Recent discussions on another thread got me thinking about revisiting my tender situation, this year. For most of our sailing in the past 10 years, we have carried a pair of inflatable kayaks. They stow below, when not in use, and inflate in a few minutes when we get to anchor. Occasionally, we will leave them inflated and tow or stow on deck, if we expect to stop again soon. Otherwise, we just inflate/deflate at every stop.
That's frankly OK, and we like having little kayaks to tool around in. My dog sort of sits between my legs and helps by leaning over one side to ensure the kayak is not too balanced. The big advantage is that we have two little kayaks, so we have a little more freedom.
But ... we would REALLY like to have a little sailing dinghy to give us a little more range. Of course, being a tender, it also needs to row. We explicitly don't want a motor, so that makes that easy.
The problem we have is that we are really limited by what we are willing to lug around. We don't like to tow, if we don't have to, but even if we were open to that, it that comes with its own set of problems at marinas - and we stop at marinas as often as anywhere else. We do have davit mounts. And I think that is probably the least objectionable route for us. But, we are about 6' across at the stern and about 10' beam amidships. So, that limits length a bit, for a sailing dinghy.
I am trying to figure out the best compromise, for us. Goals are:
- lightweight if we are going to hang from a davit, less of an issue if towed
- would rather not tow
- maybe 8' long (ideally, fits in a shoe box, but I think we'll have to compromise on that)
- sail and row, but we don't really care about performance with either
- something approaching or exceeding 400lb capacity while sailing
I'm kind of interested in making my own, if that turns out to be my best option. I am not excited about the project, but am willing and able.
Kind of like the idea of this: Fast-sailing, Ultra-light Take-Apart Dinghy That You Can Build!
... or something like that. Not ideal, but might be the most feasible way to get everything I want.
Ideas?
That's frankly OK, and we like having little kayaks to tool around in. My dog sort of sits between my legs and helps by leaning over one side to ensure the kayak is not too balanced. The big advantage is that we have two little kayaks, so we have a little more freedom.
But ... we would REALLY like to have a little sailing dinghy to give us a little more range. Of course, being a tender, it also needs to row. We explicitly don't want a motor, so that makes that easy.
The problem we have is that we are really limited by what we are willing to lug around. We don't like to tow, if we don't have to, but even if we were open to that, it that comes with its own set of problems at marinas - and we stop at marinas as often as anywhere else. We do have davit mounts. And I think that is probably the least objectionable route for us. But, we are about 6' across at the stern and about 10' beam amidships. So, that limits length a bit, for a sailing dinghy.
I am trying to figure out the best compromise, for us. Goals are:
- lightweight if we are going to hang from a davit, less of an issue if towed
- would rather not tow
- maybe 8' long (ideally, fits in a shoe box, but I think we'll have to compromise on that)
- sail and row, but we don't really care about performance with either
- something approaching or exceeding 400lb capacity while sailing
I'm kind of interested in making my own, if that turns out to be my best option. I am not excited about the project, but am willing and able.
Kind of like the idea of this: Fast-sailing, Ultra-light Take-Apart Dinghy That You Can Build!
... or something like that. Not ideal, but might be the most feasible way to get everything I want.
Ideas?
