What's your two cents worth on a good, overall dinghy? I know inflatables can be deflated and stowed. They are more stable and hold tons. However, a rigid tender like the Walker Bay can be rowed, sailed and can't be punctured as easily. My anticipated use is keeping it handy so deflation and stowage is not a big plus for me. Knowing that each has its pros and cons, what your preference if you could do it all over again? I'm looking to buy one and don't want to make a decision I really regret.
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Picking the dink is harder than the Mother Ship
...or at least it seems that way to me. Rick, you don't offer enough info to get truly helpful comments. Will you be cruising or just sailing locally? How often will the dink need to ferry a big wad of groceries? Will it be used in rocky Maine, around SoCal's rocky/barnacle laden Channel Is., or around the Bahamas coral? How many crew need to be served? Are you a diver and will zooming off to a dive spot from the Mother Ship be a plus? How much do you actually enjoy rowing? Or sailing, for that matter. Big outboard a must...or small, light one preferred? Is the smaller price and greater longevity of a hard dink highly important to you...or relatively unimportant? When (if) considering a hard dink, don't overlook the huge difference a pair of gunwale tubes can make. I notice the Walker Bay series now offers these for some of their dinks; I inspected such a set-up at the London boat show and was very impressed. Dinghy Dogs is another brand, developed by a sailor to suit a variety of dinks. With these, you get far more stability, and they are removeable if you want to have more speed - or deflatable when stowing on deck. Jack
...or at least it seems that way to me. Rick, you don't offer enough info to get truly helpful comments. Will you be cruising or just sailing locally? How often will the dink need to ferry a big wad of groceries? Will it be used in rocky Maine, around SoCal's rocky/barnacle laden Channel Is., or around the Bahamas coral? How many crew need to be served? Are you a diver and will zooming off to a dive spot from the Mother Ship be a plus? How much do you actually enjoy rowing? Or sailing, for that matter. Big outboard a must...or small, light one preferred? Is the smaller price and greater longevity of a hard dink highly important to you...or relatively unimportant? When (if) considering a hard dink, don't overlook the huge difference a pair of gunwale tubes can make. I notice the Walker Bay series now offers these for some of their dinks; I inspected such a set-up at the London boat show and was very impressed. Dinghy Dogs is another brand, developed by a sailor to suit a variety of dinks. With these, you get far more stability, and they are removeable if you want to have more speed - or deflatable when stowing on deck. Jack
Dinks
I started out with an inflatable and a small motor Then I built a hard dink which I use now. I miss the stability of the inflatable but thats about it.Storage was not a problem as I only use it to get to my mooring.I do not use the motor at all any more because the hard dink rows so easy but would be a problem if I wanted to bring it on board for storage.
I started out with an inflatable and a small motor Then I built a hard dink which I use now. I miss the stability of the inflatable but thats about it.Storage was not a problem as I only use it to get to my mooring.I do not use the motor at all any more because the hard dink rows so easy but would be a problem if I wanted to bring it on board for storage.
Try before you buy.
I have one of each and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Our Cat 320 has a sugar scoop transom and we anchor out a lot. The hard dinghy was noisy when the wind died at anchor and would have scarred up the transom. I like the easier stowability of the inflatable for rough crossings. But, it drives, rows and tows like an innertube and barnacles are a nightmare when docking.
I have one of each and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Our Cat 320 has a sugar scoop transom and we anchor out a lot. The hard dinghy was noisy when the wind died at anchor and would have scarred up the transom. I like the easier stowability of the inflatable for rough crossings. But, it drives, rows and tows like an innertube and barnacles are a nightmare when docking.
We've had them soft and hard
and hard is better, at least for us. Oyster shells on beaches eventually had the iflatable looking like a very old much repaired inner tube. It towed terribly -- would actually become airborne and land uposide down. Didn't row worth a hoot and wasn't all that stable either if you stepped wrong. We bought a hard dinghy in an emergency when the inflatable defied repair. Only wish I had bought a sailing model. The same Cruis'n'Carry engine works fine but mostly we row. Davits solved the stowage problem. See photo.
and hard is better, at least for us. Oyster shells on beaches eventually had the iflatable looking like a very old much repaired inner tube. It towed terribly -- would actually become airborne and land uposide down. Didn't row worth a hoot and wasn't all that stable either if you stepped wrong. We bought a hard dinghy in an emergency when the inflatable defied repair. Only wish I had bought a sailing model. The same Cruis'n'Carry engine works fine but mostly we row. Davits solved the stowage problem. See photo.
Attachments
hard inflatable
i recently purchased a "boss boat" dinghy. it looks like am inflatable, but the tubes are fiberglass. check it out. i bought the 8', and have not had a lot of chance to tow it yet.
i recently purchased a "boss boat" dinghy. it looks like am inflatable, but the tubes are fiberglass. check it out. i bought the 8', and have not had a lot of chance to tow it yet.
best of both
i bought the west marine hpif (high pressure inflatable floor). the pressure in the main tubes is about 3 psi. if you know how tight they can be, just imagine how hard the bottom is with close to 11 psi. the floor is woven with aramid fibers to withstand the high pressure. i got a 3-speed pump. 1st gear is high volume for getting air in fast. 2nd gear is medium to top off the main tubes and keel. 3rd gear is for the floor. when stepping into the boat there is not any deformation...it is hard. it planes great with two people and an 8 hp 2-stroke tahatsu motor. it rolls up very small and is easy to set up and take down. the inflatable keel should have been high prssure as well. also the plug leaks. it isn't a problem, but irritating. rt
i bought the west marine hpif (high pressure inflatable floor). the pressure in the main tubes is about 3 psi. if you know how tight they can be, just imagine how hard the bottom is with close to 11 psi. the floor is woven with aramid fibers to withstand the high pressure. i got a 3-speed pump. 1st gear is high volume for getting air in fast. 2nd gear is medium to top off the main tubes and keel. 3rd gear is for the floor. when stepping into the boat there is not any deformation...it is hard. it planes great with two people and an 8 hp 2-stroke tahatsu motor. it rolls up very small and is easy to set up and take down. the inflatable keel should have been high prssure as well. also the plug leaks. it isn't a problem, but irritating. rt
Boss Boat
I just bought the 10' Yachtsman version of the Boss Boat and finally took it out last weekend. It's very stable and dry which was nice in the 35 degree weather. I haven't towed it yet but I expect to in the next month or so. I'll be towing it with a Hunter 35.5 so I'm a little concerned as you are, but we had to do something. Our inflatable had so many patches on it it was getting very difficult to keep up with the leaks. The 20hp 4 stroke motor is almost twice as heavy than our old 6hp 2 stroke (100lbs opposed to 58lbs) and the boat weighs 195lbs opposed to 75 for the old inflatable so we'll see. On the positive side, the wife will be much happier when she takes the dog to the beach at 10:00 and the boat will still float when she gets back to it.
I just bought the 10' Yachtsman version of the Boss Boat and finally took it out last weekend. It's very stable and dry which was nice in the 35 degree weather. I haven't towed it yet but I expect to in the next month or so. I'll be towing it with a Hunter 35.5 so I'm a little concerned as you are, but we had to do something. Our inflatable had so many patches on it it was getting very difficult to keep up with the leaks. The 20hp 4 stroke motor is almost twice as heavy than our old 6hp 2 stroke (100lbs opposed to 58lbs) and the boat weighs 195lbs opposed to 75 for the old inflatable so we'll see. On the positive side, the wife will be much happier when she takes the dog to the beach at 10:00 and the boat will still float when she gets back to it.
Thanks guys. Here's more info on needs
Jack raised a good point about me not providing enough information. My needs, and those of lots of guys reading this, are these: No snorkeling. I'm in Texas and not the BVI. The tender is mainly for transporting 2 to 4 people to shore; not hauling groceries and petrol around. It will be in the Texas sun 24/7. When landing, it may hit sand but just as likely to hit rock. Price is important. Like most of us, I need to save the cash and don't want to spend more than I have to. I want a small outboard. At my age, my back no longer lifts 80 pound outboards without a trip to the orthopedic surgeon. I won't be doing any Trans Pac cruises but, at most, local coastal crusing. My guess is that a hard dink sounds like the best from what I hear. What do you guys think?
Jack raised a good point about me not providing enough information. My needs, and those of lots of guys reading this, are these: No snorkeling. I'm in Texas and not the BVI. The tender is mainly for transporting 2 to 4 people to shore; not hauling groceries and petrol around. It will be in the Texas sun 24/7. When landing, it may hit sand but just as likely to hit rock. Price is important. Like most of us, I need to save the cash and don't want to spend more than I have to. I want a small outboard. At my age, my back no longer lifts 80 pound outboards without a trip to the orthopedic surgeon. I won't be doing any Trans Pac cruises but, at most, local coastal crusing. My guess is that a hard dink sounds like the best from what I hear. What do you guys think?
Dink in Kemah
If you are going to be going to Red fish i would sugest you get a hard dink, at least a hard bottom.. it is nothing but shells there and it will tear up the hull of the dink. Good luck
If you are going to be going to Red fish i would sugest you get a hard dink, at least a hard bottom.. it is nothing but shells there and it will tear up the hull of the dink. Good luck
Redfish okay?
As a Kemah newbie, I haven't been to Redfish yet. Is it worth it? What's there to see/do?
As a Kemah newbie, I haven't been to Redfish yet. Is it worth it? What's there to see/do?
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