I am thinking of getting a dinghy to use with my Hunter 27. I would like to hear from other Hunter 27 owners as to what type and size dinghys are being used. I really like the Trinka 8, but I imagine I would have to tow it as it would probably not fit on the fore deck and even if it did would be in the way of the head sail.
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dinghy
many choices and preferences along this subject.
I have the 260 Rollup from west maine that rolls up and stores in the vberth or hanging closet when not in use.
used a 3.5 mercury that scoots along at abt 5 mph. plenty fast enough to get to the beach.... lol
ready to use in 10 minutes.
many choices and preferences along this subject.
I have the 260 Rollup from west maine that rolls up and stores in the vberth or hanging closet when not in use.
used a 3.5 mercury that scoots along at abt 5 mph. plenty fast enough to get to the beach.... lol
ready to use in 10 minutes.
Air Floor
An air floor is a good choice 8ft-9ft,
they are light and easy to handle and do a good job.
They are easy to roll up and easy to store any place on the boat.
Look around and can find one for sale from some one up grading.
Nick
An air floor is a good choice 8ft-9ft,
they are light and easy to handle and do a good job.
They are easy to roll up and easy to store any place on the boat.
Look around and can find one for sale from some one up grading.
Nick
Dinghy topic. . . .
is good. But with all the discussion around here I still don't know if there is a right answer. I towed an 8-foot Avon with a wood floor from Lake Erie to here at Matthews Point in NC. I have horsed it on deck but it is a lot of work. The floor comes out and then it rolls up alright even with a fairly stout wood transom. It moves pretty good with a 2 hp Honda. But it is not the right boat.
For getting to shore from an anchorage you need to know where you are going. Some locations and conditions require a better boat and motor. But if all your anchorages were close in and protected I think an inflatable kayak would be the ticket. My sister has a Sea Eagle that I could store in a locker and is probably faster than my dinghy with motor. But it only works for two.
Then there are the ten foot RIBs with 10 hp hanging from stout davits. I have a problem with a boat hanging behind me limiting the visibility. Picture is of friend and fellow H37C owner's dinghy on davits. He built the dinghy. And he is on his way here via the Erie Canal as I write this.
So I will follow this with interest to see what else develops.
is good. But with all the discussion around here I still don't know if there is a right answer. I towed an 8-foot Avon with a wood floor from Lake Erie to here at Matthews Point in NC. I have horsed it on deck but it is a lot of work. The floor comes out and then it rolls up alright even with a fairly stout wood transom. It moves pretty good with a 2 hp Honda. But it is not the right boat.
For getting to shore from an anchorage you need to know where you are going. Some locations and conditions require a better boat and motor. But if all your anchorages were close in and protected I think an inflatable kayak would be the ticket. My sister has a Sea Eagle that I could store in a locker and is probably faster than my dinghy with motor. But it only works for two.
Then there are the ten foot RIBs with 10 hp hanging from stout davits. I have a problem with a boat hanging behind me limiting the visibility. Picture is of friend and fellow H37C owner's dinghy on davits. He built the dinghy. And he is on his way here via the Erie Canal as I write this.
So I will follow this with interest to see what else develops.
Dingy
We have and 8' Avon Rib equipped with a Yamaha 8 hp two stroke which we tow when sailing any distance and to get back and forth from the mooring with. It works great and tows well. I bought the two as a used unit after experiencing the instability of a Walker Bay which came with the boat. The rib is very stable has a good payload and is not overpowered with the 8 hp. I made up a three point tow bridle for the rib which I attach to the two forward davit points and the hull mooring line ring, it keeps the rib flat while under tow and seems to reduce the drag. Davits on a 27 seemed a bit of overkill when it comes to added weight on the stern and as Ed mentioned limits the visibility aft to a great degree. Good luck in the search for the perfect dingy.
We have and 8' Avon Rib equipped with a Yamaha 8 hp two stroke which we tow when sailing any distance and to get back and forth from the mooring with. It works great and tows well. I bought the two as a used unit after experiencing the instability of a Walker Bay which came with the boat. The rib is very stable has a good payload and is not overpowered with the 8 hp. I made up a three point tow bridle for the rib which I attach to the two forward davit points and the hull mooring line ring, it keeps the rib flat while under tow and seems to reduce the drag. Davits on a 27 seemed a bit of overkill when it comes to added weight on the stern and as Ed mentioned limits the visibility aft to a great degree. Good luck in the search for the perfect dingy.
Nut Shell Pram
w/ oars. Mostly because I could build it myself cheaply. However, I'm really impressed with its stability & weight. It tows fine, although I did lose once only to find later in front of someones trailer about to be made into a flower planter. plans - woodenboat.com
Randy
w/ oars. Mostly because I could build it myself cheaply. However, I'm really impressed with its stability & weight. It tows fine, although I did lose once only to find later in front of someones trailer about to be made into a flower planter. plans - woodenboat.com
Randy
D4 dinghy
I have a D4 dinghy built from the free plans here. http://www.bateau.com/freeplans.php I am not sure whether it will fit on the foredeck of a H27 but on my H33 it fits well, allowing for unobstructed sailing with just a little care in tacking to make sure the lazy sheet doesn't get snared. There is access to the bow and the anchor locker is accessible. Towing, this boat rides like a duck with the v bottom making it dry in all but the worse weather and pulling no more than half knot or so off speed. SAiling with the dinghy in tow, it is soon forgotten except for the noise it makes. I've taken it from the Tennessee River to the Abacos and Dry Tortugas, normally towing it in protected water and putting it on deck for open water crossings. In locks it is easily secured on starboard side away from the lock wall. It can be made very light but mine probably weighs 75 pounds, still possible for one man to bring on deck with the spinnaker halyard though it is much easier with a second to help turn it over. Regrets I have about the D4 are that I didn't build in the sail package and that I didn't give more attention to making it as light as possible. It handles well with a very small outboard. I have an old 1.1 Tohatsu that puts on a good turn of speed when it will run. Otherwise, it is great fun to row, accelerating in a second and tracking straight and true. Its a good boat.
I have a D4 dinghy built from the free plans here. http://www.bateau.com/freeplans.php I am not sure whether it will fit on the foredeck of a H27 but on my H33 it fits well, allowing for unobstructed sailing with just a little care in tacking to make sure the lazy sheet doesn't get snared. There is access to the bow and the anchor locker is accessible. Towing, this boat rides like a duck with the v bottom making it dry in all but the worse weather and pulling no more than half knot or so off speed. SAiling with the dinghy in tow, it is soon forgotten except for the noise it makes. I've taken it from the Tennessee River to the Abacos and Dry Tortugas, normally towing it in protected water and putting it on deck for open water crossings. In locks it is easily secured on starboard side away from the lock wall. It can be made very light but mine probably weighs 75 pounds, still possible for one man to bring on deck with the spinnaker halyard though it is much easier with a second to help turn it over. Regrets I have about the D4 are that I didn't build in the sail package and that I didn't give more attention to making it as light as possible. It handles well with a very small outboard. I have an old 1.1 Tohatsu that puts on a good turn of speed when it will run. Otherwise, it is great fun to row, accelerating in a second and tracking straight and true. Its a good boat.
Sevylor inflatable
With no rigid parts, it tends to take the shape of the occupants. But it works OK for the Admiral and me going ashore in a protected anchorage, visiting another boat, or taking the dog ashore.
It takes about 20 minutes to inflate with a foot pump, and set up.
For most of our anchoring out, we don't have the dog, and have no need to go ashore. Many of our stops cruising on Lake Erie are at marinas. As a result, we don't need the dinghy very often, so hiding away under the port seat is a good place for our inflatable.
I don't like the speed penalty of towing, nor the blocked view and access of deck stowage, so inflatable is a good solution for us. And the price is right.
The next on will probably be an inflatable kayak.
David
Lady Lillie
With no rigid parts, it tends to take the shape of the occupants. But it works OK for the Admiral and me going ashore in a protected anchorage, visiting another boat, or taking the dog ashore.
It takes about 20 minutes to inflate with a foot pump, and set up.
For most of our anchoring out, we don't have the dog, and have no need to go ashore. Many of our stops cruising on Lake Erie are at marinas. As a result, we don't need the dinghy very often, so hiding away under the port seat is a good place for our inflatable.
I don't like the speed penalty of towing, nor the blocked view and access of deck stowage, so inflatable is a good solution for us. And the price is right.
The next on will probably be an inflatable kayak.
David
Lady Lillie
I've got a hunter 30 and I use an old achilles (no hard transom) that I found at a tag sale for $100. It had busted up floor boards so I cut a single piece of pressure treated to custom fit the floor. I keep it leak free and well inflated and it skims across the surface very nicely, I leave it inflated year round, tied to my mooring when daysailing, locked on the shore when away from the boat and in my basement in the winter.
There's nothing more forgiving for stepping into, with the one piece floor and three large air chambers. I made a home made engine mount that fits into the hard plastic lugs on the stern that I use a tiny 2-cycle air cooled outboard on when going o overnights when I may be anchoring.
There's nothing more forgiving for stepping into, with the one piece floor and three large air chambers. I made a home made engine mount that fits into the hard plastic lugs on the stern that I use a tiny 2-cycle air cooled outboard on when going o overnights when I may be anchoring.
Re: D4 dinghy
Hey Terry, Good to see you on here. What do you think of the new site? Anyway, I would love to see a pic of your dinghy. Would you mind posting it? See you around.
David
Hey Terry, Good to see you on here. What do you think of the new site? Anyway, I would love to see a pic of your dinghy. Would you mind posting it? See you around.
David
I've used my walker bay 8 for years. Inexpensive, easy to row, a 1.5 HP air cooled outboard pushes it well, doesn't scuff the hull when I pull along side, no maintenance, wash it once or twice a year.
A little tippy but hey, it's a boat. Try rowing an inflatable.
Turn it upside down for the winter and flip it over in the spring and you're good to go.
I can lift it out of the water myself and flip it on the car .........
A little tippy but hey, it's a boat. Try rowing an inflatable.
Turn it upside down for the winter and flip it over in the spring and you're good to go.
I can lift it out of the water myself and flip it on the car .........
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