Do you cover your dinghy while sailing?

J

jackhart

.
Jan 12, 2025
18
Oday 22 Lake Hickory NC
Hi folks, I posted the same question on the O'Day site, however it doesn't see as much use.
Do you cover your dinghy when sailing? I'm talking about an 8 foot dinghy.
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,307
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I've never covered mine. But on passage, I store it upside down on my foredeck.

dj
 
dmax

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,164
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Never seen one covered while sailing - good to cover it when not being used though. Sun is what kills inflatables.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,914
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The type of dinghy is relevant.
I have a nine-foot inflatable. When sailing for more than 5 hours, it is deflated, folded up, and either sits (under a cover) strapped on deck or stowed in the cabin. If moving short distances in nice weather, it is towed from anchorage to anchorage. If going into a Marina, I'll hoist the dinghy on the foredeck, flip it over and secure it. If it will be on the foredeck for more than a couple of hours, I'll throw a tarp over it. The dinghy is 15 years old and still in good shape.

If you have a fiberglass or wood dinghy, it is more often found on boats' foredecks or dangling in davits off the stern when not being towed.
I suspect that covers are used less on non-inflatables as they are better at resisting UV damage.
 
twodzusfittings

twodzusfittings

.
Aug 11, 2011
958
O'day 30 313 Georgetown MD
I have a Sun PRU-3 from West Marine. I keep it inflated and upside down on the foredeck. I keep it covered with a SEAL SKIN Brand cover and use tie downs to keep it in place. The only negative I have found is that when it rains, the water collects in the folds at the transom as the two pointy tubes are either side of the mast. After a while the water starts to stink, if it's not emptied frequently. It's a gray cover. Originally when it was advertised and listed in their sizes and colors it also came in Pacific Blue. Unfortunately that was in error and the small dinghy covers are only in gray. Shame as it would have looked cool with all the rest of my Sunbrella Canvas is Pacific Blue. But the actual product is great and outstanding quality.
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Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

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Jul 27, 2011
5,134
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
Richard19068 said:
Obviously your choice but now you have a soaking wet cover to stow. But your boat's a lot bigger than mine so you probably have a bigger lazerette:).
Click to expand
Well, the cover dries pretty quickly and being made of Sunbrella does not soak up much water. But in any case it’s tagged to the mast so I can pull it off and leave on the deck in a pile, or gather it up somewhat and wrap it with a sail tie still attached. So I wouldn’t need to stow it in a locker or lazarette unless perhaps if getting underway with the dink in tow.

In my opinion, the inflatables need to be covered when not deployed. Mine are custom covers; so cost a few bucks. May as well keep it on the dink doing it’s job when practical.:)
 
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Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

.
Jul 27, 2011
5,134
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
When crossing channels, or generally making sea passage along shore, the dink (inflatable RIB) is secured under cover on the foredeck. If deployed at the anchorage it is usually towed for short “hops” moving among various anchorages, but not always. I might pull it up, depending. I have no davits, obviously, so it’s a bit of effort to bring the 9.5’ RIB back aboard onto the foredeck. For me it’s worth it not to always have davits on the yacht. Most of that time she’s in the slip.

Often we will lay days at anchor w/o leaving the yacht. Going ashore along the CA coast including at the islands can be more difficult than it is fun. Small wavelets arrive incessantly. As soon as the engine is up we’re coming broadside. W/o the middle seat installed in the dink it’s hard to deploy the oars to row the final few feet, stay oriented, and hold “steady.” It’s hard to get out or in, we being not so limber these days. The wavelets keep the dink sliding about so it’s hard to maintain one’s balance when stepping out or in. The beaches are pebbly—so are difficult to walk on. No bare feet for some of us. Large tidal ranges demand a long (heavy) drag up the inclined beach face, and often a post, ring, or string line to which to tie the painter is needed. Hope one is there! Inside harbors going ashore is fine; but outside it’s work! Going between companion yachts sailing together is OK; still, I’d rather let the yachts with the davits for deployment of dinks come fetch us over that first night!:)
 
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