I am think about buying an aluminum boat, installing foams around its rail and use it as dingy. Aluminum boat is cheaper and faster under power. I am going to store it at home and launch it every time I need a dingy. I do not need dingy all the time. The problems I can think of including corrosion, making sound at ancoring, and hard to carry around. Did I miss anything else? I am wondering if other people has tried that. Please let me know how do you like it. Thanks Frank
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Dennis Thomas
Sounds good to me!
I am between dingys, and am looking for an inflatable. However, it all depends on how you will use it. I have a elderly 36' without the scoop sterm swim platform. I also have always had dogs. Some are young, all get old. I like the stability of an inflatable for getting myself and other on and off. I have managed with a tippy hard dingy. The hard dingy was a good rower but - tippy - when your dealing with someone other than yourself. If you can deal with it then it is the best choice for you. I have been out on some fine fishing trips in a "john boat" and would find it a fine dingy except for the instability getting in and out of my sailboat. Your boat may be different.
I am between dingys, and am looking for an inflatable. However, it all depends on how you will use it. I have a elderly 36' without the scoop sterm swim platform. I also have always had dogs. Some are young, all get old. I like the stability of an inflatable for getting myself and other on and off. I have managed with a tippy hard dingy. The hard dingy was a good rower but - tippy - when your dealing with someone other than yourself. If you can deal with it then it is the best choice for you. I have been out on some fine fishing trips in a "john boat" and would find it a fine dingy except for the instability getting in and out of my sailboat. Your boat may be different.
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Ed Ruiz
How about a Porta-Bote?
We have a Porta-Bote that does all a rigid boat can do, and it folds down to 10'6"X 2'x 4". We sometimes keep it folded on deck strapped to two lifeline stanchions, but it's currently hanging on the davits in the "ready-to-go" position. It can handle up to 5HP, and safely carry three adults - four if they're not super-sized. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
We have a Porta-Bote that does all a rigid boat can do, and it folds down to 10'6"X 2'x 4". We sometimes keep it folded on deck strapped to two lifeline stanchions, but it's currently hanging on the davits in the "ready-to-go" position. It can handle up to 5HP, and safely carry three adults - four if they're not super-sized. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
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Ron Mills
Take a look at this
link. They sell at WM for $500.00. I think for the money and use there would seem no equal. No corrosion, double hull, etc. I am tired of fixing leaks on my inflatable and plan to go with this.
link. They sell at WM for $500.00. I think for the money and use there would seem no equal. No corrosion, double hull, etc. I am tired of fixing leaks on my inflatable and plan to go with this.
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Bob
Still works after 30 years
Hi Frank, Used 12' aluminum boat for more than 10 years as a dinghy - 5 HP outboard. Was in the saltwater 4 months a year. Still use it for mooring work each year. Was cheap, light, durable. Have also used 8' inflatable and several hard dinghys - current using 10'hard and best for my use. Never took the aluminum boat on cruises - don't think it would track and don't like the looks. My 12' aluminum boat has out lived inflatables and fiberglass dinghys (at least 6) and still can throw mooring gear in it without a worry - not pretty but functional. Good Luck, Bob
Hi Frank, Used 12' aluminum boat for more than 10 years as a dinghy - 5 HP outboard. Was in the saltwater 4 months a year. Still use it for mooring work each year. Was cheap, light, durable. Have also used 8' inflatable and several hard dinghys - current using 10'hard and best for my use. Never took the aluminum boat on cruises - don't think it would track and don't like the looks. My 12' aluminum boat has out lived inflatables and fiberglass dinghys (at least 6) and still can throw mooring gear in it without a worry - not pretty but functional. Good Luck, Bob
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Ed Ruiz
106#s ?!
My 10'6" Porta-Bote only weighs 58#s. Moreover, its hull is nearly indistructable, and it floats. However, it is a bit more costly, but you'll likely have it for many years to come, if no one steals it. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
My 10'6" Porta-Bote only weighs 58#s. Moreover, its hull is nearly indistructable, and it floats. However, it is a bit more costly, but you'll likely have it for many years to come, if no one steals it. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
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Ron Mills
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Ed Ruiz
Maybe, but will they lift it too?
And just how long will they row, and how many times will they lift? ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~
And just how long will they row, and how many times will they lift? ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~
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Debra B
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Mark Burrows
I thought they were hot
I thought the reason metal boats were not typically preferred as tenders was because they get really hot and stay that way until the sun goes down. And they are noisy when you row them, metal clanking against metal. I cannot speak from experience but I remember this as a discussion point in a Coast Guard Aux. course. Markdb
I thought the reason metal boats were not typically preferred as tenders was because they get really hot and stay that way until the sun goes down. And they are noisy when you row them, metal clanking against metal. I cannot speak from experience but I remember this as a discussion point in a Coast Guard Aux. course. Markdb
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Evan
Tried It - Didn't Like It
I used a 10' aluminum pram during a 2 month trip in the Bahamas. It was in the water the whole time and some of the rivets started to leak. Your use probably won't cause this if you always rinse it off. It was extremely difficult to make the foam adequately cushion the gunwales. It took about a month to perfect the system. It was TERRIBLY noisy when trailing behind the boat at anchor. The flat bottom clanked from every single little ripple. It could not be lashed alongside in any way without causing a racket. I had to resort to letting it drift as far away as possible on a 50' line. In open water, it was a very wet ride, due to the flat bottom pounding on every wave. But it saved our bacon when a nearby boat broke loose and shoved us toward a rock outcropping. The aluminum dinghy wedged between the rock and our boat and kept us from getting holed. It emerged without a scratch.
I used a 10' aluminum pram during a 2 month trip in the Bahamas. It was in the water the whole time and some of the rivets started to leak. Your use probably won't cause this if you always rinse it off. It was extremely difficult to make the foam adequately cushion the gunwales. It took about a month to perfect the system. It was TERRIBLY noisy when trailing behind the boat at anchor. The flat bottom clanked from every single little ripple. It could not be lashed alongside in any way without causing a racket. I had to resort to letting it drift as far away as possible on a 50' line. In open water, it was a very wet ride, due to the flat bottom pounding on every wave. But it saved our bacon when a nearby boat broke loose and shoved us toward a rock outcropping. The aluminum dinghy wedged between the rock and our boat and kept us from getting holed. It emerged without a scratch.
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Frank Wang
Good discussion
Looks like the issues with aluminum boat are: 1) Corrosion; 2) Noise; 3) Portability; 4) Boarding Stability; If one can live with that, the benifits includes: 1) Cost; 2) Durability; 3) Speed; I think all dingy rides are wet in open water. Walmart dingy is too small for me. Although I like its price. I wish they have bigger one. Any more issues or benifits? Thanks a lot. This is a great Forum. Frank
Looks like the issues with aluminum boat are: 1) Corrosion; 2) Noise; 3) Portability; 4) Boarding Stability; If one can live with that, the benifits includes: 1) Cost; 2) Durability; 3) Speed; I think all dingy rides are wet in open water. Walmart dingy is too small for me. Although I like its price. I wish they have bigger one. Any more issues or benifits? Thanks a lot. This is a great Forum. Frank
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Warren
Aluminum Dink
The right aluminum dink would give excellent service. The newer marine aluminum is very resistant to corrosion, just rinse it down with fresh water after use. The main thing (I think)is not to allow salt water to puddle or become trapped in the boat. The hardest part is to find the right size & shape for a good dink. Grumman built a real gem of a dink back in the 60s.....I've never seen a used one. Good Luck!
The right aluminum dink would give excellent service. The newer marine aluminum is very resistant to corrosion, just rinse it down with fresh water after use. The main thing (I think)is not to allow salt water to puddle or become trapped in the boat. The hardest part is to find the right size & shape for a good dink. Grumman built a real gem of a dink back in the 60s.....I've never seen a used one. Good Luck!
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