I've sailed Sea Jay, my 8.6 for a season now in the Maine mid coast region and want to add a stable, good-towing dinghy, and one that rows well. (I don't want to deal with another internal combustion engine.) I've been warned away from inflatables on the rowing issue and have looked at a couple of 10 ft flat-bottom skiffs (Handy Boat's 9.5 fiberglas and Maxwell's wooden 10.5), the 8 ft Puffin, and the Rolls-Royce of dinghies, the Portland Pudgy. The prospect of coming down the swim ladder or going over the side suggests stability should be the highest priority but I'd be grateful for recommendations and advice.
Choosing a dinghy
- Thread starter mcchesney44@earthlink.net
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The best deal out there is the 9.4 water tender. It is $600 at West Marine and if you get it from the store there is no shipping. It is frequently on sale cheaper. It's cathedral hull design (like a W) makes it very stable. It is also very light and has positive flotation. Once you learn to recognize them you realize they are everywhere you look on the water front. I have had mine for five years now. It is like a Timex. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. With a 4hp outboard I can plane it out with just me aboard and have had 2-3 people aboard. The rating says it all...4.5 stars...and you won't be throwing it out in ten years like an inflatable.
http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/24959-watertender-9-4-rowing-dinghy-from-kl-industries.html
http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/24959-watertender-9-4-rowing-dinghy-from-kl-industries.html
Alternately, have you thought about the Torqeedo? http://www.cabelas.com/p-0053589019721a.shtml although I don't know what its range is without additional batteries beyond the built in battery or if you can piggy back it off your 12V system for recharging.
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1210.0
Of course, perhaps a small sailing dinghy will do the trick too.
The Walker Bay will probably row easier than the water tender, but is only stable with the auxilary tubes...which make it quite expensive. But it certainly will be stable and safe and there is value in that too.
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1210.0
Of course, perhaps a small sailing dinghy will do the trick too.
The Walker Bay will probably row easier than the water tender, but is only stable with the auxilary tubes...which make it quite expensive. But it certainly will be stable and safe and there is value in that too.
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