Inflatable dinghy?

[KJH]

Out of curiosity, do any of you keep an inflatable dinghy aboard your C-22 as a "Plan B" in the event of an emergency? As always, I would appreciate your opinions and incites.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Ken]

I pulled one for a while years ago, have to say it was a huge disappointment while sailing.
Everyone I know who still pulls a dingy have gone to either a port-a-boat or a hard dinghy. If I ever have another dinghy I'll build it. I really like the Eastport Pram http://www.clcboats.com/shop/rowboats/dinghies/

 

[shipwreck66]

Being on Lake Michigan, which I remember as being tempermental, I would carry a self-inflating all-weather liferaft. It stows away handy and relatively small, just grab, toss-n-pull on line. Actually, with a C22 you wouldn't have to launch the raft, just inflate it in the cockpit. When a Cat goes down it usually gets swamped under you, if you left the companionway wide open. Keep the raft in the cockpit storage locker, unlocked, so you can get to it when you need it.

 

[scuzzlebutt]

Ive been thinking about getting one of those cheap inflatable sevylors as a dinghy. I rarely have any need for a dinghy, but on rare occassions I could use it to get camping gear and one person at a time to shore (shore is sharp jagged rocks, not sand, so no beaching). Let us know how it works.

 

[sinnettc]

We towed an 8' 6" inflatable behind us in the San Juans last summer. We don't bother on the lake we usually sail on.

 

[watercolors II]

Towing is a pain

I carry and use one of those Sevylors as someone suggested. Takes between 15 and 20 minutes to inflate with a small 8 dollar 12 volt mattress inflator in the cockpit. 8 feet and 5 different inflatable areas.

I use it on small inland lakes where you’re only rowing maybe 50 yards, I would never use it on the Chesapeake unless it was an emergency.

Now make sure you check with your local regulations because some of those require it to be so big and have many inflatable areas where the small cheap Sevylors do not qualify.