Carrying an inflatable on the swim platform
- Thread starter Bluenose
- Start date
I’ve been happy with my Dinghy Rings.
http://www.dinghyrings.com/en-GB
I have a compact RIB and I use the dingy rings to get the RIB out of the water at night and for short trips. For longer trips, I stow it on deck.
http://www.dinghyrings.com/en-GB
I have a compact RIB and I use the dingy rings to get the RIB out of the water at night and for short trips. For longer trips, I stow it on deck.
In what sort of waves or chop does this seem reasonable (and I understand that a range of ideas and boats are under discussion)? Every linked image shows people sailing in near flat conditions.
I've had davits and I've carried tenders on deck (different boats). I've never towed or tried this, so I am curious.
I've had davits and I've carried tenders on deck (different boats). I've never towed or tried this, so I am curious.
Yes, my favourite way of carrying the tender.
On the plus side:
- It takes only seconds to drop back in the water
- It doesn't block visibility forward (eg if you place it under the boom)
- It doesn't catch genoa sheets during tacking (it does if you place it near the bow)
- It is not in the way if you want to reach the anchor windlass to drop the anchor (it is if you place it near the bow)
- It gives you a feeling of security; like having an inflated life-raft
On the down side:
- If you want to stern moor (Med style) it's in your way. No way to jump out of the boat if it is there. You need somebody at the dock to get your lines.
- If you are lucky to catch a fish, no access to the swimming platform (...you may loose the fish!)
- It blocks (usually partly) the stern light
By the way, on a Beneteau 331 or 361, the sea state is not an issue at all. Plenty of places to attach it securely using a few lines and it is actually sitting on the platform (not hanging in the air).
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I also have a scoop stern Beneteau, one of the great features that has been "innovated" out of sailboats. I would suggest that you set up a robust tow arrangement (your Plan B) and begin by towing your boat in the sailing conditions you normally encounter. On a reach or a run in a breeze my scoop is regularly washed and a boat would potentially be pulled off the scoop. Having that happen while you are trying to manage the boat just adds unnecessary drama. I have towed my dink 125 miles in 35 knot winds with a well designed tow arrangement. If I had it lashed to the scoop I would still have it rigged for tow - simply cutting it away and going to a tow if necessary.
You do not say if it's fully deflatable; i.e., not a RIB. If it is, then the best thing IMHO to do is that (deflate) and then stow it below (locker) or f'wd of the mast. The next best thing is to stow it f'wd of the mast still inflated. With a RIB, that becomes the best. Next is tow it, after that keep on stern davits, and lastly, as Gunni said, the way you describe. I've tried it; it hasn't worked well for me when sailing due to heeling. The boat at times will strike the water.
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It's always an issue. I always dreamed of a boat big enough to stow a tender on deck, between mast and dodger, on chocks. But it turns out, based on the size and type of tender I want, a RIB, I don't want a boat that big.
We tow. Our outboard is a 15HP two stroke, and it's just too big and unwieldy to lift off and clamp to the pushpit; and besides, for the type of cruising we do, I don't want to go through all of that effort, nor have an outboard hanging on the pushpit.
We have always towed with the motor on it, and e have never had an issue, even in some pretty hairy seas. It's super convenient upon arrival at an anchorage to just de-rig for towing, unlock the motor tilt and steering and flip if down into the water, start up, and go!
I think if I didn't tow, I'd want a thing on the transom that was like a fork lift, where I could drive the dinghy onto the forks, and then electrically lift it clear of the water. I've never seen such a thing, just imagined it, and I'm sure it would take a lot of engineering, and cost a fortune.
Sorry, I know this is off topic. I think if you had a small, non-RIB inflatable and took the motor off you could easily lash it to the scoop transom. As someone mentioned, I would also have a painter rigged in case I had to let it go and tow in a hurry.
We tow. Our outboard is a 15HP two stroke, and it's just too big and unwieldy to lift off and clamp to the pushpit; and besides, for the type of cruising we do, I don't want to go through all of that effort, nor have an outboard hanging on the pushpit.
We have always towed with the motor on it, and e have never had an issue, even in some pretty hairy seas. It's super convenient upon arrival at an anchorage to just de-rig for towing, unlock the motor tilt and steering and flip if down into the water, start up, and go!
I think if I didn't tow, I'd want a thing on the transom that was like a fork lift, where I could drive the dinghy onto the forks, and then electrically lift it clear of the water. I've never seen such a thing, just imagined it, and I'm sure it would take a lot of engineering, and cost a fortune.
Sorry, I know this is off topic. I think if you had a small, non-RIB inflatable and took the motor off you could easily lash it to the scoop transom. As someone mentioned, I would also have a painter rigged in case I had to let it go and tow in a hurry.
Towing as a first option creates a second problem, at least for me. Namely, I presume, the boat stays in the water all of the time when at the slip. Thus, the bottom needs to be painted with anti-fouling. OR, you need a float to pull it up on, or a rack handy at the marina to put it on, etc. In either of the first two cases you need some room in your slip to accommodate the dink, or must rent some other wet space. Moreover, leaving it in the water all of time w/ the engine attached "invites" theft at large marinas such as mine. This (these) is (are) ONE (TWO) of the reason(s) I put towing lower on my priority list than stowing below or on deck.
I got an estimate to have my new AL hull painted w/ bottom paint--9' 6" dink, at a yard. Over $1000 b/c of the extra work prepping the bottom plus applying two coats of primer, then two coats of anti-fouling. The installation of dinghy davits is about twice that; but then, you have the davits on the boat all of the time.
Of course, the OP could keep the dink on the scoop while in the slip, and then drop in the water for towing when going somewhere. But that would not work well for me either b/c I don't wish to be towing if only day sailing or, of course, when racing.
But then there's back out the boat, drop dink in the water, put someone on the dock to secure it in the slip, get that person back aboard--go sailing-- then do in reverse when you return. So, it's dinghy management now. Best option there is to stow it on foredeck or below (locker). If RIB, keep on foredeck when cruising and day sailing. Take off when racing. Can leave in slip for short stints, no bottom paint. Engine stowed separately.
The imperfect "solution."
Oh that's great, KG! Now how in the 'ell do you get a #120 RIB on and off the foredeck when at anchor w/o bunging everything up and/or w/o hurting yourself, esp. if you're alone on the boat?
Next chapter--but the short answer is a 4x block and fall.
I got an estimate to have my new AL hull painted w/ bottom paint--9' 6" dink, at a yard. Over $1000 b/c of the extra work prepping the bottom plus applying two coats of primer, then two coats of anti-fouling. The installation of dinghy davits is about twice that; but then, you have the davits on the boat all of the time.
Of course, the OP could keep the dink on the scoop while in the slip, and then drop in the water for towing when going somewhere. But that would not work well for me either b/c I don't wish to be towing if only day sailing or, of course, when racing.
But then there's back out the boat, drop dink in the water, put someone on the dock to secure it in the slip, get that person back aboard--go sailing-- then do in reverse when you return
. So, it's dinghy management now. Best option there is to stow it on foredeck or below (locker). If RIB, keep on foredeck when cruising and day sailing. Take off when racing. Can leave in slip for short stints, no bottom paint. Engine stowed separately.The imperfect "solution."
Oh that's great, KG! Now how in the 'ell do you get a #120 RIB on and off the foredeck when at anchor w/o bunging everything up and/or w/o hurting yourself, esp. if you're alone on the boat?
Next chapter--but the short answer is a 4x block and fall.
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We tow our RIB. It weighs 110#'s and is 10.5 in length. Way too big for davits on a 30ft boat. As all things it is a trade-off. We use our boat to find private places and this requires fairly long dinghy rides to secluded beaches. I have considered towing the dink backwards after setting it up on the scoop to reduce the drag but haven't tried it yet. It causes us to lose about a knot but figured I would own a powerboat is I wanted to go faster.
We are on a mooring, and when not at the boat, the dinghy is pulled up onto the dinghy dock at the yard. The only time it stays in the water more than two days is when we are cruising. So, different case.
Yeah--so this works for you. That's good!! We all need to see the whole picture.
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My tow line is a bridle, it ties off to each aft cleat and I can lengthen it to place the boat where I want it - close or farther back. Depends on sea state. I have a bridle on the dink too, it is a retail item and attaches to the port and starboard dink towing rings, has a ring that I bring my tow line through.