I use a 10.5 ft "Puffin" (hard) Dinghy with which I have been pleased.
It tracks reasonably well when rowing. Unfortunately, it weight
and size preclude putting it on deck. I generally tow it when
cruising. This does make for interesting sailing in following seas.
My guess is this knocks about a quarter to half a knot off the Vega's
speed at ~5 knots. (I have not been scientific about this.)
These Puffins are made in and are quite popular in Maine. They are
available from Hamilton Marine. They do come in 6 foot and 8 foot
sizes as well. The 6 foot length does not track very well when
rowing, I cannot say anything about the 8 foot version. From an
aesthetic point of view I much prefer the line of the Puffin to that
of the Walker Bay. The cost of the Puffin new is more than the Walker
Bay (last time I looked about 1.25 to ~2 X depending on the length).
I have posted a photo of a Puffin in tow in the Eager V photo album
and have since been unsuccessfully trying to move it from that album
to another. (Sorry to Eager V3314).
It tracks reasonably well when rowing. Unfortunately, it weight
and size preclude putting it on deck. I generally tow it when
cruising. This does make for interesting sailing in following seas.
My guess is this knocks about a quarter to half a knot off the Vega's
speed at ~5 knots. (I have not been scientific about this.)
These Puffins are made in and are quite popular in Maine. They are
available from Hamilton Marine. They do come in 6 foot and 8 foot
sizes as well. The 6 foot length does not track very well when
rowing, I cannot say anything about the 8 foot version. From an
aesthetic point of view I much prefer the line of the Puffin to that
of the Walker Bay. The cost of the Puffin new is more than the Walker
Bay (last time I looked about 1.25 to ~2 X depending on the length).
I have posted a photo of a Puffin in tow in the Eager V photo album
and have since been unsuccessfully trying to move it from that album
to another. (Sorry to Eager V3314).