Dinghy shopping

[Scott B]

I wish I could find a prop which produces a 1.5 knot gain when feathered/folded or for that matter, a dinghy that creates only a 0.5 knot drag. I think you may have transposed the numbers Scott

I couldn't imagine a sailor that would exaggerate speed figures....

 

[Ross]

I built the Bolger/Payson Nymph. 2 sheets of 1/4 inch plywood and less than a gallon of polyester resin. A roll of 3 inch fiberglass tape and about 4 yards of glass cloth. One quart of house paint was plenty for the painting. There are a couple of other sticks involved but I had those in my pile.

 

[Mike B]

If you're looking for new then check out www.defender.com and look through their leftover dinghy list. Often they still have year old models at a nice discount. The same thing with outboards. Good luck.

 

[Paul F]

Worth the wait

In the fall I was able to find an eight foot sailing dinghy on Craig's list for a reasonable amount. Since you have waited for a year or two it is worth waiting until you find one that meets your needs.

 

[jibes138]

build a Sand Dollar

This is a much better boat than a stitch and glue design. I built one and have used it for eight years. Sails great with the lugsail rig, but you can go with the marconi if you prefer.
I also have a Achilles 10'2" inflatable keel with a 4 hp 2 stroke johnson. I've had the boat for 19 years, keep it in the water all year and have used two motors in the 19 years, the first was a 2.2 mercury. The 4 HP will plane with one person if you lay down to distribute your weight and steer with your foot. I bottom painted the boat when new and add a coat each year. don't get fance just a scouring with a scotchbrite pad to remove slime a fresh water rinse and a coat of new paint.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Buyer Beware! You get what you pay for!
Stitch & Glue or Craigslist or whatever, the less you pay the cheaper the quality.
I learned the hard way buying a used engine.
Be careful with inflatables, they can have very slow leaks. My high presure inflatable floor goes soft from a slow leak over the period of a few days, and I have yet to find the leak since it is so small. Also be careful about the weight of the engine, I have a 5hp Honda and it weighs 60 lbs, very awkward to lift around so it stays on the dink transom. You can get a 9.8 Nissan 2-stroke at that weight if you can find one. Most 4-strokes are heavy. An 80 lbs inflatable dinghy is heavy to move around too, so be willing to tow it. I only use mine when cruising for multiple days so I am ok with towing, especialyl since I cruise with the engine (motorsail). If you plan to tow you can get a higher HP dink engine and bigger dink for fun filled exploring. I can go quite far and fast with a 9'9" inflatable with 5hp engine, wish it was 6 or 8hp though, but the weight is a problem.

 

[Tim R.]

Buyer Beware! You get what you pay for!
Stitch & Glue or Craigslist or whatever, the less you pay the cheaper the quality.
I learned the hard way buying a used engine.
Be careful with inflatables, they can have very slow leaks. My high presure inflatable floor goes soft from a slow leak over the period of a few days, and I have yet to find the leak since it is so small. Also be careful about the weight of the engine, I have a 5hp Honda and it weighs 60 lbs, very awkward to lift around so it stays on the dink transom. You can get a 9.8 Nissan 2-stroke at that weight if you can find one. Most 4-strokes are heavy. An 80 lbs inflatable dinghy is heavy to move around too, so be willing to tow it. I only use mine when cruising for multiple days so I am ok with towing, especialyl since I cruise with the engine (motorsail). If you plan to tow you can get a higher HP dink engine and bigger dink for fun filled exploring. I can go quite far and fast with a 9'9" inflatable with 5hp engine, wish it was 6 or 8hp though, but the weight is a problem.

Glass is half empty huh? I started with a stitch and glue home made dinghy that worked great. Built it for about $500, used for 3 years and sold for $350 5 years ago. Still in service. I bought a 1963 Cape Dory 10 from Craig's list for $1,200 that is worth closer to $2,500. Used it for many years as a sailing tender. I still sail it on a lake in the summer. Last year bought a closeout 9.5 ft. Mercury RIB from Defender for $999.00. The deals are out there Capt. and stitch and glue dinghys can be very good if built properly.

Then there is the 1998 Johnson 4hp I bought on ebay for $125.00 because it would not idle. Adjusted the idle mixture and it runs like a top now. The odd thing is that I bought it from a boat dealer. You would have thought they would know how to fix something like that.

Maine Sail has quality dinghy buying on Craigslist down to an art form! I think he owns 4 dinghys right now. I am down to only 2.

 

[jibes138]

You can never have enough dinghys right Tim?

I have an inflatable, a home made sand dollar (11' beautiful boat, check out the Arch Davis website for plans) that rows like a dream and sails ok, and now I have two kayaks. When I tow them all behind the boat each one takes off about a knot of boat speed so if the wind is light sometimes I lose so much boat speed that I am going backwards. But seriously I am concerned that having too many toys is a problem because there is not enough time to use them all.

 

[BobM]

I can hook you up with a nice used, but sound 8.5 foot hard watertender dinghy that will probably fit nicely on your fore deck for cheap. I got it with my boat and already had one. I just have to ask a friend who has first right of refusal. It is a monohull design, rotomolded plastic and will last forever. I have to run down to NY some time soon for a meeting so I can even deliver it.

 

[Tim R.]

I have an inflatable, a home made sand dollar (11' beautiful boat, check out the Arch Davis website for plans) that rows like a dream and sails ok, and now I have two kayaks. When I tow them all behind the boat each one takes off about a knot of boat speed so if the wind is light sometimes I lose so much boat speed that I am going backwards. But seriously I am concerned that having too many toys is a problem because there is not enough time to use them all.

Too many toys, Jibes. Story of my life!

 

[birnbaumr]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I learned a lot. The comments in particular about drag from a tow-behind were helpful, and I'm rethinking the idea. i'm now inclined to get a rollup. Thanks again.

 

[jcherubini]

Cheapest dinghy solution

Though I work at West Marine, my current dinghy is my late father's 1978 8' Avon Redcrest, in need of a little attention but nothing that keeps it from being used (for example the leather strip holding the wooden panels of the diaphragm pump closed is broken... the finish on the oars is nicked up... that's about it). For getting out to the mooring I have a 13' Pelican Navigator canoe that cost $392, delivered to my front yard and which I treat like a tender (including PVC flag staff for the club burgee). I'd say I'm ahead of the game.

My point is that there are always options available. I always say, to be a boater (especially a sailor) you have to 1. think outside the box; and 2. be frugal.

I do however sort of covet one C44 owner's 6-1/2' Dyer Dink that's been left in the yard... a salty-looking, well-made, eminently towable traditional rigid dinghy that I'd like to take a mold off of, if they're not still available. But I'd check eBay or Craig's List if I needed one that badly.