I am interested in an inexpensive tender/dinghy for light use. I would use it just for exploring and jaunts to shore when my 27' is anchored in a protected bay. At this point I would prefer to row and perhaps add a motor at a later time. I am currently sailing on the Hudson River in NY. I have under consideration a SEA EAGLE 6 or 8 foot dinghy or perhaps and inflatable kayak. Does anyone have experience with these SEA EAGLE dinghys or perhaps you have other ideas or suggestions? Can't wait for spring! Roy
Inexpensive Tender
- Thread starter Roy Udwin
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Inflatable boats are
notoriously difficult to row.. If you are of a mind to do it you can build a fine plywood dink from two sheets of 1/4 inch plywood and a 12 foot 1x12 board. The cost will be less than 200 dollars and with reasonable care will last for several years. http://euler.sfasu.edu/Nymph/ Try this link.
notoriously difficult to row.. If you are of a mind to do it you can build a fine plywood dink from two sheets of 1/4 inch plywood and a 12 foot 1x12 board. The cost will be less than 200 dollars and with reasonable care will last for several years. http://euler.sfasu.edu/Nymph/ Try this link.
Space is a consideration
Ross - thanks for your comment - I should have also mentioned that space is an issue since I am limited on my 27' boat.
Ross - thanks for your comment - I should have also mentioned that space is an issue since I am limited on my 27' boat.
Roy there is
no need to drag the dink up on deck. just tie a rope to it and lead it around like a puppy, it will follow you every where. I have friends that have towed their hard dinghy to and from Florida four times. I built the Nymph that is in the link that I posted and it tows very nicely on the chesapeake bay.
no need to drag the dink up on deck. just tie a rope to it and lead it around like a puppy, it will follow you every where. I have friends that have towed their hard dinghy to and from Florida four times. I built the Nymph that is in the link that I posted and it tows very nicely on the chesapeake bay.
kayak..I don't think soooo!
As you may have guessed,I have done a little kayaking. Getting in and out of a kayak from a boat is really difficult. Once you stand up,all stability is gone,and you're likely to swim. The inflatables are worse than the plastic or glass ones. I played with the idea of using my sea kayak as a tender for my boat last summer,but then I got to thinking of how difficult some high dock landings were. I like to swim in Maine-but not fully dressed!
As you may have guessed,I have done a little kayaking. Getting in and out of a kayak from a boat is really difficult. Once you stand up,all stability is gone,and you're likely to swim. The inflatables are worse than the plastic or glass ones. I played with the idea of using my sea kayak as a tender for my boat last summer,but then I got to thinking of how difficult some high dock landings were. I like to swim in Maine-but not fully dressed!
Walker Bay boat with tube
Here is a link to a picture of what I use. This 8 foot Walker Bay boat is a compromise of sort, but works well. Its a good rower and tower, sailor and power dingy. Without the tube (not recommended) it will hold two; with the tube it is rated for 4 and can take up to a 4 horse power engine. Personally I preferred the Merc 4 stroke 4 horse power, however I bought the 3.3 Merc two stroke. The two stroke 3.3 was much lighter and I figured as I got older, easier to manoeuvre and for my wife to manoeuvre. Because marinas have limited speed limits, the 3.3 is all you really need. You can also buy various sails for the dingy. the link I provided isn't Walker Bay's home web site, I just grabbed the easiest site I could find to illustrate it to you. The negative of the Walker bay with tube is that it will be a little more "tender" than the inflatables, but the tube will definitely tone down the wiggles.
Here is a link to a picture of what I use. This 8 foot Walker Bay boat is a compromise of sort, but works well. Its a good rower and tower, sailor and power dingy. Without the tube (not recommended) it will hold two; with the tube it is rated for 4 and can take up to a 4 horse power engine. Personally I preferred the Merc 4 stroke 4 horse power, however I bought the 3.3 Merc two stroke. The two stroke 3.3 was much lighter and I figured as I got older, easier to manoeuvre and for my wife to manoeuvre. Because marinas have limited speed limits, the 3.3 is all you really need. You can also buy various sails for the dingy. the link I provided isn't Walker Bay's home web site, I just grabbed the easiest site I could find to illustrate it to you. The negative of the Walker bay with tube is that it will be a little more "tender" than the inflatables, but the tube will definitely tone down the wiggles.
If you really want inexpensive...
Post a note at your marina or nearby friendly boat places. You'd be amazed how many old things are lying around in storage. Check the local kayak rental store for end-of-season sales. A small Avon dinghy-- used -- would work fine, but remember they don't really row all that well. Shorts distances in no wind, okay. For your needs, and if you are young and agile enough, I think an inflatable kayak would work fine. Small investment. Easy to store. Getting in and out takes practice. WM has these and puts them on sale once in a while. If you go for an inflatable, go as small as possible to meet your needs. They will not b e cheap. Good luck. Sanders beached in Florida
Post a note at your marina or nearby friendly boat places. You'd be amazed how many old things are lying around in storage. Check the local kayak rental store for end-of-season sales. A small Avon dinghy-- used -- would work fine, but remember they don't really row all that well. Shorts distances in no wind, okay. For your needs, and if you are young and agile enough, I think an inflatable kayak would work fine. Small investment. Easy to store. Getting in and out takes practice. WM has these and puts them on sale once in a while. If you go for an inflatable, go as small as possible to meet your needs. They will not b e cheap. Good luck. Sanders beached in Florida
Dinghy Fun...
Not only are they fun at an anchorage...but puttering around on a dinghy in the Home Marina seems to be popular in my area, including almost all AGE GROUPS...Great Fun.
Not only are they fun at an anchorage...but puttering around on a dinghy in the Home Marina seems to be popular in my area, including almost all AGE GROUPS...Great Fun.
Inflatable kayak
Roy.. i just went through this in my 23 footer.. I had an avon rover that was unstowable. Later i built several plywood dinks that would fit on the foredeck but were still too much of an obstruction.. if you don't mind spending some real money check out these innova kayaks.. they are quality boats that paddle very well and can stow below decks.I have no ptoblem mounting or dismounting from the boat (6' 200 lbs). I bought their 10 foot Solar single but should have bought the Sunny (double).. don't waste your money on some cheap PVC boat
Roy.. i just went through this in my 23 footer.. I had an avon rover that was unstowable. Later i built several plywood dinks that would fit on the foredeck but were still too much of an obstruction.. if you don't mind spending some real money check out these innova kayaks.. they are quality boats that paddle very well and can stow below decks.I have no ptoblem mounting or dismounting from the boat (6' 200 lbs). I bought their 10 foot Solar single but should have bought the Sunny (double).. don't waste your money on some cheap PVC boat
are you handy?
Try Clark Craft, I used their plans to build myself a 6' rowing/sailing dink for my old h25 a couple years ago. I built it out out of a single sheet of 1/4" ply and glassed the outside. I invested less than $150 in it and proceeded to beat the crap out of it. When I sold it with the boat a year later it still looked great.
Try Clark Craft, I used their plans to build myself a 6' rowing/sailing dink for my old h25 a couple years ago. I built it out out of a single sheet of 1/4" ply and glassed the outside. I invested less than $150 in it and proceeded to beat the crap out of it. When I sold it with the boat a year later it still looked great.
Walker 8
If you are considering a Walker Bay 8, check out Boat US or West Marine....their prices are descent if not better than most of what I have seen. Boaters World has their own version but it isn't upgradeable like the Walker Bay but it is a bit cheaper. Check both sites out. I am going to buy a Walker Bay 8 this spring!
If you are considering a Walker Bay 8, check out Boat US or West Marine....their prices are descent if not better than most of what I have seen. Boaters World has their own version but it isn't upgradeable like the Walker Bay but it is a bit cheaper. Check both sites out. I am going to buy a Walker Bay 8 this spring!
pick one
Kayak - difficult to get into and out of from a sailboat, sort of. You have to be coordinated. They are the ONLY way to explore. I had a 18' canoe with a footprint twice my cousins yak, but the difference in rowing was unbelieveable. And the Hudson has a current, so you don't want to fight it all the time. Inflatable dingy: I have one that I use and it worked great getting us down the Hudson to Miami. It rows well with one aboard, even with two and a bike, but for exploring, the yak wins. More stable, but in rowing, you are always facing BACKWARDS. Again the yak wins. Hard dingy. Again, rowing facing the wrong way. Tried paddling vs rowing my 12' Penguin and it doesn't work. However I can sail it, but then there is the mast, boom, sails, etc. Not very convenient. Better off with a long oar and sculling it. Can add a motor to it nicely though. Points for that. But 12 is big for a 27 (I have a 37'). Still it lacks stability, but is better when those power boaters go by at twice the speed of sound. Some new ones have a blow up rubber attachment that looks interesting. Points for that. Folbot or other take apart. OK, now you have my attention. It stows nicely. Can be assembled on the deck. Goes like a bat out of...well it's a yak! Tough, durable. The two man can hold a cooler and beer in the front cockpit. You can make it somewhat more beamy than a store bought yak, which means it will be more stable, but still paddleable. Still hard to get into and out of. My ladder is permenent and reaches the water level, so it is not that difficult to use. My first choice would be the yak, take apart model. Next blow up yak. Next, biggest dingy you can tow or use that you can put up a sail on or add a motor to (electric or gas). Motoring is needed for Avon types. Ok, but it takes something out of it, adds bulk. Rowing is OK, but you are always backwards. Can you say stiff neck? And you always concentrate on rowing, not looking at the scenery. Or. Buy a blow up dingy type from Sam's club or Costco. And make a take apart yak. Costs should be under $500. I paid $90 for my Sam's club blow-up. And $100 for my hard 12' Penguin, with trailer. Next is making a yak.
Kayak - difficult to get into and out of from a sailboat, sort of. You have to be coordinated. They are the ONLY way to explore. I had a 18' canoe with a footprint twice my cousins yak, but the difference in rowing was unbelieveable. And the Hudson has a current, so you don't want to fight it all the time. Inflatable dingy: I have one that I use and it worked great getting us down the Hudson to Miami. It rows well with one aboard, even with two and a bike, but for exploring, the yak wins. More stable, but in rowing, you are always facing BACKWARDS. Again the yak wins. Hard dingy. Again, rowing facing the wrong way. Tried paddling vs rowing my 12' Penguin and it doesn't work. However I can sail it, but then there is the mast, boom, sails, etc. Not very convenient. Better off with a long oar and sculling it. Can add a motor to it nicely though. Points for that. But 12 is big for a 27 (I have a 37'). Still it lacks stability, but is better when those power boaters go by at twice the speed of sound. Some new ones have a blow up rubber attachment that looks interesting. Points for that. Folbot or other take apart. OK, now you have my attention. It stows nicely. Can be assembled on the deck. Goes like a bat out of...well it's a yak! Tough, durable. The two man can hold a cooler and beer in the front cockpit. You can make it somewhat more beamy than a store bought yak, which means it will be more stable, but still paddleable. Still hard to get into and out of. My ladder is permenent and reaches the water level, so it is not that difficult to use. My first choice would be the yak, take apart model. Next blow up yak. Next, biggest dingy you can tow or use that you can put up a sail on or add a motor to (electric or gas). Motoring is needed for Avon types. Ok, but it takes something out of it, adds bulk. Rowing is OK, but you are always backwards. Can you say stiff neck? And you always concentrate on rowing, not looking at the scenery. Or. Buy a blow up dingy type from Sam's club or Costco. And make a take apart yak. Costs should be under $500. I paid $90 for my Sam's club blow-up. And $100 for my hard 12' Penguin, with trailer. Next is making a yak.
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