I have an inflatable dink with a rollup floor. It's always a point of discussion on board whether to tow, stow or carry it while cruising the S. Cal coast. Towing it is easiest, but I hate hearng it slapping the water. Stowing it is easy but its a pain to reinflate. I've carrried it on eck, but it gets in the way of jib sheets and/or traveler/vang. Davits would be nice, but not cheap. I even brought it up on the transom and secured it to the rear railing, but that blocked my view and interfered with fishing. So whats a guy supposed to do? Anybody have a new idea?
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my decision
I have an 89 Legend 37 and cruise the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas. After trying towing and foredeck, I just bought a 10 foot RIB and am going to buy davits. The MarTek 250 is only $498 plus some accessories like blocks/line. The others, Kato and Ocean Marine are in the $1000 class. I am trying to convince myself the MarTek ones will work.
I have an 89 Legend 37 and cruise the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas. After trying towing and foredeck, I just bought a 10 foot RIB and am going to buy davits. The MarTek 250 is only $498 plus some accessories like blocks/line. The others, Kato and Ocean Marine are in the $1000 class. I am trying to convince myself the MarTek ones will work.
What I do.
I tow and lash on deck depending on conditions and distance to to travel. I f I am only sailing a short distance and it is calm I always tow. If I am going farther and conditions are on the rough side I lash it down on the foredeck. As far as the noise aspect goes I just let it out on a longer line but always remember to bring it in close when entering harbour or conjested areas. A word of caution, never tow your dinghy unless it is fully inflated. Towing a partially inflated dinghy puts huge loads on all areas involved in the towing.
I tow and lash on deck depending on conditions and distance to to travel. I f I am only sailing a short distance and it is calm I always tow. If I am going farther and conditions are on the rough side I lash it down on the foredeck. As far as the noise aspect goes I just let it out on a longer line but always remember to bring it in close when entering harbour or conjested areas. A word of caution, never tow your dinghy unless it is fully inflated. Towing a partially inflated dinghy puts huge loads on all areas involved in the towing.
Yes
For my cruising area (Puget Sound to SE Alaska) I have done all the above with my Avon 3.15 roll-up. Dry weight somewhere around 110 pounds and getting heavier every year. Foredeck: I second the comment about lashing it down as it can catch the wind and "take air". Haven't done this in years partly due to our deck sweeper 150 (technically a 153). Towing: Seldom do. Has to be quiet conditions. Stow on deck: Do this nearly all the time just forward of the traveler. Fold the transom toward the middle then fold the bow over the transom and lash to the coach roof. The boat sails faster with it on deck and I never have to worry about what's happening. Launch with a bridal, large block-and-tackle (vang) and the main halyard. Yes it can be a pain to launch and retrieve but other than that it is no worry. Also don't have to worry so much about theft as if it was kept in the water. Had a near miss a couple years ago but because ours was on deck and the boat in front was in the water they took his.
For my cruising area (Puget Sound to SE Alaska) I have done all the above with my Avon 3.15 roll-up. Dry weight somewhere around 110 pounds and getting heavier every year. Foredeck: I second the comment about lashing it down as it can catch the wind and "take air". Haven't done this in years partly due to our deck sweeper 150 (technically a 153). Towing: Seldom do. Has to be quiet conditions. Stow on deck: Do this nearly all the time just forward of the traveler. Fold the transom toward the middle then fold the bow over the transom and lash to the coach roof. The boat sails faster with it on deck and I never have to worry about what's happening. Launch with a bridal, large block-and-tackle (vang) and the main halyard. Yes it can be a pain to launch and retrieve but other than that it is no worry. Also don't have to worry so much about theft as if it was kept in the water. Had a near miss a couple years ago but because ours was on deck and the boat in front was in the water they took his.
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