlochner]

Here are a couple of photos. The vinyl covering one set of blocks is to protect the hypalon from chafe, the pad eye is down inside the hull and the block was chafing. This is not a perfect installation. One end of the dinghy goes up before the other and it takes some effort. A better rigger could probably have a easier to use system.

The cold won't hurt the dinghy. Leaving exposed to the weather would probably not be the best idea. Ice can do some damage. Storage bags are cheaper to replace than dinghies.

The pink garage was not my idea. The little old Italian lady that owned the house before me liked pink, I guess. The kitchen had pink plastic tiles with black trim and avocado appliances. The kitchen has been remodeled.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Storage bags are cheaper to replace than dinghies.

100%. I have a commercial sewing machine and make covers and bags for a lot of things out of larger tarps, discarded tents, and especially old sails.

 

[Leeward Rail]

The pink garage was not my idea. The kitchen has been remodeled

So you say.

No need to feel bad about your color preference.

 

[WayneH]

I used a kayak lift system just to clear floor space. Or was it a bike lift system? Soft shackles from the dinghy d rings to the hooks. And the lift system has brakes to prevent a free fall event.

 

[Terry Cox]

Our dinghy remains with boat and ready to use as we cruise year around. Wrote an article about how we carry ours and we did the same when we had our first boat, an H28. That article is here: Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

 

[Nichole340]

Dave, Thank you for the photos. I couldn't picture the lift mechanism. Your second photo clears it up for me. Now I see the loop in the pulley that would allow a somewhat equal lift from the end. And I'll just bet it's not an easy lift. It's a pure dead weight lift.
I'm still going to try and plan a system and spot (if possible) in my garage, this weekend.
Thank you all for your help.

 

[Nichole340]

Oh, I forgot....my house had yellow and black kitchen tiles with black and white bathroom tiles. All set in about 7 tons of concrete! Real mud jobs they call it.

 

[jaysweet]

Our dinghy remains with boat and ready to use as we cruise year around. Wrote an article about how we carry ours and we did the same when we had our first boat, an H28. That article is here: Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

So your signature line says you're in Washington state. I've always been curious: how do people use their boats year-round in cold climates that freeze? If you're on it full-time and you have a diesel heater that's on 24/7, I see how it might work out, but... what about people that occasionally leave the boat in the winter? Even if you're on the boat all the time, wouldn't the fuel docks be closed when there's snow? I'd think the water lines (and engine) would freeze. Another issue: how do you handle the pump-out? Here in the mid-Atlantic, pretty much all the pump-out stations are closed by late October, early November b/c of freezing weather. And we're a lot warmer than you are there.

 

[dlochner]

So you say.

No need to feel bad about your color preference.

Then



And almost finished.

 

[Terry Cox]

And we're a lot warmer than you are there.

Hi Jay. Winters and summers pretty moderate around these precincts west of the Cascades. Prevailing ocean winds and water help to moderate our climate. Seldom get a hard freeze (below 20 degrees) during the winter. Some snow, but usually gone in a day or two. We've done several winter cruises with the furnace on around the clock to keep the boat warm. Some even in the snow. No need to winterize the engine, tanks, etc. We keep a space heater on while away from the boat to protect from an unexpected cold snap and also to help keep mold at bay.

Pump outs and dock water will shut down during a cold snap, but then turned back on once it passes in a few days. Our winter cruises usually last about a week, then back home. Either way, we keep the dingy stowed the way I described in my article. That way no need to deflate and haul it home for storage, then back to the boat to inflate all over again.

 

[NYSail]

We store ours on the foredeck upside down and tied. Then cover the boat for the winter……… use to bring it home and store in yard which was a big pain for us.

greg

 

[jaysweet]

Hi Jay. Winters and summers pretty moderate around these precincts west of the Cascades. Prevailing ocean winds and water help to moderate our climate. Seldom get a hard freeze (below 20 degrees) during the winter. Some snow, but usually gone in a day or two. We've done several winter cruises with the furnace on around the clock to keep the boat warm. Some even in the snow. No need to winterize the engine, tanks, etc. We keep a space heater on while away from the boat to protect from an unexpected cold snap and also to help keep mold at bay.

Pump outs and dock water will shut down during a cold snap, but then turned back on once it passes in a few days. Our winter cruises usually last about a week, then back home. Either way, we keep the dingy stowed the way I described in my article. That way no need to deflate and haul it home for storage, then back to the boat to inflate all over again.

Thanks for the explanation, Terry. Strange to hear how different the facilities are there (pump out and water being available all winter). Wouldn't have guessed it was that moderate in the winter. The only time we've been to WA state, we chartered a 44 foot Beneteau out of Anacortes, near you: went to the San Juans and Victoria BC. Great trip, but it was August, and it was chilly! I went for a brief dip only once, off the stern, after soaping up fully so I couldn't chicken out. Almost levitated right out of the water, it was so cold! I saw a Shannon pilothouse with a diesel heater for sale up that way, on yachtworld a while back. Seemed like a perfect boat for Washington state!

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Inverted RIB supported off ground on stands at home, covered by a poly tarp, secured beneath by bungee cords. The stands support only the rigid bottom and the bungees take up the slack as the cooler temps reduce inflation pressure.
If you’ve got a monster RIB too heavy to lift and invert, then build an A frame on it, cover. The A frame should have ribs close enough together to prevent snow weight from sagging and causing meltwater pools, if not it should be covered by thin plywood to prevent the sags.