Dinghy conundrum

[Taylor1618]

Hey all. I have an 1984 ODay 39. Currently, I keep a wooden dinghy in a rack at our marina and pair it with a suzuki 2.5hp outboard to get from the anchorage to the dinghy dock when we're cruising on the Chesapeake. My boat doesn't have davits. I am wondering about moving out of the wooden dinghy and into a RIB. Reasons are as follows: 1. More stable for my kids/wife. 2. Hauls more people (assuming something like an 11 footer - family plus a friend or 2). 3. Bigger engine = faster and can be used for independent cruises when we want to leave our marina and go 4-5 miles for dinner or something. The problems with this plan, however, are as follows: 1. Bigger outboards are heavy and are a pain to get out of the boat and up onto the rail. One dinghy I found on FMP has a yamaha 20hp 4s on it. Looks awesome. The problem is that its 130 pounds! How would I get it off the back of the dinghy? hoist it using the boom? 2. Bigger dinghy's have to either be stored on the forward deck or on davits. I don't want davits as I see the transom as our back deck. Not interested in blocking our views. So.. forward deck. Just don't love the idea of that.

Anyway, if you've been in my shoes or have wisdom to share, I am all ears!

 

[Rick D]

I have towed a hard dink through open ocean for 30 years. I use a bridle from each stern cleat. It's small, 10' with a 3.5 HP 2 cycle. Hardly any drag. Over the last five years, I have towed a 13' Boston Whaler with a 30 HP four cycle. I did not buy it to tow. However, I was surprised to find that it tows just fine assuming enough wind when sailing. It costs me about a half knot. Good luck whatever you pick. P.S. maybe borrow or rent one to try first.

 

[shemandr]

There are hoists for engines that mount to the transom that use a block and tackle to lift the engine.
11' seems pretty big. I don't think you're going to hoist on deck very much. I would tow it without the engine.
For example:

https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-rib-310-aluminum-hull-inflatable-boat-10ft-6in-length-hypalon-uv-resistant-material-1090lb-capacity-19776848.html

128 lbs./20 hp
or in fiberglass:

https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-rib-330-hypalon-fiberglass-hull-inflatable-boat-19776756.html

276 lbs./25 hp

 

[Taylor1618]

Rick D - thanks for your reply. I am thinking about an AB 11 footer with a 20 hp. Do you typically tow with engines on the dink or on the rail?

 

[eherlihy]

I have always had a RIB* (not a RHIB**) with a panel floor, in conjunction with a 2-stroke outboard.

Why?

• I need to store the tender somewhere in the off season. I live in a condo without much storage. I wash and fold up the RIB, and store it in the V-berth.
• My wife does not swim, and is afraid of the water. She loves the tender, and feels very secure in it.
• When I traveled from Warwick. RI. to Ft. Myers, FL. and back, I stored the assembled and inflated RIB on the foredeck.
• 
  
  
• Currently I have a Tohatsu 5HP 2-stroke. It weighs ~45lbs with a full tank of gas. and will quickly get my current dinghy up on plane when I am alone.
• Prior to the 5 horse, I had (and still keep) a Mercury 3.3. It weighs ~30lbs with a full tank of gas. It would also get up on plane, but it took about 30 seconds to do so.

* - Rigid Inflatable Boat - these have either PVC or Hypalon (aka Orca) hulls and tubes. Some have inflatable floors, some have slats, which allow them to roll-up, and some have solid panel floors made of either aluminum, marine plywood, or a combination of the two.
** - Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat - these have either an aluminum or fiberglass hull with inflatable tubes to provide buoyancy and cushioning.

 

[Taylor1618]

eherlihy thanks for this! From the picture it almost looks like yours is a RHIB? How does it do with a 5 horse when the dinghy is full?

 

[eherlihy]

5 HP (two-stroke) performance is great!