I am considering the purchase of a dinghy for our 2001 Hunter 340. Obviously there are many choices, the first of which is inflatable or hard. I have not yet decided on anything and I am curious how those of you with dinghys carry one when underway. I have thought of placing it upside down forward of the mast, and of course I could tow it or depending on size tie it sideways across the stern. Any options that work good for you?? I would also appreciate any thoughts and/or recommendations on dinghys you find particulary worthy or would avoid. Thanks for any feedback... Rob McClain s/v Dream Quest
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Across the stern.....
.....might be an option. Someone, on this forum I believe, suggested lowereing the swim ladder, placing the dinghy on the ladder, raise the ladder somwhat, and secure both ends of the dinghy. haven't tried it, but I am intrigued. Jeff (taking credit for someone else's suggestion - maybe Fred ?)
.....might be an option. Someone, on this forum I believe, suggested lowereing the swim ladder, placing the dinghy on the ladder, raise the ladder somwhat, and secure both ends of the dinghy. haven't tried it, but I am intrigued. Jeff (taking credit for someone else's suggestion - maybe Fred ?)
Dinks
Your circumstances would tend to dictate what type of dinghy to get. If your on a mooring, a rigid dinghy may be the best option considering going back and forth with coolers, food and guests etc. My son has one and it's very heavy to lug around. Forget putting it on the deck. If you tow it and it gets some water in it you'll think your towing a barge. If your in a slip, I would opt for an inflateable with an inflatable floor. I have read about using the boarding ladder and think it may work but have not tried it yet. Ken
Your circumstances would tend to dictate what type of dinghy to get. If your on a mooring, a rigid dinghy may be the best option considering going back and forth with coolers, food and guests etc. My son has one and it's very heavy to lug around. Forget putting it on the deck. If you tow it and it gets some water in it you'll think your towing a barge. If your in a slip, I would opt for an inflateable with an inflatable floor. I have read about using the boarding ladder and think it may work but have not tried it yet. Ken
Inflatable
We have an Achilles with an inflatable floor. We keep it in the bag stowed in the large port locker in the 356 when we take it with us. We can inflate it on the foredeck if we are at anchor and let it over the side using the spinnaker halyard. The motor is light enough to lift down but we had a motor lift built that we have not yet installed to make that even easier. We do not have enough power to get on a good plane but it gets us where we need to go, and we have done some half day kinds of exploring trips in it. I agree that the kind you get depends on the use. It also depends on the kind of sailing you do. We would take our dinghy for a trip to Half Moon Bay down the coast. We would not want it tied to the stern for a trip like that, and we definitely would not tow anything. If we were cruisng in quieter waters and/or for short movements we would tow it, but without the motor mounted. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
We have an Achilles with an inflatable floor. We keep it in the bag stowed in the large port locker in the 356 when we take it with us. We can inflate it on the foredeck if we are at anchor and let it over the side using the spinnaker halyard. The motor is light enough to lift down but we had a motor lift built that we have not yet installed to make that even easier. We do not have enough power to get on a good plane but it gets us where we need to go, and we have done some half day kinds of exploring trips in it. I agree that the kind you get depends on the use. It also depends on the kind of sailing you do. We would take our dinghy for a trip to Half Moon Bay down the coast. We would not want it tied to the stern for a trip like that, and we definitely would not tow anything. If we were cruisng in quieter waters and/or for short movements we would tow it, but without the motor mounted. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Dingy less
When I had my Legend 40, the easiest method was to take the outboard motor off, bring the HPF inflatable bow to the stern pulpit and let the end tube follow in the wake. With the new RIB, I use a 4 part tackle and haul it onto the foredeck ahead of the mast. With the Hunter 460, I can put a 10' dingy easily on the fore deck and find it much less worry than trailing it astern.
When I had my Legend 40, the easiest method was to take the outboard motor off, bring the HPF inflatable bow to the stern pulpit and let the end tube follow in the wake. With the new RIB, I use a 4 part tackle and haul it onto the foredeck ahead of the mast. With the Hunter 460, I can put a 10' dingy easily on the fore deck and find it much less worry than trailing it astern.
Dinghy dilemna
We bought a new Zodiac HP285 52lb Fast Roller, for our new '99 H340. 4 person, 1150 lb payload. Inflatable floor, TOUGH AS NAILS, GREAT combo of lightness and payload ability. 1st year deflated/inflated as needed. While only 52 lbs, that got old. Made a PVC twin "j-hook" rack, lashed it along port bow at berth...dropped in for travel. That also got old, as with a short sail-didn't need it, yet had to wrestle it and leave it in the slip till we returned. Last season stored it (covered) in the marina rack...retrieved it if we went overnight. Light enough to carry 25 feet to a dock near our slip and drop it in. Tows well, always covered ($150 cover from the dealer--Airwork Annapolis). Sawed a batten in half for 2 "tension" arches to repel rain from the cover while towing. With a 5HP Nissan 4strk and (NEAT)Garhauer stern hoist-EASY to raise/ lower 53 lb motor-the "Admiral" does it. It planes with the 5HP. A Dinghy is a pain to manage, but a wonderful safety item to have bobbing behind you, and vital for anchoring out with our pooch. Biggest drawback to Zodiac?- made in France, like many others.
We bought a new Zodiac HP285 52lb Fast Roller, for our new '99 H340. 4 person, 1150 lb payload. Inflatable floor, TOUGH AS NAILS, GREAT combo of lightness and payload ability. 1st year deflated/inflated as needed. While only 52 lbs, that got old. Made a PVC twin "j-hook" rack, lashed it along port bow at berth...dropped in for travel. That also got old, as with a short sail-didn't need it, yet had to wrestle it and leave it in the slip till we returned. Last season stored it (covered) in the marina rack...retrieved it if we went overnight. Light enough to carry 25 feet to a dock near our slip and drop it in. Tows well, always covered ($150 cover from the dealer--Airwork Annapolis). Sawed a batten in half for 2 "tension" arches to repel rain from the cover while towing. With a 5HP Nissan 4strk and (NEAT)Garhauer stern hoist-EASY to raise/ lower 53 lb motor-the "Admiral" does it. It planes with the 5HP. A Dinghy is a pain to manage, but a wonderful safety item to have bobbing behind you, and vital for anchoring out with our pooch. Biggest drawback to Zodiac?- made in France, like many others.
Achilles
We have an Achilles LSI 96 with the high pressure inflatable floor made with Hypalon® (lasts longer). For bay (good weather) trips we tow it behind the boat (engine removed). For ocean trips and bad weather we haul it up on deck with the spinaker halyard and lay it up side down in front of the mast. There is enough leg room between it and the lifelines to go to the bow. I have heard of straping the dingy across the stern, but you have to make sure that it won't stick out on the sides and create drag while healing. I have seen a H34 with davits and a small 8 ft. dingy and 3 hp. engine, nice set-up and easy to put up and down but a bit to small for our needs. Ozana
We have an Achilles LSI 96 with the high pressure inflatable floor made with Hypalon® (lasts longer). For bay (good weather) trips we tow it behind the boat (engine removed). For ocean trips and bad weather we haul it up on deck with the spinaker halyard and lay it up side down in front of the mast. There is enough leg room between it and the lifelines to go to the bow. I have heard of straping the dingy across the stern, but you have to make sure that it won't stick out on the sides and create drag while healing. I have seen a H34 with davits and a small 8 ft. dingy and 3 hp. engine, nice set-up and easy to put up and down but a bit to small for our needs. Ozana
aquapro
Since you're in Alameda, Bob, check out the Aquapro dealer at Mariner's Boat Yard. I got my latest dink from them and love it. It's a RIB with an aluminum hull. Slick.
Since you're in Alameda, Bob, check out the Aquapro dealer at Mariner's Boat Yard. I got my latest dink from them and love it. It's a RIB with an aluminum hull. Slick.
dingy across the stern
if you lash it to the stern, you obscure the stern light. i have had this occur before and had to tow it when i couldn't really see it sitting back there on the second trailing wave just a thought to consider
if you lash it to the stern, you obscure the stern light. i have had this occur before and had to tow it when i couldn't really see it sitting back there on the second trailing wave just a thought to consider
Carry on stern
We have a 2001 Hunter 290 and the dingy is too big to carry up on the fordeck, so we pull it up and secure it to the stern. For us it works very well and is easy to do. What I find hard is transfering the 5hp engine to and from the stern rail and the dingy.
We have a 2001 Hunter 290 and the dingy is too big to carry up on the fordeck, so we pull it up and secure it to the stern. For us it works very well and is easy to do. What I find hard is transfering the 5hp engine to and from the stern rail and the dingy.
Weaver davits
Check in the photo fourm using the keyword Weaver and see the pictures Les Blackwell did on installing them on his 380.
Check in the photo fourm using the keyword Weaver and see the pictures Les Blackwell did on installing them on his 380.
Dingy Storage on Foredeck
We used to carry our dingy on the foredeck on our 33.5-still do on our 37.5. With the 33.5, dingy was hauled to deck by hand, but used main halyard as assist. There was enough deck space to get at anchor well and to handle bow lines. We towed the dingy on occasion, but lost 1/2-3/4 knot boat speed doing so.
We used to carry our dingy on the foredeck on our 33.5-still do on our 37.5. With the 33.5, dingy was hauled to deck by hand, but used main halyard as assist. There was enough deck space to get at anchor well and to handle bow lines. We towed the dingy on occasion, but lost 1/2-3/4 knot boat speed doing so.
dinghy storage
I have a 430. when sailing in relatively protected waters ie the san juans or gulf islands I just tow it behind the boat on a floating line that I can adjust so the dinghy rides well on the waves. if I go into the straights I put it upside down on the foredeck and lash it in place with winch straps and I use heavy foam blocks with cut outs for the transome as davits. on the ocean or if I may use the inner forestay for a storm sail I deflate, roll it up and put it inside one of those car covers you put on top of a jeep. I put the rigid boards in a stern locker and tie the car carrier onto the stern of the boat with the clips it comes with. needless to say it is inflatable, a 10.5' zodiak with a wooden floor.
I have a 430. when sailing in relatively protected waters ie the san juans or gulf islands I just tow it behind the boat on a floating line that I can adjust so the dinghy rides well on the waves. if I go into the straights I put it upside down on the foredeck and lash it in place with winch straps and I use heavy foam blocks with cut outs for the transome as davits. on the ocean or if I may use the inner forestay for a storm sail I deflate, roll it up and put it inside one of those car covers you put on top of a jeep. I put the rigid boards in a stern locker and tie the car carrier onto the stern of the boat with the clips it comes with. needless to say it is inflatable, a 10.5' zodiak with a wooden floor.
Thanks
...to all who responded. We have yet to purchase anything so we are still considering our options. I appreciate all of the feedback, it certainly helps. Rob
...to all who responded. We have yet to purchase anything so we are still considering our options. I appreciate all of the feedback, it certainly helps. Rob
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