I am looking into getting a used liferaft for coastal cruising. I'm wondering if there are any reasons not to consider a used one, if it's been certified, etc. Another question: Does anybody have any experience with or opinions about the "Portlandpudgy" (see link) vs. a liferaft for such sailing? (If it's adequate, then this dinghy would serve two purposes.) Thanks.
Liferaft...?
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Actual Purpose
Used rafts are a difficult thing. Rafts have a life expectancy based on how long they can be certified. What is your actual need? If you are just going harbor to harbor, not more than a few miles off shore, an inflatable zodiac type gives you reasonable safety combined with a hand held VHF. If you plan an offshore voyage, rafts can be rented for a short term along with an epirb as well.
Used rafts are a difficult thing. Rafts have a life expectancy based on how long they can be certified. What is your actual need? If you are just going harbor to harbor, not more than a few miles off shore, an inflatable zodiac type gives you reasonable safety combined with a hand held VHF. If you plan an offshore voyage, rafts can be rented for a short term along with an epirb as well.
Coastal Cruising
For coastal cruising I would be comfortable with a good inflatable. And a hand held VHF in a waterproof baggie. When you venture far offshore, is when the life raft becomes something to consider. The Portlandpugy doesn't appear to me to be much more than one of the Walker Bay's.
For coastal cruising I would be comfortable with a good inflatable. And a hand held VHF in a waterproof baggie. When you venture far offshore, is when the life raft becomes something to consider. The Portlandpugy doesn't appear to me to be much more than one of the Walker Bay's.
price
It's a six person Plastimo life raft for sale for $500. Assuming it's in good shape and is certified or certifiable, this sounds like a pretty good price. (New, they are around $2500.) However, $500 is $500 - why spend this kind of money on something that I don't really need at this point? Right now, all we have is one of those portaboats. This is self-buoyant, but I guess pretty different from an inflatable zodiac-type boat. Maybe that would be the best for us at this point if we start to venture off shore a little bit.
It's a six person Plastimo life raft for sale for $500. Assuming it's in good shape and is certified or certifiable, this sounds like a pretty good price. (New, they are around $2500.) However, $500 is $500 - why spend this kind of money on something that I don't really need at this point? Right now, all we have is one of those portaboats. This is self-buoyant, but I guess pretty different from an inflatable zodiac-type boat. Maybe that would be the best for us at this point if we start to venture off shore a little bit.
Actually it would serve 3
sail... row... liferaft. (seems to be a combination of all 3... which means it is not good for any one task) You don't need a liferaft for coastal crusing. However you could tow this thing around and have some fun.
sail... row... liferaft. (seems to be a combination of all 3... which means it is not good for any one task) You don't need a liferaft for coastal crusing. However you could tow this thing around and have some fun.
Life Span
Most life rafts have a life span of approx 15 years. Most Life rafts cost about $800 to repack and inspect. Check with dealers, some liferafts are required to be inspected and repacked every 2 years and some every 5 years. An offshore liferaft will cost about $2800 and a coastal liferaft will cost about $2200 new. Not too much difference between the offshore version and the coastal. A little more durable, not much. Most of the difference is in the food, water, and fishing kit that comes with them. Also, inspections are not free. It could cost you up to $175 just to find out if the life raft is any good. Now you have enough knowledge to make a quick decision or do your own research. Its hard for someone here to tell you how to spend your money. If you are not a racer, the best bet is to buy a coastal life raft and with the savings, purchase an e-pirb. I mention this because if you had the money for a new liferaft, you would not be looking at a piece of junk. How do I know its a piece of junk? Because if it were any good, someone at his marina would have scoffed it up for more than $500. IMHO Tony B
Most life rafts have a life span of approx 15 years. Most Life rafts cost about $800 to repack and inspect. Check with dealers, some liferafts are required to be inspected and repacked every 2 years and some every 5 years. An offshore liferaft will cost about $2800 and a coastal liferaft will cost about $2200 new. Not too much difference between the offshore version and the coastal. A little more durable, not much. Most of the difference is in the food, water, and fishing kit that comes with them. Also, inspections are not free. It could cost you up to $175 just to find out if the life raft is any good. Now you have enough knowledge to make a quick decision or do your own research. Its hard for someone here to tell you how to spend your money. If you are not a racer, the best bet is to buy a coastal life raft and with the savings, purchase an e-pirb. I mention this because if you had the money for a new liferaft, you would not be looking at a piece of junk. How do I know its a piece of junk? Because if it were any good, someone at his marina would have scoffed it up for more than $500. IMHO Tony B
Rich
Most liferafts are round or hexagonal and have a cover of sorts to keep you out of the sun and really are not meant for play. Once they are inflated, you cannot re-pack them yourself. Tony B
Most liferafts are round or hexagonal and have a cover of sorts to keep you out of the sun and really are not meant for play. Once they are inflated, you cannot re-pack them yourself. Tony B
Sailor Tony...
talking about the Portland Pudgy. It is a double hull plastic kind of thing that you don't inflate... can row... or put up a sail... or the cover. Basically it is a dink... a la cart! You can see one at Hamilton Marine... in Portland Maine! Strange... but true. Very cool.
talking about the Portland Pudgy. It is a double hull plastic kind of thing that you don't inflate... can row... or put up a sail... or the cover. Basically it is a dink... a la cart! You can see one at Hamilton Marine... in Portland Maine! Strange... but true. Very cool.
Looks like a Fun Boat
Thinking that 3 in 1 multi purpose boat can be some fun as well as meet basic life raft needs... After looking at the accesorry list and also what comes optional... I am curious just wwhat does the whole package cost? I laughed when they mention the hand pump and cover as a 'recommended" option.. LOL... Yes, definately if I lost my boat in bad weather... Thinking those options should be mandated not recommended, lol... I am thinking that whole package will set you back more then 500 dollars.... Cuyrious, thanks for the link.
Thinking that 3 in 1 multi purpose boat can be some fun as well as meet basic life raft needs... After looking at the accesorry list and also what comes optional... I am curious just wwhat does the whole package cost? I laughed when they mention the hand pump and cover as a 'recommended" option.. LOL... Yes, definately if I lost my boat in bad weather... Thinking those options should be mandated not recommended, lol... I am thinking that whole package will set you back more then 500 dollars.... Cuyrious, thanks for the link.
I would bet the first round
I would bet the first round that the whole package will set you back over 2K. And a price tag of 3K or more wouldn't surprise me. Hell, a Walker bay with sail kit is over 1500.
I would bet the first round that the whole package will set you back over 2K. And a price tag of 3K or more wouldn't surprise me. Hell, a Walker bay with sail kit is over 1500.
Probably right
It's probably right that the Portlandpudgey will set you back two grand or more if you want all the "options". However, if it really would serve as a life raft for coastal cruising, then this seems like not a bad deal, since it would serve two purposes (dinghy and life raft). It also would save space. As for that life raft I was considering - I talked to the owner. It's nine years old and was last inspected in 2001. I'm going to pass on it. I'm not sure I really need a life raft, and if I do it will be something that is newer.
It's probably right that the Portlandpudgey will set you back two grand or more if you want all the "options". However, if it really would serve as a life raft for coastal cruising, then this seems like not a bad deal, since it would serve two purposes (dinghy and life raft). It also would save space. As for that life raft I was considering - I talked to the owner. It's nine years old and was last inspected in 2001. I'm going to pass on it. I'm not sure I really need a life raft, and if I do it will be something that is newer.
Nice and Easy
probably has the price tag close. I seriously looked at one... however went the used RIB route for $500. It is VERY light. Probably rows well... sails like cr*p... and would be suitible for a coastal life raft for 2. Looks to be indestructable.
probably has the price tag close. I seriously looked at one... however went the used RIB route for $500. It is VERY light. Probably rows well... sails like cr*p... and would be suitible for a coastal life raft for 2. Looks to be indestructable.
2006 Portland Pudgy Pricing...
$1,900 for the boat. $900 for the sail rig. $1,300 for the exposure canopy. $300 for electric panel.
$1,900 for the boat. $900 for the sail rig. $1,300 for the exposure canopy. $300 for electric panel.
John...smart move
Smart move on passing it up. For coastal cruising, I would never buy anything other than an inflatable. Hard bottom is much better if you have the room to stow it. Before you buy anything, step from someone else's boat into their dinghy and notice how much more stable the inflatable is. Women cant hardly get into a standard hard dinghy. They tend to want to step, put some weight on it then get in. Men step on in a more committed manner. If you stand on the edge of an inflatable, it will support your weight. Also, in the slightest chop, a hard dinghy will take on water just as an inflatable will. Difference being is that the inflatable wont sink. Picture yourself dinghying up to the beach in the morning, the wind picks up slightly to a mild chop, now you cant get back to your boat. Or, possibly risk getting the O/B pretty submerged. Just food for thought. I think you should find out what and where people sail before you take advice from those that recommend hard dinghies including the Walker Bay. Make sure that they will be doing the same kind of sailing that you will be. Also keep in mind that if there is any rocks or rough bottom, you will need an RIB. A regular inflatable will have its bottom gobbled up. IMHO Tony B
Smart move on passing it up. For coastal cruising, I would never buy anything other than an inflatable. Hard bottom is much better if you have the room to stow it. Before you buy anything, step from someone else's boat into their dinghy and notice how much more stable the inflatable is. Women cant hardly get into a standard hard dinghy. They tend to want to step, put some weight on it then get in. Men step on in a more committed manner. If you stand on the edge of an inflatable, it will support your weight. Also, in the slightest chop, a hard dinghy will take on water just as an inflatable will. Difference being is that the inflatable wont sink. Picture yourself dinghying up to the beach in the morning, the wind picks up slightly to a mild chop, now you cant get back to your boat. Or, possibly risk getting the O/B pretty submerged. Just food for thought. I think you should find out what and where people sail before you take advice from those that recommend hard dinghies including the Walker Bay. Make sure that they will be doing the same kind of sailing that you will be. Also keep in mind that if there is any rocks or rough bottom, you will need an RIB. A regular inflatable will have its bottom gobbled up. IMHO Tony B
Portabote
Sailortony, or anybody else: What we have right now is a 9' portabote. Do you think this is an adequate replacement for a RIB for offshore cruising? (As you probably know, it's buoyant even when completely swamped.) I quite like the portabote for messing around in a lake or rowing to shore from anchor. I don't mind rowing at all, and it rows better than an inflatable I think. As far as having room to stow a hardbottom inflatable: We have a Catalina 36, so I suppose we'd have room on the fore deck -- if it weren't for our dogs! Maybe even with them we would, since they usually stay in the cockpit with us. This also leads to another question: Right now, rowing the portabote is no problem. However, if we start to do some coastal cruising, and we needed to get ashore through the surf, then obviously we'd need to motor. so: (1)Do you think it would be possible to motor through the surf in a portabote, or would it be necessary to use an inflatable? (2)What would be the minimal horse power for a motor that could get through surf safely in a not-so-big inflatable (or portabote if it's possible)?
Sailortony, or anybody else: What we have right now is a 9' portabote. Do you think this is an adequate replacement for a RIB for offshore cruising? (As you probably know, it's buoyant even when completely swamped.) I quite like the portabote for messing around in a lake or rowing to shore from anchor. I don't mind rowing at all, and it rows better than an inflatable I think. As far as having room to stow a hardbottom inflatable: We have a Catalina 36, so I suppose we'd have room on the fore deck -- if it weren't for our dogs! Maybe even with them we would, since they usually stay in the cockpit with us. This also leads to another question: Right now, rowing the portabote is no problem. However, if we start to do some coastal cruising, and we needed to get ashore through the surf, then obviously we'd need to motor. so: (1)Do you think it would be possible to motor through the surf in a portabote, or would it be necessary to use an inflatable? (2)What would be the minimal horse power for a motor that could get through surf safely in a not-so-big inflatable (or portabote if it's possible)?
At Least
I would vote for the rigid hull inflatable, and at the very least an inflatable keel. But if you have room to stow it, a rigid hull would be far superior. As for the motor, I have an 8' inflatable, and had a 5 hp on it. Way too much motor, and went with a 2hp two stroke. Very light, and very dependable, but doesn't get anywhere in a hurry. Have some friends who have a 9', inflatable keel, with a 3.5 on it, and it is reasonably speedy with four people in it, but it won't plane. You need to check around and see what others are using, and get some idea. It will take a 5hp or better, to get you up on plane. But the bigger the motor, the heavier and more bulky. As with everything else, it's a trade off.
I would vote for the rigid hull inflatable, and at the very least an inflatable keel. But if you have room to stow it, a rigid hull would be far superior. As for the motor, I have an 8' inflatable, and had a 5 hp on it. Way too much motor, and went with a 2hp two stroke. Very light, and very dependable, but doesn't get anywhere in a hurry. Have some friends who have a 9', inflatable keel, with a 3.5 on it, and it is reasonably speedy with four people in it, but it won't plane. You need to check around and see what others are using, and get some idea. It will take a 5hp or better, to get you up on plane. But the bigger the motor, the heavier and more bulky. As with everything else, it's a trade off.
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