Fatty Knees Dinghy

[Mike Turner]

We wanted a dinghy to tow behind our Catalina 30, "Amity," particularly for cruises to Catalina Island. We decided to go with a hard versus inflatable dinghy as we both like to row. Then one day at my local chandlery I found a posted ad for a used Fatty Knees dingy with sail kit, and wound up buying it. Now we'd be interested in any owner designed-installed "upgrades" to this classic craft that anyone may want to share. We're not sure how old it is, but it's an older model, with wood seats versus the newer, "T" shaped fiberglass seats. Any input is appreciated! It came sans oars -- what size do we need; looks like maybe 7'? And by the way, are dinghies "its" or "shes"?Mike and PamelaMTurner318@aol.comS/V Amity

 

[Larry Watkins]

Fatty Knees dinks

Mike and Pamela; I have a Fatty Knees dink in addition to my inflatable, but after one attempt, gave up trying to tow it; even with a tight-fitting plug in place, water comes up through the daggerboard trunk into the boat. I had to stop towing about 2 miles off Catalina and muscle the FK up on top of my inflatable that was hung from davits. Now I hoist it onto the foredeck with a boom I built. They are fun to sail around at the Isthmus. BTW, are you in Alamitos Bay or Downtown? We're Downtown, in Shoreline, waiting for all this rain to quit!Larry and AnnetteMoondancesvmoondance@hotmail.com

 

[Ken Palmer]

Check "Good Old Boat"

The March-April issue of "Good Old Boat" has an article called "Four tenders for sail". Included is a Fatty Knees 8.You might try to get a copy at Boat/US or West Marine.Ken Palmer, S/V Libertyhttp://www.LakeOntarioSailing.com/