I am considering purchasing a dinghy to use with my Hunter 260 (26 foot sail boat). Primary use is to occasionally get to the mooring when the club launch is not running and to go ashore when at anchor. Want to row, no engine desired. The inflatable is Hypalon, High pressure floor with inflatable keel, 10 year warrantee (from BoatUS). 9.2 feet LOA and capacity for 4 people (1000 lb.). I like the portability of an inflatable. Roll it up and put it in the trunk or Vberth while trailering. Also is it light and small enough that I could probably get it up on the foredeck if needed. My limited experience also indicates that the inflatable is more stable, and it definitely has a better payload to LOA ratio. The newer inflatables also have really convenient oar stowage and securing systems. Some concerns have been raised about ease of rowing an inflatable in current or wind. Also, how vulnerable are they to damage when pulling up on a rocky beach? This message is to ask for your experience with inflatables versus rigid hull dinghies. Thank you for any feedback... Tom
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Bob
Row an Inflatable?
Hi Tom, Your reasons for an inflatable are right on. Bear in mind trying to row up wind is not going to be easy and if there's a chop or load - it's not going to happen. Make sure you carry a small anchor. I have a hard dinghy but used (rowed) an inflatable when coastal cruising. They are tough so landing on a rocky beach is no problem. ALWAY CARRY - NEVER DRAG is a good rule. Running rapids every day (direct contact with rocks) is what inflatables do. Contact is with smooth wet rocks. Dry, sharp edges will put you in the patching game.
Hi Tom, Your reasons for an inflatable are right on. Bear in mind trying to row up wind is not going to be easy and if there's a chop or load - it's not going to happen. Make sure you carry a small anchor. I have a hard dinghy but used (rowed) an inflatable when coastal cruising. They are tough so landing on a rocky beach is no problem. ALWAY CARRY - NEVER DRAG is a good rule. Running rapids every day (direct contact with rocks) is what inflatables do. Contact is with smooth wet rocks. Dry, sharp edges will put you in the patching game.
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Pete Staehling
I vote hard dinghy, but ...
I personally choose a rigid dinghy because inflatables that I have used don't row acceptably. I use a home built Nymph and tow it because there is no room on board my C22. That said I have heard that Tinker inflatables row well (no first hand experience here). They even have a RIB that actually folds up into a small package. They are pricey though. Pete
I personally choose a rigid dinghy because inflatables that I have used don't row acceptably. I use a home built Nymph and tow it because there is no room on board my C22. That said I have heard that Tinker inflatables row well (no first hand experience here). They even have a RIB that actually folds up into a small package. They are pricey though. Pete
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Ron Vanderveer
Inflatable not often deflated
Tom I think that inflatables are a large advantage if you are going to use an engine, because of the aforementioned stability, capacity, etc. But I have never been happy rowing an inflatable for more than about 200 feet. The small hard-hull we got with our current boat rows very well, but does not have a self-bailing feature, so I have to scoop the rainwater out every week (if it hasn't submerged already). I would also mention that although an inflatable is considered a "packable" dinghy, I personally always left them inflated because frankly it's a pain in the butt to deflate and stow them (time factor, space to do it, they are wet when you put them away, etc.). I guess the answer is "it depends." If you want to row, I think you should try to find a lightweight, self-bailing hard hull and a good pair of oars. But if you want to power the thing, consider an inflatable that rows decently. Ron
Tom I think that inflatables are a large advantage if you are going to use an engine, because of the aforementioned stability, capacity, etc. But I have never been happy rowing an inflatable for more than about 200 feet. The small hard-hull we got with our current boat rows very well, but does not have a self-bailing feature, so I have to scoop the rainwater out every week (if it hasn't submerged already). I would also mention that although an inflatable is considered a "packable" dinghy, I personally always left them inflated because frankly it's a pain in the butt to deflate and stow them (time factor, space to do it, they are wet when you put them away, etc.). I guess the answer is "it depends." If you want to row, I think you should try to find a lightweight, self-bailing hard hull and a good pair of oars. But if you want to power the thing, consider an inflatable that rows decently. Ron
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Jim WIllis
Tinkers row well
I have had my Tinker for years and row it a lot it tracks well because of the "catamaran" effect of the hulls. It also serves as my liferaft sailing dingy. Hoever I have to say that the hard dinghy I had looked much better on the davits. Perhaps a Walker bay would be good! ALW
I have had my Tinker for years and row it a lot it tracks well because of the "catamaran" effect of the hulls. It also serves as my liferaft sailing dingy. Hoever I have to say that the hard dinghy I had looked much better on the davits. Perhaps a Walker bay would be good! ALW
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Ed Ruiz
How about a Porta-Bote?
We have a Porta-Bote that weighs 58 pounds and when folded is only 10'5" X 2' X 4". It can hold four adults or 900 pounds and can handle an outboard that weighs no more than 44 pounds. (Our 4 HP 2-stroke weighs 38 pounds.) It can be rowed, and it can even be sailed (with the optional sail package). The hull material is lighter than water so it can't sink, and it's nearly indestructable. Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
We have a Porta-Bote that weighs 58 pounds and when folded is only 10'5" X 2' X 4". It can hold four adults or 900 pounds and can handle an outboard that weighs no more than 44 pounds. (Our 4 HP 2-stroke weighs 38 pounds.) It can be rowed, and it can even be sailed (with the optional sail package). The hull material is lighter than water so it can't sink, and it's nearly indestructable. Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
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Tom
Porta-boat
I've looked into these, but read the 10ft model was rated for 3 adults or around 400 lbs. Have you had 4 adults on board? Is the floor stiff or springy when in the water? Fair winds... Tom
I've looked into these, but read the 10ft model was rated for 3 adults or around 400 lbs. Have you had 4 adults on board? Is the floor stiff or springy when in the water? Fair winds... Tom
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Ed
I guess it depends on the size of the adults.
You may be thinking of their smaller 8' Porta-Bote that is rated for only three adults. So far, we've only used our 10'5" Porta-Bote once, and with only just the two of us. (It might get a true test of four soon.) The salesman at the show said it could fit four adults and based on the spare room we had, we think he wasn't exaggerating. The amount of weight it can hold depends on loading, but 900 pounds seems doable, based on the fact that the two of us, the engine, and a small anchor weigh about 350 pounds total, and the "bote" barely drew another inch of draft. The bottom does feel pliant when you stand in it, but it doesn't feel like the hull will part. I think in time, we'll get used to it. It certainly rides the waves better than my old inflatable, and planes sooner as well. Happy sails to you. ~ _/) ~
You may be thinking of their smaller 8' Porta-Bote that is rated for only three adults. So far, we've only used our 10'5" Porta-Bote once, and with only just the two of us. (It might get a true test of four soon.) The salesman at the show said it could fit four adults and based on the spare room we had, we think he wasn't exaggerating. The amount of weight it can hold depends on loading, but 900 pounds seems doable, based on the fact that the two of us, the engine, and a small anchor weigh about 350 pounds total, and the "bote" barely drew another inch of draft. The bottom does feel pliant when you stand in it, but it doesn't feel like the hull will part. I think in time, we'll get used to it. It certainly rides the waves better than my old inflatable, and planes sooner as well. Happy sails to you. ~ _/) ~
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Geof Tillotson
Hand made?
Needing a dinghy, I decided to look around. Sticker shock doesn't begin to describe what I was in after looking at all the options. I've used both hard and inflatables and discovered that I like the hard better for rowing, which is what I find myself doing most often. So, I decided to build a dinghy. Along the way I found one for sale through an auction that was the same as I was building and was complete. And was cheaper than the parts I was going to buy. I also wanted to learn how to fiberglass and epoxy stuff, so I was off. I stripped the paint from the one I bought, added a mooring eye, gave it a coat of epoxy and am about to repaint it tonite. The first epoxy didn't cure correctly so I had to strip it and redo it, sounds alot worse than it was to do. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how the boat is turing out and for the $$ spent am willing to live with one or two short-comings. I am also saving for an inflatable to have on-board as a safety measure. We don't plan on doing anything but coastal sailing here in Ma., but I like the idea of having a place to put my family if needed. If you are interested in seeing the PTII - please follow the link below. Geof
Needing a dinghy, I decided to look around. Sticker shock doesn't begin to describe what I was in after looking at all the options. I've used both hard and inflatables and discovered that I like the hard better for rowing, which is what I find myself doing most often. So, I decided to build a dinghy. Along the way I found one for sale through an auction that was the same as I was building and was complete. And was cheaper than the parts I was going to buy. I also wanted to learn how to fiberglass and epoxy stuff, so I was off. I stripped the paint from the one I bought, added a mooring eye, gave it a coat of epoxy and am about to repaint it tonite. The first epoxy didn't cure correctly so I had to strip it and redo it, sounds alot worse than it was to do. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how the boat is turing out and for the $$ spent am willing to live with one or two short-comings. I am also saving for an inflatable to have on-board as a safety measure. We don't plan on doing anything but coastal sailing here in Ma., but I like the idea of having a place to put my family if needed. If you are interested in seeing the PTII - please follow the link below. Geof
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Andy Howard
Dingys
We have a Air Floor inflatable as you describe and it does a great job, lightweight, relatively easy to blow up and deflate on deck, but it is not compact by any means, assuming you've got a mid to large auto, expect it to take up the entire trunk. Rolled up tightly ours is about 4'x2'x2'. We also have 2 Tahiti classic kayaks (BoatUS page 136) I know they are probably not adequate for what you describe if your taking alot of gear out to the boat, but they row rings around traditional inflatables with 1/3 the effort, even upwind, deflated they will fit under your arm, and they are alot of fun.
We have a Air Floor inflatable as you describe and it does a great job, lightweight, relatively easy to blow up and deflate on deck, but it is not compact by any means, assuming you've got a mid to large auto, expect it to take up the entire trunk. Rolled up tightly ours is about 4'x2'x2'. We also have 2 Tahiti classic kayaks (BoatUS page 136) I know they are probably not adequate for what you describe if your taking alot of gear out to the boat, but they row rings around traditional inflatables with 1/3 the effort, even upwind, deflated they will fit under your arm, and they are alot of fun.
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