Hi All - I am curious to learn the best techniques for storing an inflatable dingy onboard. I have a Catalina 30 with an 8 ft inflatable that I sometimes tow and sometimes deflate and store below for longer cruises (but that can be tedious having to re-inflate on deck). I sometimes store it on deck forward of the mast but then need to have it supported somehow as to not damage or scratch the deck. Thanks and looking forward to hearing back ho you all handle….Rob
Dingy Storage on deck
- Thread starter Rob19574
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my techneque
I flip it upside down with the bow forward and attach the spinacker line to the stern lines. I then tie her down with a line across the midsection of the dinghy (I have hand rails in the perfect place to tie too). After tieing her down as tight as possible, I pull on the spinacker halyard to make it even tighter. Dinghy doesn't move much at all and the stern board is off the deck. When I get around to actually get a spinacker I might run a seperate line for this. In the meantime, this works well for me. Note: When tieing her off, I use quick release knots...no need to get crazy in bolting her down. I've been in 30 knot winds with her there with no problems while sailing and 70 knot winds at the slip with no problems...well...except for that it scared the crap out of me (I was just waking up to go to work when it hit like a brick wall which caused a lot of stuff to fall on the floor and the boat to heel like crazy).
I flip it upside down with the bow forward and attach the spinacker line to the stern lines. I then tie her down with a line across the midsection of the dinghy (I have hand rails in the perfect place to tie too). After tieing her down as tight as possible, I pull on the spinacker halyard to make it even tighter. Dinghy doesn't move much at all and the stern board is off the deck. When I get around to actually get a spinacker I might run a seperate line for this. In the meantime, this works well for me. Note: When tieing her off, I use quick release knots...no need to get crazy in bolting her down. I've been in 30 knot winds with her there with no problems while sailing and 70 knot winds at the slip with no problems...well...except for that it scared the crap out of me (I was just waking up to go to work when it hit like a brick wall which caused a lot of stuff to fall on the floor and the boat to heel like crazy).
I use two lines across the dinghy
I also flip it upside-down and tie the two lines from the lifeline stantion bases on each side across the dinghy. One line is across the stern about a foot from the transom and the other is laced through the two bow rings. I attached two pieces of "D" shaped canvas-covered rubber rub rails to the top of the transom. These sit on the deck and hold the wood transom off the fiberglass. The bow of the dinghy simply sits on the front hatch. The front hatch gets some rub marks on it but these clean off with Meguiar's plastic cleaner & polish- just once a year. The only down-side to this setup is that I have lines on both sides of the dinghy that extend to the toerails. They make great tripping hazards, so I am very careful. As an aside, I also tie a line from about six feet up on my outboard shroud down to the dinghy bow rings and then back to the shroud on the opposite side. This serves to help keep the jib sheets from catching on the bow of the dinghy. Sorry, no picture.....
I also flip it upside-down and tie the two lines from the lifeline stantion bases on each side across the dinghy. One line is across the stern about a foot from the transom and the other is laced through the two bow rings. I attached two pieces of "D" shaped canvas-covered rubber rub rails to the top of the transom. These sit on the deck and hold the wood transom off the fiberglass. The bow of the dinghy simply sits on the front hatch. The front hatch gets some rub marks on it but these clean off with Meguiar's plastic cleaner & polish- just once a year. The only down-side to this setup is that I have lines on both sides of the dinghy that extend to the toerails. They make great tripping hazards, so I am very careful. As an aside, I also tie a line from about six feet up on my outboard shroud down to the dinghy bow rings and then back to the shroud on the opposite side. This serves to help keep the jib sheets from catching on the bow of the dinghy. Sorry, no picture.....
similar ...
My system is similar to Rich and Franklin's. I haul the dinghy on and off deck with the spinnaker halyard. Before flipping it over on the the deck, I place a piece of a "swimming noodle" over the dingy transom to protect the deck. It is removed again before going in the water so that the motor can be attached. It's worked fine all season.
My system is similar to Rich and Franklin's. I haul the dinghy on and off deck with the spinnaker halyard. Before flipping it over on the the deck, I place a piece of a "swimming noodle" over the dingy transom to protect the deck. It is removed again before going in the water so that the motor can be attached. It's worked fine all season.
Both our first boat (H28) and current (P42)...
had a step transom. While underway I store the inflated dink on its side resting athwartships on the transom step. I use a rope from each corner point on the dink to the tow rail with shackles. This arrangement makes it easy to launch and stow and is out of the way of sailing activities. Terry
had a step transom. While underway I store the inflated dink on its side resting athwartships on the transom step. I use a rope from each corner point on the dink to the tow rail with shackles. This arrangement makes it easy to launch and stow and is out of the way of sailing activities. Terry
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