What do you think of this dinghy design?

[Hermit Scott]

I have never seen one designed like that. Is moving the engine forward an attempt to help it plane easier? The listing says 9'. It also said it started as a hard bottom dinghy and has been added to.
I wanted one less than 8'. Is chopping those transom extensions off an option, or will it ruin the preformace of the hull?

Is it just me or from the top view, does this look like the front half of a boat?

 

[higgs]

I'm no naval architect, but chopping off those extensions, I think, would have a big effect on stability both at slow and fast speeds. Those extension look to be about 20% of the length. I would think that it would make it far less stable when boarding with those gone.

 

[Roger Long]

I am a naval architect. This not half bad idea if you are not trying to maximize interior space. Unless the picture is distorting things, it was built in the mold for a longer boat by inserting mold parts for the transom and stern sponsons. If you cut the sponsons off, you would have a boat of much less capacity and stability. It might not be worse than a lot of small dinghies out there but the high deadrise from being essentially the bow of a larger boat might make it pretty tiddly. I'd use it as it is or pass it on to someone who can use it in it's present configuration.

 

[seadaddler]

Short?????

Why would you want so small,I had a 8' infaltable and sold it for a 9'6''.
The 8 ft was really OK but we want ed a little more room,plus like already said I think you will not be happy with satability.

 

[sailingdog]

In either case, it's pretty ugly... I'd pass on it.. Dinghies are small enough as it is, and getting one that guts the interior space like that makes it far less useful in most situations.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I bought my hard dingy for $200. It was just sitting in someone's backyard for years and I knew about it. I went up to them one day when they were doing yard work and flashed the cash and they sold it on the spot. I had to do a very minimal amount of fiberglass work but I won't complain for $200 for a descent hard dingy.

 

[bffatcat]

Dinghy Design

Looks like an oddball to me. I`d pass nad get something more conventional.

 

[Rick D]

One Other Point, Hermit

I had an inflatable with a similar configuration. It would NOT maneuver in tight. When the OB is turned sharply, it is working against the hull section and just washes out. Took a lot of planning and jockeying around to dock.

 

[Paul F]

Dinghy Design

Let this one pass by. There are many dinghies for sale. Wait until you find the 8' you are looking for.

 

[Ross]

There are many very good reasons that boats have a bow in front and a stern in back and carrying space in the middle. I can row as fast as I can walk and I never anchor a mile from where I am going so I can row a dink from the boat to the dock or shore in ten minutes and don't need an engine or fast speed.

 

[jibes138]

What do you guys think of the Hunter Liberty?

a little over 10 feet and only 2500 with the sailing rig. My sand dollar cost a little over a grand to build myself with hardware, epoxy, stainless screws, and the marine plywood the biggest expenses. Fo 2500 a zero maintenance boat might be pretty nice. Looks a lot better than a walker bay?

 

[MoonSailer]

Protection from getting pooped???? My walker bay 8' has very little freeboard at the stern when loaded. The engine makes it squat even more. That little dinghy looks like it would resist being pooped .

 

[Benny]

Every boat is designed to serve one major purpose. This design is not the best for a sailboat dink. The design is optimized to carry a heavier engine and bow is covered to keep things dry in heavy chop or perhaps spray. I would say it was designed for fast transport for one or two persons. I think I have seen a boat like that in the past but can't recall where. Images of two kids racing up and down a bay come to mind.

 

[Benny]

Ross I agree with you but don't linger to much on shore as a wind and current build up may preclude you from rowing back to the boat. Always keep a couple of flares in the dink and perhaps some bottled water.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I know there is a dinghy laying in someone's back yard they wish I would come and haul off. Since I don't live at the coast, I don't know anyone though.
This one is probably going to be too heavy for what I want. I want to be able to pull it up and keep it one the foredeck. I tried to edit this post but messed up some how. This is exactly what the ad said:
"started as a hard bottom inflatable but the sides have been extended and the back has had som added to"

 

[Ross]

Ross I agree with you but don't linger to much on shore as a wind and current build up may preclude you from rowing back to the boat. Always keep a couple of flares in the dink and perhaps some bottled water.

An anchor is also a pretty good idea.

 

[RichH]

Probably designed to fit AROUND a mast when inverted on a coachroof, etc. Good idea if that was the original concept, despite the probable handling problems.

Id pass on this one and get a proper dinghy ... unless you dont have much J dimension on your boat.
:-D

 

[Ron20324]

Hermit, I once had a low-budget idea to apply for title to an abandoned inflateable. Since the biggest problem with inflateables is... they DEFLATE. I figured to blow up the air chamber then fill it with two-part foam. Having gained title to said boat, I blew it up in my living room and surprise- it held air for a couple months, and it has served me well for two years. And it had it's use BEFORE I got it out of the living room, too