I had davits and a still have an older (1989) Achilles inflatable which requires air every week or two. I removed the davits because they were a pain. They affected my Hunter 34's performance and were in the way. I am debating a new or newer inflatable as opposed to a hard dinghy. Wife and I sail the Gulf, Bahamas and Carribean often and don't mind towing but want to 'deck' the boat for longer open ocean hauls. Any thoughts or experiences with hard dinghies??
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Debra Blatnik
Tinker is an expensive alternative
I don't have room on the deck for anything but a tiny hard dinghy, or even a good-sized rib, so I have an inflatable. Tinker (made by a company in England) is a folding bottom rib. This lets it fit into a large-suitcase space. It can be fitted out as a life boat, it can be sailed. But it is out of the reach of my budget right now. Don't know about the USCG, but a few of the ocean racing committees accept it as meeting the life boat requirement. I would be interested in hearing if anyone actually has a Tinker or has experience with one. (See also the US site for Tinker: http://www.tinkers.com/ )
I don't have room on the deck for anything but a tiny hard dinghy, or even a good-sized rib, so I have an inflatable. Tinker (made by a company in England) is a folding bottom rib. This lets it fit into a large-suitcase space. It can be fitted out as a life boat, it can be sailed. But it is out of the reach of my budget right now. Don't know about the USCG, but a few of the ocean racing committees accept it as meeting the life boat requirement. I would be interested in hearing if anyone actually has a Tinker or has experience with one. (See also the US site for Tinker: http://www.tinkers.com/ )
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Bill Thiers
I have an Avon inflatable..
...that I bought second hand. Consider it a lucky find. It's a roll-up, stores rolled up on the cabin top of my Hunter 34, just forward of the traveller. Also, at 9 feet, it just fits inflated on the cabin top forward of the mast, can still walk around it on the foredeck. Would make dancing around the foredeck jibing the spinnaker tricky, but normal visits to the bow are unencumbered.
...that I bought second hand. Consider it a lucky find. It's a roll-up, stores rolled up on the cabin top of my Hunter 34, just forward of the traveller. Also, at 9 feet, it just fits inflated on the cabin top forward of the mast, can still walk around it on the foredeck. Would make dancing around the foredeck jibing the spinnaker tricky, but normal visits to the bow are unencumbered.
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Kent Johnson
SeaEagle
Check our Seaeagle.com. I looked and found that Avon/Zodiak and West Marine brands were way out of my price range for what you get. You can get just about any configuration with Seaeagle. Kent
Check our Seaeagle.com. I looked and found that Avon/Zodiak and West Marine brands were way out of my price range for what you get. You can get just about any configuration with Seaeagle. Kent
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Don
Have it reapaired!
You can repair these dinks. It is probably a valve or a leaking seam. If you inflate it and then get a spray bottle with some liquid detergent. Spray each valve and watch for bubbles. If you get bubbles you probably found a source of your air loss. Then do the same thing over all the seams. Once you find the leaks repaired you will have a like new dink again. If you do not want to do this yourself, take it to a inflatable service center and they can fix it up for you. These things will last for 20 years if you take care of them. A new hypalon dink is about $2k. You can fix it for just a few bucks.
You can repair these dinks. It is probably a valve or a leaking seam. If you inflate it and then get a spray bottle with some liquid detergent. Spray each valve and watch for bubbles. If you get bubbles you probably found a source of your air loss. Then do the same thing over all the seams. Once you find the leaks repaired you will have a like new dink again. If you do not want to do this yourself, take it to a inflatable service center and they can fix it up for you. These things will last for 20 years if you take care of them. A new hypalon dink is about $2k. You can fix it for just a few bucks.
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Jack
Foldboat
I have no experience with these but they seem to have been around a long time and perform pretty well. Curiuos about others experience with them as a yacht tender. Too tender?
I have no experience with these but they seem to have been around a long time and perform pretty well. Curiuos about others experience with them as a yacht tender. Too tender?
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Bruce Harkness
A
Always FOR SAIL
Been there done that
I'm looking for something that might be less maintenance and more care free than an inflatable. Dinghy docks, banacled shores and the like have taken their toll on my 1989 Achilles. It has been repaired quite a few times. I bought a Port-A-Bote but it just isn't up to the rigors of ocean travel. It is probably great for that back woods trip but not sturdy enough or stable enough for a little wave or two. I guess I should have put a little extra money with the purchase price and bought a tried and true dinghy, an inflatable. But I keep looking at hard dinks for their ease of use near rocky, barnacley (?) stuff that usually means repairs on my inflatable. Anyone happy with a hard dink???
I'm looking for something that might be less maintenance and more care free than an inflatable. Dinghy docks, banacled shores and the like have taken their toll on my 1989 Achilles. It has been repaired quite a few times. I bought a Port-A-Bote but it just isn't up to the rigors of ocean travel. It is probably great for that back woods trip but not sturdy enough or stable enough for a little wave or two. I guess I should have put a little extra money with the purchase price and bought a tried and true dinghy, an inflatable. But I keep looking at hard dinks for their ease of use near rocky, barnacley (?) stuff that usually means repairs on my inflatable. Anyone happy with a hard dink???
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Tom
Hard Dinks are fine. And they row very well also.
Much better than an inflatable. BUT they are *very* tippy especially compared to an inflatable, If its only you than it might e ok. Plus they really don't do as well with a motor unless its a small one just to push it along.....I had a 8' plastic Water Tender that was virtually indestructable. There are now Walker Bays that are almost the same and can be purchased with sailing kits if you want. You really can't store it away....you either Tow, Lash to foredeck, or use the davits.
Much better than an inflatable. BUT they are *very* tippy especially compared to an inflatable, If its only you than it might e ok. Plus they really don't do as well with a motor unless its a small one just to push it along.....I had a 8' plastic Water Tender that was virtually indestructable. There are now Walker Bays that are almost the same and can be purchased with sailing kits if you want. You really can't store it away....you either Tow, Lash to foredeck, or use the davits.
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Don Evans
You Have Asked Twice...
and Tom has given some good thoughts on the hard dinghy. I have a Boatex (made in Ontario), and I love it. I tow it, row it, sail it and moter it(3 hp). It is a 8' fiberglass, and about twice the cost of the Walker Bay 8. For the money I think the "indestructable" Walker is a good choice (not sure of its sailing ability). My Boatex weighs 65 lbs, and is obviously more tippy than a RIB, but I am teaching sailing skills to my kids in it, fishing from it, and rowing to the beach in it. Tracks straight and true behind the mother ship. Inflatables have their uses and are appropriate for some, but for me my dinghy is right. Don
and Tom has given some good thoughts on the hard dinghy. I have a Boatex (made in Ontario), and I love it. I tow it, row it, sail it and moter it(3 hp). It is a 8' fiberglass, and about twice the cost of the Walker Bay 8. For the money I think the "indestructable" Walker is a good choice (not sure of its sailing ability). My Boatex weighs 65 lbs, and is obviously more tippy than a RIB, but I am teaching sailing skills to my kids in it, fishing from it, and rowing to the beach in it. Tracks straight and true behind the mother ship. Inflatables have their uses and are appropriate for some, but for me my dinghy is right. Don
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Jeff
Hard Dink
I did see a novel idea in some magazine a while back where the author took what looked like an optimist pram, at least it had a square bow, and secured 4 very large fenders parallel to the gunnels just above the water. These gave the pram very good stability and and very positive flotation and was towable. Looked like a cheap but utilitarian way out.
I did see a novel idea in some magazine a while back where the author took what looked like an optimist pram, at least it had a square bow, and secured 4 very large fenders parallel to the gunnels just above the water. These gave the pram very good stability and and very positive flotation and was towable. Looked like a cheap but utilitarian way out.
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Tim Schaaf
Debra, the Tinker works great
Debra, I have a Tinker and it does everything it is supposed to quite well. I have witnessed a comparison test between it and a Switlik liferaft, in a gale and rough water, and the Tinker won hands down. But try it for size. The fixed thwart crowds it quite a bit and I don't think it can handle as many people as they advertise, although I am sure it will hold the weight.
Debra, I have a Tinker and it does everything it is supposed to quite well. I have witnessed a comparison test between it and a Switlik liferaft, in a gale and rough water, and the Tinker won hands down. But try it for size. The fixed thwart crowds it quite a bit and I don't think it can handle as many people as they advertise, although I am sure it will hold the weight.
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Tim Schaaf
Bargains!
Watch the ads and the web for bargains in used inflatables. Over the years I have bought close to new inflatables and engines: an Achilles with a 2hp engine for $600, a Tinker Tramp with full sailing and lifeboat option for $1100, and an Avon 3.11 with inflatable floor and 8 hp engine for $1000. The Tinker and the Avon each needed a very small amount of work or parts such as oars or seats to restore them to excellent condition. The Achilles lasted me sixteen years, and then I was able to sell it (!), I have had the Tinker for seven years and the Avon for two. All have done really well by me. You CAN get a really good dinghy for a big discount if you look hard and jump when you see and opportunity. Kind of like a used sailboat!!!
Watch the ads and the web for bargains in used inflatables. Over the years I have bought close to new inflatables and engines: an Achilles with a 2hp engine for $600, a Tinker Tramp with full sailing and lifeboat option for $1100, and an Avon 3.11 with inflatable floor and 8 hp engine for $1000. The Tinker and the Avon each needed a very small amount of work or parts such as oars or seats to restore them to excellent condition. The Achilles lasted me sixteen years, and then I was able to sell it (!), I have had the Tinker for seven years and the Avon for two. All have done really well by me. You CAN get a really good dinghy for a big discount if you look hard and jump when you see and opportunity. Kind of like a used sailboat!!!
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