Now that I need to replace my lost dingy, I would like some suggestions as what to buy. My old dink was a West Marine Zodiac 8'6" long. It had a blow up seat and was the rollup type with the floor slats. I do not leave the dink in the water when not in use and lift it onto my deck for storage. I will now either cruise with it on the deck or buy davits. Any help will be appreciated.
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Budget?
Mickey: First you should establish a budget. Being that you NORMALLY stow it when it is not in use, there are more options. Anyone that wants a dink to last for 10-20 years should really only consider a hypalon material. If you stow it like you do, you can get 10 years from a PVC material. This is what the Zodiac and West Marine units have traditionally been made of. The next step up is Achilles, Caribe, AB etc. Then you move up to the expensive units like Avon and a few others. The difference in hypalon and PVC become aparent if you spill fuel on the material or you have abrasion on the fabric (beaching the unit or have an animal aboard). The sun also plays hell with PVC if there is prolonged exposure. Zodiac "CLAIMS" that they have gotten around this problem but who knows. Avon now ownes Zodiac too. I would think that if you are trying to put the unit together/apart on deck you should consider an inflatable floor. Everyone that I have come across seems to like these. My experince with floor board was OK once they were in place but a real P.I.T.A. to put them together. I do not know how these compare to the slat floors, but you may want to check around.
Mickey: First you should establish a budget. Being that you NORMALLY stow it when it is not in use, there are more options. Anyone that wants a dink to last for 10-20 years should really only consider a hypalon material. If you stow it like you do, you can get 10 years from a PVC material. This is what the Zodiac and West Marine units have traditionally been made of. The next step up is Achilles, Caribe, AB etc. Then you move up to the expensive units like Avon and a few others. The difference in hypalon and PVC become aparent if you spill fuel on the material or you have abrasion on the fabric (beaching the unit or have an animal aboard). The sun also plays hell with PVC if there is prolonged exposure. Zodiac "CLAIMS" that they have gotten around this problem but who knows. Avon now ownes Zodiac too. I would think that if you are trying to put the unit together/apart on deck you should consider an inflatable floor. Everyone that I have come across seems to like these. My experince with floor board was OK once they were in place but a real P.I.T.A. to put them together. I do not know how these compare to the slat floors, but you may want to check around.
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Gary Jensen
inflatable suggestion
I have owned several different hapalon inflatables. One Avon roll up (8'6"), one Avon (9'2" hard bottom), One Hissan (12'6" aluminum floor) and one (8'6") Achilles...I kept the Achilles and really like it. Its tough, will take up to a 6 hp motor, its red and its well made. I have two different motors and either will give me adequate speed. I was told that Defender just ran a special on these for $500..I bought mine several years ago,used, and am really happy with it. good luck
I have owned several different hapalon inflatables. One Avon roll up (8'6"), one Avon (9'2" hard bottom), One Hissan (12'6" aluminum floor) and one (8'6") Achilles...I kept the Achilles and really like it. Its tough, will take up to a 6 hp motor, its red and its well made. I have two different motors and either will give me adequate speed. I was told that Defender just ran a special on these for $500..I bought mine several years ago,used, and am really happy with it. good luck
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Tim Schaaf
agree with Steve
I agree with Steve regarding the merits of the Hypalon dinghies. By the way, the bad news is that it is Zodiac that bought Avon, not the other way around. Anyway, I can testify that the inflatable floor on my Avon works very well. But, depending on the budget, and whether you have / want a liferaft, you might find it worthwhile checking out a Tinker. Incidentally, the manufacturers may, indeed, have improved on PVC. While the Avon is made of hypalon, its inflatable floor is PVC. Some time ago, I had a fuel spill that sat for quite a few days in the hot sun. It left a slight stain, but the PVC seems not to have been affected.....yet.....knock on wood!
I agree with Steve regarding the merits of the Hypalon dinghies. By the way, the bad news is that it is Zodiac that bought Avon, not the other way around. Anyway, I can testify that the inflatable floor on my Avon works very well. But, depending on the budget, and whether you have / want a liferaft, you might find it worthwhile checking out a Tinker. Incidentally, the manufacturers may, indeed, have improved on PVC. While the Avon is made of hypalon, its inflatable floor is PVC. Some time ago, I had a fuel spill that sat for quite a few days in the hot sun. It left a slight stain, but the PVC seems not to have been affected.....yet.....knock on wood!
That is actually good news!
Tim: That is actually good news. PVC has been such a problem. I had several Quick Silver units and they were all junk. Seams opened up (1 foot holes), sticky fabric (sun induced) leakes etc. You name it we had the problems. I would not even consider a PVC unit (maybe 20 years from now) because of this. Most people think that PVC is what Seyvlor produces. This is really not the same product as the pool toys. PVC as in the Zodiac units looks very similar to the Hypalon units. The problem comes into play when the unit is left out in the sun for several months or year. Tim, I would like to hear your follow up on the inflatable floor over then next couple of months. Hope it works out.
Tim: That is actually good news. PVC has been such a problem. I had several Quick Silver units and they were all junk. Seams opened up (1 foot holes), sticky fabric (sun induced) leakes etc. You name it we had the problems. I would not even consider a PVC unit (maybe 20 years from now) because of this. Most people think that PVC is what Seyvlor produces. This is really not the same product as the pool toys. PVC as in the Zodiac units looks very similar to the Hypalon units. The problem comes into play when the unit is left out in the sun for several months or year. Tim, I would like to hear your follow up on the inflatable floor over then next couple of months. Hope it works out.
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Tim Schaaf
More on inflatable floors
I originally bought the Avon in question two years ago. It was two years old at the time, and had the very first generation inflatable floor. Apparently Zodiac owned the patent on the floor, and may, indeed, have made mine. In any case, that floor was a disaster, leaking from the moment I got the dinghy, and probably from the moment of the original purchase. Silly me....I thought I would easily fix it, knowing something about fixing dinghies. MANY failed fixes later, I got a friend who used to be the San Diego dealer for Zodiac (tough job!) to give it a try, and HE couldn't fix it. So, I called Avon. Surprise, surprise. It turns out that, although the dinghy is warrantied for ten years, any of their floors, including a RIB, is only guaranteed for one! Bet you can't find that little gem in the brochure.Ten years is for the tubes! Anyway, they said that the entire original run of floors had had a fundamental problem, which they blamed on the plant in Korea (!) that they said made them, and they offered to "help" with the purchase of a new one. I was going to ask them to exchange for a wood floor, which would have been a disappointment, since the main idea of getting this dinghy was for the light floor. If I really wanted wood, I could use my Tinker, which really is a great boat. On my next call to Avon, when I asked for the wood floor, they said they could not do that, but they now offered to send me a new inflatable floor at no cost! Since we were way out of warranty, I thought this was pretty generous, and jumped all over it. Well, the happy ending is that I got my new floor last Christmas, and it has been in the dinghy, out in the sun, ever since. IT, too, is clearly made by Zodiac, with different valves from the rest of the dinghy, but it looks really tough, and has a non-skid texture. So, at the end of the day, I can't say enough about Avon's response, and I THINK I have a really good floor. I will keep you posted.
I originally bought the Avon in question two years ago. It was two years old at the time, and had the very first generation inflatable floor. Apparently Zodiac owned the patent on the floor, and may, indeed, have made mine. In any case, that floor was a disaster, leaking from the moment I got the dinghy, and probably from the moment of the original purchase. Silly me....I thought I would easily fix it, knowing something about fixing dinghies. MANY failed fixes later, I got a friend who used to be the San Diego dealer for Zodiac (tough job!) to give it a try, and HE couldn't fix it. So, I called Avon. Surprise, surprise. It turns out that, although the dinghy is warrantied for ten years, any of their floors, including a RIB, is only guaranteed for one! Bet you can't find that little gem in the brochure.Ten years is for the tubes! Anyway, they said that the entire original run of floors had had a fundamental problem, which they blamed on the plant in Korea (!) that they said made them, and they offered to "help" with the purchase of a new one. I was going to ask them to exchange for a wood floor, which would have been a disappointment, since the main idea of getting this dinghy was for the light floor. If I really wanted wood, I could use my Tinker, which really is a great boat. On my next call to Avon, when I asked for the wood floor, they said they could not do that, but they now offered to send me a new inflatable floor at no cost! Since we were way out of warranty, I thought this was pretty generous, and jumped all over it. Well, the happy ending is that I got my new floor last Christmas, and it has been in the dinghy, out in the sun, ever since. IT, too, is clearly made by Zodiac, with different valves from the rest of the dinghy, but it looks really tough, and has a non-skid texture. So, at the end of the day, I can't say enough about Avon's response, and I THINK I have a really good floor. I will keep you posted.
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Peter Brennan
Sailing dink
Don't buy another inflatable. They don't tow, they don't row and they are as ugly as sin. Also expensive and limited life. Buy a nice tough sailing dinghy and mount a set of davits for it as well as maybe chocks for offshore work. Nothing prettier or more convenient than a shapely hard dinghy neatly stowed on davits. With a sailing rig you can zip around the anchorage in the evenings after a hard day at sea and avoid polluting quiet gunkholes with the rasping clatter of a small outboard. Also great for rowing, which is good exercise. Nor will you have to worry about oyster shells, fish hooks or the odd chuck iof sharp metal when you drag her up the beach.
Don't buy another inflatable. They don't tow, they don't row and they are as ugly as sin. Also expensive and limited life. Buy a nice tough sailing dinghy and mount a set of davits for it as well as maybe chocks for offshore work. Nothing prettier or more convenient than a shapely hard dinghy neatly stowed on davits. With a sailing rig you can zip around the anchorage in the evenings after a hard day at sea and avoid polluting quiet gunkholes with the rasping clatter of a small outboard. Also great for rowing, which is good exercise. Nor will you have to worry about oyster shells, fish hooks or the odd chuck iof sharp metal when you drag her up the beach.
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Ron Scott
I agree with Peter
PLEASE check out the Walker bay 10' www.walkerbay.com $550.00 available at West Marine. Looks VERY promising!That's the way I'm going.(sail kit is extra) peace love sail
PLEASE check out the Walker bay 10' www.walkerbay.com $550.00 available at West Marine. Looks VERY promising!That's the way I'm going.(sail kit is extra) peace love sail
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Alan
Keep it Hard...
I agree with Peter. We have a Dyer Dhow Dinghy, rigged for sailing, rowing or motoring. We used it in very capacity. The kids love to sail her in the harbor when we anchor. My wife enjoys just "tooling" around the anchorage at dusk and we also used the oars. I can't see getting an inflatable at this time. PS besides I spent $ last summer refinishing it.
I agree with Peter. We have a Dyer Dhow Dinghy, rigged for sailing, rowing or motoring. We used it in very capacity. The kids love to sail her in the harbor when we anchor. My wife enjoys just "tooling" around the anchorage at dusk and we also used the oars. I can't see getting an inflatable at this time. PS besides I spent $ last summer refinishing it.
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Les Murray
Some other suggestions
I was in the market for a dink earlier this year. I got as Caribe 9L RIB. Not what I would suggest for you though. Instead get an Achilles with either an inflatable air floor or a roll-up floor. For a hard dingy, I would recommend a Fatty Knees. They are supposed to tow well and hold a decent amount of payload. Hope these suggestions help. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
I was in the market for a dink earlier this year. I got as Caribe 9L RIB. Not what I would suggest for you though. Instead get an Achilles with either an inflatable air floor or a roll-up floor. For a hard dingy, I would recommend a Fatty Knees. They are supposed to tow well and hold a decent amount of payload. Hope these suggestions help. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
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Paul Akers
Fatty Knees?
I have a friend who had one and it was very tippy. Not that it tipped over, but it was very tender (pardon the pun). His wife hated it and they bought an inflatable. Be sure to check it out in the water first.
I have a friend who had one and it was very tippy. Not that it tipped over, but it was very tender (pardon the pun). His wife hated it and they bought an inflatable. Be sure to check it out in the water first.
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Michael McCann
Dinghy
Mick; Probably all hard dinghy's will feel 'tippy', or 'tender' compared to an inflatable. Stability is probably the inflatable's number 1 asset, and like Peter said, they don't tow, row, or sail. So you must decide how you want to use a dinghy, and pick the type that will fit your needs. Now here is a story about towing an inflatable. I was crewing for a friend who was returning to Portland from a summer of cruising up north. We left Neah Bay and sailed to Astoria with the dinghy in tow. The weather was a little unsettled as a front was passing from the south west in opposition to the 'normal' north west swell. The dinghy actually towed quite well all the way. For what its worth, I think they only add a lot more drag than towing a hard dink. Michael
Mick; Probably all hard dinghy's will feel 'tippy', or 'tender' compared to an inflatable. Stability is probably the inflatable's number 1 asset, and like Peter said, they don't tow, row, or sail. So you must decide how you want to use a dinghy, and pick the type that will fit your needs. Now here is a story about towing an inflatable. I was crewing for a friend who was returning to Portland from a summer of cruising up north. We left Neah Bay and sailed to Astoria with the dinghy in tow. The weather was a little unsettled as a front was passing from the south west in opposition to the 'normal' north west swell. The dinghy actually towed quite well all the way. For what its worth, I think they only add a lot more drag than towing a hard dink. Michael
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Paul
concerned about payload
I'm also looking into buying a dingy and while I like the low price and durablity of a hard dingy, I'm concerned about the lack of payload. Most of the 8-9' models I have seen seem to be limited to 400-450 lbs (2 adults and a dog) while their inflatable counterparts are at least twice that. We often sail with 4 people and my lab/newfie dog. Buying a hard dingy mean a lot of shuttling back and forth. I'll likely end up buying a used hard dingy for now but my goal will be a 10" Avon RIB with a 9.9 outboard. Paul C27
I'm also looking into buying a dingy and while I like the low price and durablity of a hard dingy, I'm concerned about the lack of payload. Most of the 8-9' models I have seen seem to be limited to 400-450 lbs (2 adults and a dog) while their inflatable counterparts are at least twice that. We often sail with 4 people and my lab/newfie dog. Buying a hard dingy mean a lot of shuttling back and forth. I'll likely end up buying a used hard dingy for now but my goal will be a 10" Avon RIB with a 9.9 outboard. Paul C27
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