Dinghy - from dingi the Hindi word for "small boat"
I know I'm going to need one sooner or later, but man, the options are vast and varied.
Inflatable versus rigid hull? Or maybe a rigid hull with inflatable sides? Or maybe an inflatable with rigid floor boards that you can remove to collapse the whole thing down and stuff it in your trunk? Can I get by with a smaller tender, or do I need at least 8' of dinghy if I ever want to take a passenger to shore without worrying about stability? Do I need a gas motor, or are the electrical ones swanky these days? Do I store it on board over the forward hatch or do I need a davit (aka a dinghy dangler)? Does the fact that I'm in the ocean mean one type is better than the other? What about UV radiation, will it destroy an inflatable dinghy or mutate it into a monster? Does brand matter, and if so, how much? I see prices ranging from "just take the damn thing" to "will trade for two kidneys," are they really that far apart in quality?
In my head, I get an 8' inflatable with a rigid hull and stash it on my deck when not in use with a cover over it to prevent sunburn and I spend less than $1000 to do so. But I'd love some community wisdom transfer if you'd be so kind.
Also, if you made it this far without a single double-entendre, you are a better person than I.
I know I'm going to need one sooner or later, but man, the options are vast and varied.
Inflatable versus rigid hull? Or maybe a rigid hull with inflatable sides? Or maybe an inflatable with rigid floor boards that you can remove to collapse the whole thing down and stuff it in your trunk? Can I get by with a smaller tender, or do I need at least 8' of dinghy if I ever want to take a passenger to shore without worrying about stability? Do I need a gas motor, or are the electrical ones swanky these days? Do I store it on board over the forward hatch or do I need a davit (aka a dinghy dangler)? Does the fact that I'm in the ocean mean one type is better than the other? What about UV radiation, will it destroy an inflatable dinghy or mutate it into a monster? Does brand matter, and if so, how much? I see prices ranging from "just take the damn thing" to "will trade for two kidneys," are they really that far apart in quality?
In my head, I get an 8' inflatable with a rigid hull and stash it on my deck when not in use with a cover over it to prevent sunburn and I spend less than $1000 to do so. But I'd love some community wisdom transfer if you'd be so kind.
Also, if you made it this far without a single double-entendre, you are a better person than I.