Do you have an inflatable dink or a hard one ? Pro's and cons please ! mostly im curious about towing issues.
Dinghy preferences and coastal cruising ?
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I have an inflatable kayak. I don't want to bother with a motor and I don't like to tow. The kayak rolls up into a bag about 3' x 1' x 1'. I will admit that getting into it from the boat can be entertaining for onlookers.
I have a hard sailing dink. It sails like a dog but at least you have some way of getting back to shore if you had to use it, I pray I never need it for anything other than going to shore for leisure. I also have a mini kota trolling motor that I hook up to a motorcycle battery and install instead of the rudder. It is also great for fishing in the flats. I just think I get much more versatility than I would from an inflatable as it rows very easily. I just do not like to row for any length in the summer.
It has a wide beam, so it holds a lot of supplies and is stable enough to stand while fishing.
Edit to add. It was built to tow. I pulls nicely behind the boat. I am going to have to be creative when we go to Caladesi Island. They want your dink secured to the boat but not on the dock and they want you to dock with the stern to the dock in the slip.
It has a wide beam, so it holds a lot of supplies and is stable enough to stand while fishing.
Edit to add. It was built to tow. I pulls nicely behind the boat. I am going to have to be creative when we go to Caladesi Island. They want your dink secured to the boat but not on the dock and they want you to dock with the stern to the dock in the slip.
We own both a hard sailing dinghy and an inflatable RIB. The RIB wins hands down. It tows well and is infinitely more stable making it considerably more safe for the family. We can also carry tons more gear and humans than we can in the hard dink..
Years ago I was with a friend the dealer for Avons (out of my basement) in my town. And over those years I have towed a Livingston, a sailing Minto (for the east coast, like a Dyer Dink), an Easy Rider Canoe/Kayak and for the most part different types of Avon inflatables. My favorite hands down is the Avon Rovers which have an air floor....but the Redstart and Redcrest I like as well.
For towing, the Livingston is an anchor for the most part and slowed my H40 almost two knots off cruising speed. Although I have two sailing Mintos and they are a delight to sail or row, the don't tow worth beans...and they tend to take in water through the center board. I suspect many center boarders will ship water if towed hard (over speed). The canoe is a delight but very tipsy and doesn't handle large loads. It gets left at home all the time. When Zodiac who invented them and Avon came out with inflatable floors, I sorta tested drag on my H380. They towed very well (if you used the towing rings and make a bridle) and did not reduce cruising speed.
I now have a H27 and have only towed my present Avon once but it appears to not decrease my boat speed at all.
One thing to consider, at least with an Avon inflatable is that their warranty life is ten years--but many Avons keep going better then the Engergy Bunny. There are a number of Avons in my harbor that are over twenty years old. Divide the number of times you use your dinghy per year into ten years and what will it cost you? Over the years my Avon has been the cheapest form of a dinghy to use. And I agree with Maine Sail, they hold more and seem to be much safer then other types of dinghies.
Disclosure: I am not an AVon or other type of inflatable salesman anymore nor do I have any connection with any boat company of any type. BTW, Defender has new but last year's model of different types of inflatables are very good prices.
For towing, the Livingston is an anchor for the most part and slowed my H40 almost two knots off cruising speed. Although I have two sailing Mintos and they are a delight to sail or row, the don't tow worth beans...and they tend to take in water through the center board. I suspect many center boarders will ship water if towed hard (over speed). The canoe is a delight but very tipsy and doesn't handle large loads. It gets left at home all the time. When Zodiac who invented them and Avon came out with inflatable floors, I sorta tested drag on my H380. They towed very well (if you used the towing rings and make a bridle) and did not reduce cruising speed.
I now have a H27 and have only towed my present Avon once but it appears to not decrease my boat speed at all.
One thing to consider, at least with an Avon inflatable is that their warranty life is ten years--but many Avons keep going better then the Engergy Bunny. There are a number of Avons in my harbor that are over twenty years old. Divide the number of times you use your dinghy per year into ten years and what will it cost you? Over the years my Avon has been the cheapest form of a dinghy to use. And I agree with Maine Sail, they hold more and seem to be much safer then other types of dinghies.
Disclosure: I am not an AVon or other type of inflatable salesman anymore nor do I have any connection with any boat company of any type. BTW, Defender has new but last year's model of different types of inflatables are very good prices.
My wood/inflatable keel inflatable rows poorly...
However, if we didn't have good davits it would be a struggle. Deciding how a dingy is to be managed is a key design issue for a cruiser and should be designed into the boat, not an after thought. Because of the above issue, the davit and dingy boarding arrangement was important to us.
...but my wife has balance problems, arthritis, and joint replacements. For us, an inflatable is best.
However, if we didn't have good davits it would be a struggle. Deciding how a dingy is to be managed is a key design issue for a cruiser and should be designed into the boat, not an after thought. Because of the above issue, the davit and dingy boarding arrangement was important to us.
I just purchased a Mercury Rib 310 at the Miami boat show. It has a fiberglass bottom and Hyperlon tubes and a 10 year warranty. I got mine through Buster's Marine in NY. I have had 2 PVC dinks and had the bottom fall out of each. The repair shops only will repair them once. I also use Weaver industry davit system on the back of the boat. I like the ease of lifting the dinghy onto the swim platform. Hopefully the hard bottom will give my wife and I more stability and durability than the previous dinks.
Hard sailing dink
Have an 8' "8-Ball" sailing/rowing dink. Sails great and rowed very easily with 8' oars. built it myself in about 3 weekend. Weights 75 lb without the rig.
Tows easily and even catches the boat when sailing down wind on occasion.
I'd highly recommend one for a couple or couple with two kids or a dog. Holds lots of supplies and you can really cover the distance with the sail up.
Used it several times to save the day. Made a 3 mile run for diesel when I could not get into the inlet (draft) but could not make it to the next fuel stop. Great for running the dog for potty breaks also.
I've had it for something like 8 years now and have only had to repaint the bottom once. More to recover the fiberglass from beach rocks than actual maintenance. Shoud last a good while longer IMHO.
Have an 8' "8-Ball" sailing/rowing dink. Sails great and rowed very easily with 8' oars. built it myself in about 3 weekend. Weights 75 lb without the rig.
Tows easily and even catches the boat when sailing down wind on occasion.
I'd highly recommend one for a couple or couple with two kids or a dog. Holds lots of supplies and you can really cover the distance with the sail up.
Used it several times to save the day. Made a 3 mile run for diesel when I could not get into the inlet (draft) but could not make it to the next fuel stop. Great for running the dog for potty breaks also.
I've had it for something like 8 years now and have only had to repaint the bottom once. More to recover the fiberglass from beach rocks than actual maintenance. Shoud last a good while longer IMHO.
i traded my carib rib in for a roll up with an inflatable floor.....i also have a walker bay and a kayak and an inflatable kayak.....i use all of them. on the boat i am cruising on lately, there is only a roll up inflatable---i miss the toys--they each have a different use and function....it depends on what you want to do with them......kayak gives me independence for exploring.......walker bay rows well and carries stuff not needing extra wetness..lol...the inflatable is a decent work platform. the einflatable kayak is a fun toy. none is meant to tow--they all fit on my deck. a caribe rib allows less water to come over the pontoons as ye come and go from the boat at anchor/mooring, but is very heavy and difficult to stow for cruising unless ye risk yer boat to davits and the possible and sometimes probable pooping by a wave.......lol....
I usually have a hard dink because I like rowing, and rowing an inflatable is like rowing a barge.
Yes, if the dink has a centerboard it must be capped off properly or it wiil take in water. Other than that, I don't really see much difference in towing between the two, especially if they're of similar weight.
I'd say the big difference is hard dinks row WAY better, but inflatables are more stable and thus will usually carry more people for the same length. I do find inflatables heavier than hard dinks, which makes them harder to get on board if that's what you do.
druid - has 7.5ft Aquamarine, 8.5ft Aquamarine, and 8.5ft D5 rowing dinghy
Yes, if the dink has a centerboard it must be capped off properly or it wiil take in water. Other than that, I don't really see much difference in towing between the two, especially if they're of similar weight.
I'd say the big difference is hard dinks row WAY better, but inflatables are more stable and thus will usually carry more people for the same length. I do find inflatables heavier than hard dinks, which makes them harder to get on board if that's what you do.
druid - has 7.5ft Aquamarine, 8.5ft Aquamarine, and 8.5ft D5 rowing dinghy
I use a halyard to hoist it up on to the foredeck, can't do that with a hard dink. The only problem I have is that it slides around a little while it is sitting there. I am going to make a chock for the transom to lock into that is mounted to the deck in front of the mast. I usually lay it on the deck upside down. I don't have a motor for it. I row it. Rowing it is like driving the car with the emergency brake on, compared to rowing the hard dink I have. It has wood slats for a floor, I hear the ribs are better but some ribs cost what I paid for my C30.
I haven't towed it yet.
I haven't towed it yet.
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my walker bay lifts right onto my foredeck and fits perfectly---upside down--the forestaysail halyard does the trick easily.....but my boat is huge..and i have plenty of room for it....i have seen the results of towing dinks in seas....they leave for better homes.....goooodluck..
Hobie kayak and KL's hard dink
I have a Hobie Kayak with the pedals for exploring and light fishing. The KL is a double hull hard bottom with 2 swivel seat with back, battery box, live well, electric systems for lights etc. She will except up to a 7 HP motor. Great for fishing and going to beach. Weights only 160 lbs less motor. I keep her on a Garhauer 400 lbs set of davits and the kayak on garhauer rail hangers. Cost of KL less motor about $1200, Hobie about $1500.
I have a Hobie Kayak with the pedals for exploring and light fishing. The KL is a double hull hard bottom with 2 swivel seat with back, battery box, live well, electric systems for lights etc. She will except up to a 7 HP motor. Great for fishing and going to beach. Weights only 160 lbs less motor. I keep her on a Garhauer 400 lbs set of davits and the kayak on garhauer rail hangers. Cost of KL less motor about $1200, Hobie about $1500.
If you get an inflatable, get Hypalon, not PVC. The PVC does not last and it breaks down from the Sun's UV-ABC rays in very short order, even when using 303 protectant spray. An inflatable with an air floor and inflatable keel both rows well and tows well. Mine does, but it is already getting gooey from the UV rays in just a few years.
Hard Dink or inflatible?
Ive got an avon redstart that I bought new in 1975. No floorboards I can row it fine from the inflatable thwart I find it very stable good for up to 3 people and supplies. I either tow it with the bow pulled up over the transom or deflate it and stow it rolled up on deck. In 35 years it has given no trouble. And best of all it weights only 38 lbs
Ive got an avon redstart that I bought new in 1975. No floorboards I can row it fine from the inflatable thwart I find it very stable good for up to 3 people and supplies. I either tow it with the bow pulled up over the transom or deflate it and stow it rolled up on deck. In 35 years it has given no trouble. And best of all it weights only 38 lbs
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