Along with my no trailer remorse I also have been giving the dinghy issue alot of thought. I will need a dinghy for my overnight at my halfway point on the sail homeward to my summer mooring in about a month. I have looked at all the options inflatable, portabote, fiberglass/plastic. Again, price is the main factor here and limited space on the deck of an oday 25cb is the other factor. I pretty much ruled out inflatable for the simple fact that I will need an outboard which is an expense I would rather do without-I will be a poor but healthy man rowing. The portabote looks perfect-easily stores when not in use and you can row it-unfortunately I cannot afford a new one and the few used ones that I have come across get sold almost immediately it seems. So I am left with the hard dinghy option but then I will need additional funds for a trailer-you cant put a dinghy on a roof rack can you???. I have a 15ft coleman outrigger sailing canoe that I learned to sail on. Would it be a ridiculous to even think that I could safely tow this behind my boat and use it as a tender-with the outriggers fully extended of course.????? Has anyone come up with a monetarily friendly dinghy/tender solution??
outrigger canoe as tender for oday 25
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The problem with towing a kayak or a canoe behind your sailboat is that they have a tendency to capsize when you're sailing before the wind in a chop. As they ride with the wind and waves they want to turn sideways, and being tied to the stern on a long rope prevents this and causes them to tip over. Maybe your canoe will ride better where it has outriggers on it, but it may fill up with water in the process. The only way I've been able to get around this problem with my 9' 2" Keowii Aqua-Terra Kayak is to keep the kayak close to and along side of the hull of my boat when she's on a run. Otherwise, if you're beating in the roughest waters your kayak or canoe should ride with no problem on a 20' rope. I know that it's not easy to board an O'Day 25 from a kayak. I've done it a few times and had to use the swim ladder each time. Whereas, I can get in and out of my kayak from my O'Day 222 with no problem. I keep a rope tied to the bow of my kayak with the rest of the rope where I can grab it. When I approach my sailboat to board it on the Port side, I take the rope and pass it around my first lifeline stanchion, pull the slack out to keep the kayak close, and put a clove hitch around my Port Gennie winch to hold it. I have my own way of getting out of my kayak that will only work in conjunction with a sailboat with low free board. I like the kayak because it can fit in the back of my pickup truck kitty cornered, under the cap with the tailgate closed. A kayak offers little to no resistance at all when it's in tow behind my O'Day 222. When I go to the club to use my boat, I use the kayak to get the boat off the mooring and I bring the boat to the dock to pick up gear and passengers. For me, that 9' kayak has met my needs through the years since 1995. I've learned how to get in and out of it without tipping it over. Also, my First Mate Penelope has no problem getting in and out of the kayak from my boat.
Joe
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I use a kyak with my 26. I have a cockpit cover that i put on it when i tow it, I am on a lake so no real large waves to contend with. It is light enough that i can pick it up and put it inside the cabin if needed. and it stores well, between the cabin and the life line.
I totaly agree with Joe it can be a challenge to get out of at the boat, I find it is easer to get in than out of it. I have considered in replaceing it with the same sized "sit on" kyak, thinking it may be easier to get "off" of it that "out" of it. And with the "sit on" you dont have to worry about it turning over or filling with water while undertow.
On the weekend trips it really comes in handy for trips to the islands to walk around a little.
I totaly agree with Joe it can be a challenge to get out of at the boat, I find it is easer to get in than out of it. I have considered in replaceing it with the same sized "sit on" kyak, thinking it may be easier to get "off" of it that "out" of it. And with the "sit on" you dont have to worry about it turning over or filling with water while undertow.
On the weekend trips it really comes in handy for trips to the islands to walk around a little.
Ken,
I meant to mention a cover for the kayak while it's being towed or to keep the dew out of the interior in the early morning when you take the pooch over to curb him. The cover that I use is just a piece of polytarp with a bungee cord to hold it on, or a rope can be used. Trying to board a 25 or a 26 from a kayak is a challenge but not entirely impossible. If I owned a 25 I would figure out a better way of making it a more simple process even if it meant installing a small folding swim platform on my boat. A friend of mine has one on his O'Day 30 and he loves it. Of course, his boat has a full keel with a spade rudder but if there's a will, there's a way.
Joe
I meant to mention a cover for the kayak while it's being towed or to keep the dew out of the interior in the early morning when you take the pooch over to curb him. The cover that I use is just a piece of polytarp with a bungee cord to hold it on, or a rope can be used. Trying to board a 25 or a 26 from a kayak is a challenge but not entirely impossible. If I owned a 25 I would figure out a better way of making it a more simple process even if it meant installing a small folding swim platform on my boat. A friend of mine has one on his O'Day 30 and he loves it. Of course, his boat has a full keel with a spade rudder but if there's a will, there's a way.
Joe
My boat is on a mooring and I use an Old Town Otter Kayak to row out to it. I have a highwayman's know (Thanks JOE) that I pull the ladder down with, Then I just pull my legs out of the kayak (I have a pretty good size opening) and I tie the kayak to a cleat. I row out every day and I can get the Kayak off the dinghy rack, row out about 1/4 mile, go below and row back and stow the kayak in less than an hour.
I love that Highwayman's Knot and I use quite a bit. I think that I first read about that hitch in Rudder Magazine many years back when someone wrote an article about it. They called it "The Scandinavian Hitch" and it was used to tie the stern of their boats to a tree on land in conjunction with the anchor off the bow on the rivers. They would tie a thinner line to the end of the Hitch so that they could release it from the cockpits of their boats when they got ready to raise the anchor.
Hey maybe I'll run into you out their on Mount Hope Bay this summer. You're located in the "Kicky", right? I have three friends who sail their boats out of Swansea Marina. Hopefully I'll get to see them out there too.
Regards,
Joe
I am not sure what your budget is but I found a hard dingy that is 9 foot long but very stout. It would be easy to load on a roof rack. I pull the rudder off and run it with a trolling motor and a deep cycle battery that is about the size of a motorcycle battery. It is rather roomy and very stable. It holds a lot of goods to take back to the boat and tows behind very well. I use it to fish in the flats also. This was a pic taken the first time out and I found I had to be really centered to get good sailing characteristics out of it. It is a slug going up wind. The sail is mostly in case I had to step off the 25 and had a way to make it to shore without rowing. It does row very well. I paid $300 for the entire set up. Found it on Craigslist in Tampa.
The first time I took it out I forgot to bring a comfortable vest and had to break out one of the bricks.
The first time I took it out I forgot to bring a comfortable vest and had to break out one of the bricks.
It is a lot of fun and a dry ride. It also does well with waves and swells.That little boat is cool Dave. I could have a lot of fun with that. As we get older our boats get smaller don't sha know.
Joe
I will be getting the wet ride out this weekend and handing over the rudder to my five year old, so we are good for at least 6 or 7 dunkings. It scares momma the most and she is never in the boat. We will be in our 12' Johnson scow on Sunday. He has to learn sometime. Having a five year old at 44 years old is a serious test of patience, but it is a wonderful thing.
hey nice setup..i actually just came down to new port richey (right by tampa), and will be staying for the week..This place is a boaters paradise..I saw this tandem kayak by one of the boat rental place that looked like it might work perfectly..unfortunately they did not know the brand..It was a sit on top but it looked really high up and bigger than any other tandem that Ive seen..I was shying away from sit on tops because you always have that little bit of water on the bottom so its hard to stay completely dry but this one looked like it might be completely dry
Hey I went to dons marine salvage today after you mentioned it..really cool place..tampa is awesome for sailboat stuff..ny/long island area is more of a powerboat place..not many cool sailboat shops..Im checking out tampas craigslist in hopes of finding a good dinghy to bring back to ny..thanks for the help
I hope you did not buy up all the stainless steel ladders, because that is what I am after..... I think they have quite a few. I also want to see if I can luck into a Garelick outboard motor mount. Perhaps some used cushions with a lot of life in them.
I could really blow some fun money at Don's.
Good luck with the dinghy search. You really hit the weather window at the right time for a trip to Tampa.
I could really blow some fun money at Don's.
Good luck with the dinghy search. You really hit the weather window at the right time for a trip to Tampa.
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