Inflatable advise. Is bigger always better?

[guidera48]

I had my mind made up in a 240 (8ft) roll up inflatable, under 80# for ease of lifting and a 3 to 4 hp motor, around 35# . I was concerned about putting the whole thing together while on the boat. That was my plan however after reading many forums, I realized that if I wanted to get anywhere dry and fast I would need an inflatable with an inflatable quill and a 9hp motor at least. Got a great deal in a 9.9ft inflatable with an aluminum floor. Arrived last week and could hardly pick up the box it came in. About 125#. Also the 9hp motor I borrowed is about 75#. I can assemble it fine in my back yard but did I buy more than I can chew?. I do. Have a lifting motor davit on the rail.
What is your experience with your inflatable? Should I start all over??

 

[Ed Schenck]

I think the sailing grounds have a lot to do with it. On Lake Erie and everywhere between there and Tampa my 8' Avon, under tow, was all we needed. We had a 2hp, 4-cycle, air-cooled that we used once. Mostly we rowed.

I remember my dockmate wrestling with a 9.9 on his H380. Even with the hoist he ended up downsizing. But I forget to what.

 

[Johnb]

Ed nailed it - it comes down to the size of the surf you have to get through to leave the beach and how far you want to travel i.e. planing vs non planing.

 

[Jim Legere]

I have a 24 year old Avon Redcrest (8'6"). It fits upside down under the staysail boom on my 37 Cutter. I can hoist it from the water to the foredeck by hand - no help from anyone. It came with plywood floorboards but I stopped using them years ago. It weighs maybe 40lbs w/o the motor. The motor is a 2HP 4 stoke Suzuki. Two of us (one on deck, one in dinghy) can easily transfer the motor to its parking mount on the stern pulpit. No, the Redcrest doesn't plane under motor, but it gets me to shore a lot faster than I could row.

Buying a dinghy is all about finding one that meets your needs...and very little about the 'selling features' that the manufacture promotes.

BTW, only a dingy made of Hypalon will last 24 years+ Stay away from PVC if you are looking for longevity.

 

[seadaddler]

Ditto

I went from a 8' air floor and 4hp to a 9'6'' aluminum floor with 8hp and really like it for what we do and also motor lift does make it easy for me.
I always tow it behind and some times carry it side ways off the stern,it is heavy so I never lift it onto the bow or any place onto anything.
I don't want davits off the stern but thinking when I carry it side ways on stern and looking to get weaver davits that will carry it off the transome when cruising and keeping it out of water and easy to move so I can still use my walk through stern on my H-36,everyone likes different setups and use their boat differently,so give a shot and you may need to try different ways of carrying it.
Nick

 

[Terry411]

I use a 14 foot portabote with a 15 hp 2 smoke. It will go 18 mph with 2 adults 2 6 yearolds. I store it along the lifelines. Works great for fishing.

 

[Terry411]

I forgot to say 18 mph is at 2/3 or so throttle anymore it gets squirrelly. I need to find a 8 / 9.8 hp my 6 is not enough. I think it will go the same speed with a 8 hp.

 

[Bill1565]

We had a 10 foot air floor Achilles for years. Weighed 55 #. Rolled up into a bag. Used a nissan 9.8 two stroke also 55# or so. Needed room for the admiral and two dogs. Rig planed nicely if we had long distances to run. Garhauer motor lift on stern meant single handed handling of the motor, I could unroll and blow up dingy on foredeck.

70+ now. Planning on davits. Stern about 6' wide, Admiral and dog seldom in dingy at same time. I was concerned about dingy and motor overhang. Bought Achilles 240lx 86# 8' rib. Dryer ride than 10 footer. Bigger tubes and higher bow. Kept 2 stroke 9.8. long time getting up on plane now, but I will get around to adding trim tabs.

 

[Benny17441]

Jose, always size an inflatable to the task at hand. Bigger is not always better. Actually the smallest boat and motor that will fulfill the task is usually the best. An 8' inflatable with a 2-3 HP engine can usually take two people ashore safely and quickly as long as the distance is within 100 yards. If you need to move 3 people then doing two trips is a reasonable compromise. Now, if the task at hand requires to take 4 people in a sighteseeing tour of the anchorage then the price must be paid for a bigger and heavier boat and motor. This price is not only paid in dollars but in difficulty to launch and retreive the craft. We use our dingui strictly for transportation from boat to shore and back. It carries two medium size adults and a bag of groceries or maybe a can of fuel maybe 100yards at most. We chose an inflatable for stability and storage convenience. Our 8' Avon weighs in at 76 lbs and it is paired with a 3.3 HP 2 stroke Mercury which weighs 28 lbs. I can easily setup the boat on deck and raise it over the lifelines with the aid of a halyard ane the motor I can carry with one hand as I step on the boat. I can be on shore in around 10 minutes; how fast is your boat? It seems you may already own the big boat so the issue at hand would be to make it work. I would start by storing the components in three different bags so you do not have to wrestle with all 125 lbs at once. Your deck is ample for setup and you could use a halyard and winch as well to launch and reterive. As far as the engine I would look for a used 5 hp 2 stroke engine at around 40 lbs. The lift davit will help yu get it down. You now have a boat that can move 3-4 people at a reasonable speed with reasonable effort.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Sevylor Inflatable

We have a Sevylor inflatable with a plywood bottom I made for it. We use it to visit friends at anchor, and to row ashore when we anchor out (around 100 yards.) Don't need a motor, and it is easy to inflate, deflate, and store under the port bench in the cabin. And, at around $100, the price is right!

 

[guidera48]

Thank you all for your insight. I will put this tender to good use and decide next summer if it really fits my needs once I get the sailboat in the water. Now on to work on a set of davits and a swim platform. There must be a better way of getting on the dinghy than dangling from the last rung on that uncomfortable ladder. It feels like standing up on a hammock.
Thank you all.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Davits and a swim platform?! You bought the wrong boat Jose. You need one of those new Hunters with the walk-thru and wide stern. I did put PlasTeak steps on my ladder which makes it a little better. Here's your platform: http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...&cat_id=38&aid=6979&page=article&mn=37-cutter .

Did you notice all the 2012 boats have closed the transom? Now they have all gone to the fold out swim step.

 

[Jim Legere]

Actually, there is a 1984 Hunter 37 Cutter in Nova Scotia (Sea Dreamer II; HOW owner "Atsea") that has a 'sugar scoop' grafted onto the transom. It was done very professionally and looks nice IMO. If you go to Atsea's profile here on HOW, there is a picture of the transom - at a distance, but it gives the idea. Still have to use the ladder when swimming but boarding from the dingy must be a cinch. Ed S, you idea of Plasteak (or real teak!) steps is a good one. I guess I am used to the original transom ladder from so many years of sailing off a mooring; it doesn't bother me at all...

Supposed to blow 50 knots here tomorrow...I guess I am glad I'm on the hard now.

 

[waternwaves]

"

Did you notice all the 2012 boats have closed the transom

"

which boats are your referring to......seems hunters still have open transoms......

 

[Ed Schenck]

It's a trend. The newest Hunter, the 33, has a fold down swim platform.