Inflatable vs. solid hull dink..

[Gary_H]

I don’t have either, but I was thinking about getting something to use as a tender. I’m trying to get a feel for the pro’s and cons of a small inflatable as apposed to a plastic or fiberglass dingy. Since my boat is small (25ft) storage is an issue. An inflatable could be stored below until time for use but, how long does it take to inflate using one of those foot pumps? If I have to tow the dingy which one would tow better? It seems that if the inflatable gets turned over it will still be on top of the water but a hard dink would become an immediate sea anchor. If I don’t use an engine the plastic dink would probably row and track better than an inflatable and there are also sailing kits for dinks. Does anyone have experience with both types who can offer some pro’s and cons?

 

[higgs]

I have had both. I think a hard dinghy is good if your boat is on a mooring adn you do a lot of rowing. Inflatables w/soft bottom, don't row as well, but they row OK.

Towing - I prefer the inflatable as the bow can be pulled up and placed on the transom leaving only the ends of the tubes in the water. In this configuration it is unlikely to flip. The will, when towed a few feet back, possibly flip in rough conditions. I never had the hard dinghy flip on me but one must be careful not to let it slam into the transom in seas. Proper towing length is the key there.

i have a 8 ft West Marine inflatable with a slatted floor. I can store it deflated either below or on the cabin top. It takes me about 15 minutes to pump it up with the foot pump and have it in the water. One can also partially deflate it for on deck storage. For me, the choice was a good one.

 

[Gary_H]

I was thinking that the 7 or 8 ft West Marine would be good for me. I was kind of leaning that way. Thanks for the info.

 

[sailaway78]

Dink

I have an 8" inflatable. It tows pretty decent, and like higgs, i usually pull it up tight to the transom. Offshore, I deflate and roll it up, stowing in front of the mast. Don't take all that long to pump it up, and is not a big deal.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

I have a 10' 6" zodiac with the inflatable floor. The whole thing weighs about 80 lbs. When inflated the deck is very rigid with 11 lbs of air in it. It takes about 20 minutes to inflate with a foot pump.

I use a Tohatsu 3.5 hp 4 stroke weighs about 40 lb. It's easy to store on the rail, light enough to move around on deck and place on the transom of the dink. The dink does not plain with that small a motor, but I don't have to row :dance:

It rolls up nice and small and can stay out of the way till you need it.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I tow an 8 foot fiberglass dingy around with me. I push it with a 2.5 nissan outboard. It is a two cycle outboard so it weighs only 22 lbs. It doesn't quite plane, but it beats rowing.

The boat tows well behind my Catalina 30. I haven't had any huge problems with it flipping (Towed it once going down wind in 25 knot winds and big waves and no problems). Some of the dingies will hit the back of your boat when being towed down wind but I have a small plastic piece just a foot up from where the rope attaches to the dingy so it slows it down a little.

The dingy I have has a lower center of gravity so that helps it a lot too.

I have no complaints and I have been doing this for a few years now (4 or so). An inflatable would be more stable at times, but it wouldn't row as well. The hard dingy is less likely to get a hole after snagging a barnicle on a pile on. If you scratch the hard dingy by beaching it you can just paint it.

Everything is a compromise. Just figure out how much towing you will do and if you will do a lot you will save yourself some time by towing a hard dingy.

 

[Ron20324]

I was thinking that the 7 or 8 ft West Marine would be good for me. I was kind of leaning that way. Thanks for the info.

I was at West yesterday while a friend bought the 260, which in an email today I see is $699. Included all accessories and nice carrying bag. PVC. Looks like a nice dingy.

 

[BobM]

An inflatable has higher weight capacity and is more stable than a similarly sized hard dinghy, but their life span and maintenance makes them more costly over the long haul. I bought my molded plastic watertender dinghy for $500 from West Marine five years ago and, based on the many others I see around, I can expect perhaps decades of use from it for my $500. Plus, although it could take on water, it has a lot of positive floatation and weighs only about 80 lbs. Too big to fit on deck though.

Please also keep in mind that towing even a small dinghy on a 25 foot boat can be a significant drag in light air.

 

[Gary_H]

Thanks guys I'm kinda liking the looks of the 260 since it can be stowed when not being towed. I appreciate the responses.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Just remember....space is a premium on a 25 foot boat on a cruise. It will also add more weight to your boat.

Look around at back yards and when you see someone that has a dingy that has sat for a while go up and offer them some money for it. That is how I found my dingy and it was a nice deal. $200 for a hard dingy that was in good shape, other than a small fiberglass repair and some paint. It isn't bad looking now and I added some woodwork to it so it looks pretty sharp right now.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

An inflatable has higher weight capacity and is more stable than a similarly sized hard dinghy, but their life span and maintenance makes them more costly over the long haul. I bought my molded plastic watertender dinghy for $500 from West Marine five years ago and, based on the many others I see around, I can expect perhaps decades of use from it for my $500. Plus, although it could take on water, it has a lot of positive floatation and weighs only about 80 lbs. Too big to fit on deck though.

Please also keep in mind that towing even a small dinghy on a 25 foot boat can be a significant drag in light air.

I have been using my 9'6" 80lbs inflatable for 5 seaons now. It is PVC, has inflatable floor and keel so tracks well. Somewhere along the line the high pressure floor picked up a small leak, so small that it takes days to soften the floor and I cannot find it. The inflatable requires a bit more care and maintenace but it does carry more, is more easily stored and is more stable and comfortable with the soft exterior.
Do keep in mind that it does impact speed when towing, I hate towing mine around but have no choice given the heavy 60 lbs 5hp honda on the transom.
Be aware that if you are a large person that you will be cramped in a small dinghy, I would not go with less than 8' in length just for that reason. (8'6" would suffice) You get two of you or more in it and you will be crowded and relegated to very calm water. Mine is larger and with the 5hp honda I can go exploring in bigger water. Before buying, sit in it with another person and get a feel for how much room you have and imagine it with an outboard and the steering handle protruding into the sitting area.
A dinghy can do more than just dinghy dock service if it is larger and has a larger engine.
Small boats require small inflatables whereas larger boats can accommodate more varieties.

 

[RECESS]

I got a hard sailing dinghy for a number of reasons.

*I have a small child (4) and it is an awesome way for him to learn to sail.
*I love to fish and it seems like a better flats boat for fishing while out on a cruise. I can stand and cast from the hard dinghy.
*If I ever need it as a boat to save my bacon, I have a chance of making it to shore with a sail.
*It will last as long as I own a sailboat and requires very little maintenance.

There are many positives for the inflatable, but in the end I really do not want to have to keep up with the maintenance and re-gluing. I have enough chores with the house and boat.

I will pay close attention to the speed loss when we gunk hole in Tampa for a month.

 

[Franklin]

I'm on my second inflatable and am now considering moving over to a hard dink. Tired of deal with leaks and the expenses.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I wonder what the best compromise really is in the long run. I guess it depends upon the person and how they intend to use the dingy. I have no plans of changing my setup for the now but if I ever got another boat then I may have davits and a RIB.

 

[druid]

As I said, I have two inflatables currently and several others in the past. One thing I've noticed: they have no "soul". I donno - I just don't seem to get attached to an inflatable like I do wooden or fibreglass (or even plastic) boats. That's just a feeling, nothing physical, nor do I have anything against inflatables. Just... well, they just don't seem to have any personality.

Just my .02
druid

 

[MrBee]

Storing an inflateable "IN" a 25' boat is going to take up a bunch of space.
Find an old, rough looking fiberglass dinghy, add floatation if you feel it needs it, and drag away. Nothing wrong with inflatables, just that they cost more in the long run.

Seems to be a matter of personal preference.

I have a hard Dinghy that is beat up, and no body would want to steel...but it works just dandy.
Brian

 

[Bob V]

Inflatables = hard to store, expensive to maintain, tow like a sea anchor, need motor if you are more that 100 ft from the dock, take up to much room to store on a small boat and on and on...

Hard shell = hard to store, expensive to buy (maybe), can flip over in extreme weather when you really don't want to deal with it, can not be stored on deck with a boat your size, but when you get to your anchorage and set the hook you've got a real boat that you can sail, row with a sliding seat or power with the tiniest motor (mine is electric), etc.

If you get the inflatable you should also get a rechargeable electric air pump and/or one that will plug in to your 12 volt outlet.

If you get the hardshell you should get a long, floating tow rope. My rope is 80 ft long and the only time I use all of it is when it gets really ugly crossing big straits and tide rips. It comes in handy with a following sea when you can place the dinghy on whatever part of the wave you want to keep it from surfing into your transom.

 

[Gary_H]

Decisions..decisions, well I'm not in a real rush so I have time to consider everyone’s suggestions. I agree with the posters who say a hard dinghy has more character and can be sailed or rowed easier and are easier to maintain. However with a boat my size it would have to be towed. The Inflatable is more expensive, has more maintenance, doesn't row well, but as a plus may be more stable, have increased payload and can be deflated and stored on deck thus it doesn't have to be towed. Maybe I'll look around for an old used hard dink for a couple hundred that I can try out. that way if I don't like it. I'm not out much cash. Around here you just don't see many used inflatables for sale and when you do they want almost full retail for them.