I need a tender....... Walker Bay?

Steve Dion · Jul 6, 2011

NY:

What do you think that inflatable ring is made from on the WalkerBay?

If you get a Hypalon dink and store it in the off season you will probably see 15-20 years. I had a 1994 Caribe that was NEVER stored, it was 16 years old and held air until last year. I just purchased a 10 y/o Apex that holds air very well.

I would stay away from W/M inflatables, but most of the major brands will last for a couple of decades.

Ron McCoy · Jul 6, 2011

You didn't say what your budget is so here's a stab at a recommendation. I traded my torn inflatable for a "Harbormaster" built by Stur-Dee boat company in Rhode Island. It's 7'10" and weighs about 100#s. I ordered it with lifting rings on the inside bow and stern. Total cost about $2600 plus shipping. It's all nice fiberglass with mahagony seats, gunnels and bow sprint. Fits nicely on my davits. Comes with built-in floatation along the inside panel and is surprisingly stable. Check them out on their webpage. Lots of options too.

RAD · Jul 6, 2011

Buy a rigid bottom Hypalon.......my WM pvc dink just got a paint job and I'll report about that later,meanwhile Ive been using a 27 yr old Achilles Hypalon

Ron20324 · Jul 6, 2011

A couple of weeks ago, Baconsails.com had a Walker Bay in the store, used.

Bill Roosa · Jul 7, 2011

For $300 and a couple of weekend's worth of work you can have any number of sailing/rowing/motoring hard dingies. Mine is an "8-Ball" 8' rowing/sailing pram which is fine for 3 people, rows and sails GREAT. If you can cut out 1/4" plywood along a curve, twist wire together, fill in a corner with FG puddy, do basic woodworking and basic fiberglassing this is well within your abilities. Took me 2 weeks to build mine and it has lasted 10 years now. It is showing signs of age as the interior paint has some flakes, going to have to scrape and repaint to get another 10 years out of her I guess.
As I recall they also had 10' and 12' dingies of similar construction. If you don't go with the sailing option I'm thinking you could get it done in a weekend. the sailing option required a rudder, dagger board, and boom/mast which took up a lot of time. You can google "boat plans" and find several sites.

Terry in Naples · Jul 7, 2011

Walker Bay w/tubes

I used one of these with the tubes for several years. The good is they are cheap, easy to take care of, fit on davits. The bad was they are really not too stable. My wife did not like it as I had the 8 foot and it was small. With over 3 in it in the bay it was really overloaded. I finally bit the bullet and bought an Avon rover w/air floor. Big upgrade. Do not get PVC get Hypalon or equivalent material. I also once had a Zodiak (PVC) here in Fl and it literally fell apart in 2 years as I did not have it covered.

BI40 · Jul 7, 2011

For about the same price, you may find an 8' or 10' Trinka. I've had two as tenders over the years. They row and motor nicely and the 10' makes a great little sailing dingy as the "mother ship" rests at anchor. (Had the sailing option for the 8', but that was less than stella.)

The 8' sat upright on the fore-deck with chocks. With a cover, made great storage for extra life jackets. Down-side, the Trinks are little works of art, makes walking away from an untended tender more difficult.

Roger Long · Jul 7, 2011

Don't buy anything without at least looking at the Puffins built in Maine.

http://www.frankfortboatworks.com/

I love the one I just bought.

Chuckbear · Jul 7, 2011

We switch to a hard dinghy about a year ago. We have used inflatables for decades. We did a lot of research and settled on the Livingston. After a year of use, we feel we made a great choice. Here is our posting from our web site on the Livingston. http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-dinghy-and-big-change.html . Chuck

round the bend · Jul 7, 2011

Try a Portland Pudgy. You can row it, sail it or motor it, and it is rated as a lifeboat. 8.5 feet, and more florspace than a liferaft. You can even get a canopy. They have a website.

Sailm8 · Jul 7, 2011

I like the hybrid Hyperlon with a hard fiberglass floor. Mercury Quicksilver. Good price from Busters marine in NJ.
Dink is very stable. Like the stability when lifting the motor on an off.

Steve Dion · Jul 7, 2011

I would stay away from ANY inflatable or hard dink that uses PVC and welded seams. The PVC products have improved a lot over the years but they still have issues with gasoline/chemicals and welded seams are very difficult to repair. This goes for the inflatable rings around the hard boats too.

zeehag · Jul 7, 2011

isnt mercury quicksilver a pvc dink?????
i actually love my walkr bay 8-- only 2 folks have fallen into sea from it-- a newb withno grace and my 6'8" brother--he tripped..LOL..... was amazing to see him fall into sea---LOL he is a mountain goat.

Sailm8 · Jul 7, 2011

Nope:
http://www.bustersmarine.com/inflatables/inflatable_rib.html

zeehag · Jul 7, 2011

is good to know they make both.

jibes138 · Jul 8, 2011

Get a Carolina Skiff J12 or J14. I have had inflatables, a rowing/sailing dinghy and now have a J14 with a 20HP. It is fantastic. All the space you could ever want to carry stuff to the beach, incredibly stable, planes easily with two people and gear, a little less speed with three people. Rated for four passengers and the four are very comfortable. The J12 is only three passengers.
Price for the J14 was about the same as a hard bottom inflatable with motor. The difference is the cost also includes a trailer.

RAD · Jul 8, 2011

Dave
Whats the weight? are you hoisting on davits or towing?

jibes138 · Jul 9, 2011

about 400 pounds. I mostly use it buzzing around town and to the beach from the dock. The J12 might be light enough to hoist on davits. I see a lot of small whalers on davits. The J12 only has a single seat though. Still a huge amount of space and stability.