I need advice on an inflatable/dinghy for a Hunter 25.5. The primary purpose will be to come ashore on local beaches and islands, not as a tender. The models I see break down between those > $1000 and toys that are < $100. Is there anything in between?
Tender
- Thread starter JFS
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Sea Eagel
Bought a Sea Eagle inflatable in August. If cost about $800.00 and seems to be a pretty good boat. Several people around my marina spoke well of them. The size all depends on what you are doing. The one I bought handles me, the wife, a 9 and 6 year old. Seaeagle.com
Bought a Sea Eagle inflatable in August. If cost about $800.00 and seems to be a pretty good boat. Several people around my marina spoke well of them. The size all depends on what you are doing. The one I bought handles me, the wife, a 9 and 6 year old. Seaeagle.com
Look for a used one
Look for a used one. There are plenty of good quality ones on the market. You will start seeing many on ebay in about a month. I found a great one by inquiring at marinas and boat brokers. They all seemed to know of someone selling one.
Look for a used one. There are plenty of good quality ones on the market. You will start seeing many on ebay in about a month. I found a great one by inquiring at marinas and boat brokers. They all seemed to know of someone selling one.
look here
There's a great "Tenders" thread on "The Virtual Anchorage" http://takehersailingboard.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=7126016594&f=2256083605&m=471104638&p=1
There's a great "Tenders" thread on "The Virtual Anchorage" http://takehersailingboard.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=7126016594&f=2256083605&m=471104638&p=1
Sevylor
It is probably in the toy category but for the difference in price I can replace it annually and still come out ahead. For just getting to the beach it works out great. Get an inflator nozzle for the shop vac and you can suck the air out so it gets small enough to fit right back into the box. I have the four man version and usually end up swimming it in with the kids and gear in the boat. http://www.shipstore.com/ss/html/SEV/SEVHF360.html
It is probably in the toy category but for the difference in price I can replace it annually and still come out ahead. For just getting to the beach it works out great. Get an inflator nozzle for the shop vac and you can suck the air out so it gets small enough to fit right back into the box. I have the four man version and usually end up swimming it in with the kids and gear in the boat. http://www.shipstore.com/ss/html/SEV/SEVHF360.html
You Need to be Careful Rick
You are suggesting something that might save money. In addition you are suggesting something that might tarnish the image of sailboat owners as big spenders.
You are suggesting something that might save money. In addition you are suggesting something that might tarnish the image of sailboat owners as big spenders.
GordMay's reply
If you haven't had a chance to review the link provided by GordMay below I would recommend a quick peak. It discusses inflatables, needs, prices, and some viable alternatives. Some of this was discussed on the other forum. But one of the alterntives was a hard dinghy by Water Tender. We paid $350 from West Marine (normally ~$400). We used it in the Chesapeake Bay and down the East Coast and through Caribbean to Venezuela! This and many more good points were discussed. I thought it was very informative and interesting discussion.
If you haven't had a chance to review the link provided by GordMay below I would recommend a quick peak. It discusses inflatables, needs, prices, and some viable alternatives. Some of this was discussed on the other forum. But one of the alterntives was a hard dinghy by Water Tender. We paid $350 from West Marine (normally ~$400). We used it in the Chesapeake Bay and down the East Coast and through Caribbean to Venezuela! This and many more good points were discussed. I thought it was very informative and interesting discussion.
Kayak alternative
I imagine that space is a premium aboard your little boat. Toy inflatables may fit in a lazarette, but an Avon/Zodiac probably won't. Towing is also not the best option because of the drag that most dinghys have (especially in relation to the smaller sails of a smaller boat), BUT a sit on top kayak tows great with minimal drag. It tracks straight and doesn't get swamped. Plus, it is an awful lot of fun in and of itself. How many other dinghy options can you say that about? I've towed a kayak from here to the keys on a number of occasions with great success. Plus, on those days that the wind and waves make 'rowboats' practically impossible, a kayak can make some headway.
I imagine that space is a premium aboard your little boat. Toy inflatables may fit in a lazarette, but an Avon/Zodiac probably won't. Towing is also not the best option because of the drag that most dinghys have (especially in relation to the smaller sails of a smaller boat), BUT a sit on top kayak tows great with minimal drag. It tracks straight and doesn't get swamped. Plus, it is an awful lot of fun in and of itself. How many other dinghy options can you say that about? I've towed a kayak from here to the keys on a number of occasions with great success. Plus, on those days that the wind and waves make 'rowboats' practically impossible, a kayak can make some headway.
Our dingy
We have a Hunter 23 and for a dingy we went and got a 12' fish hunter inflatable with an electric motor for it. We inflate it with a 12 volt bower takes less than 10 minutes to get it out inflated the motor mounted and battery installed. I got a 12 volt deep cycle for it and mounted a plastic battery box and secured the battery box to the grab ropes inside the dingy. It takes about the same amount of time to put it all away. We store it in the cockpit locker or if we aren't going very far just roll it up and put in in the cockpit under the tiller handle. We used it in the San Juans and it did all we needed it to do. By the way JLT do you live in Salem Oregon? If you do where do you sail? We are down in Jefferson. Rob Morton
We have a Hunter 23 and for a dingy we went and got a 12' fish hunter inflatable with an electric motor for it. We inflate it with a 12 volt bower takes less than 10 minutes to get it out inflated the motor mounted and battery installed. I got a 12 volt deep cycle for it and mounted a plastic battery box and secured the battery box to the grab ropes inside the dingy. It takes about the same amount of time to put it all away. We store it in the cockpit locker or if we aren't going very far just roll it up and put in in the cockpit under the tiller handle. We used it in the San Juans and it did all we needed it to do. By the way JLT do you live in Salem Oregon? If you do where do you sail? We are down in Jefferson. Rob Morton
Seaeagle
We used the "Sea eagle 8" for 7 seasons aboard our Catalina 25. It's in the toy boat category, i.e. non-rigid floor, stretchy vinyl, but it's at the high end of this category. The soft floor tubes lets your but hang down a bit, so the bottom is not very streamlined. The stretchy vinyl limits the amount of air pressure you can use, so it's not as rigid as the more expensive inflatables. On the positive side, this boat uses a very thick vinyl, so the durability is good. We never had a puncture. It worked very well for us in getting to shore and back, and the occasional row around the harbor. I see that it is currently listed at $$299 on their website. I think you can add options to bring the price up, but we wanted to keep it simple. I sold ours a few years ago for $100 when I went with a Zodiac for our bigger boat.
We used the "Sea eagle 8" for 7 seasons aboard our Catalina 25. It's in the toy boat category, i.e. non-rigid floor, stretchy vinyl, but it's at the high end of this category. The soft floor tubes lets your but hang down a bit, so the bottom is not very streamlined. The stretchy vinyl limits the amount of air pressure you can use, so it's not as rigid as the more expensive inflatables. On the positive side, this boat uses a very thick vinyl, so the durability is good. We never had a puncture. It worked very well for us in getting to shore and back, and the occasional row around the harbor. I see that it is currently listed at $$299 on their website. I think you can add options to bring the price up, but we wanted to keep it simple. I sold ours a few years ago for $100 when I went with a Zodiac for our bigger boat.
smaller the better
Think small and light. I went through the same process a year ago for my 32'. I ended up with a Mercury, which was great but the thing weighed close to 100 lbs and was 8' long. Hoisting the thing on deck using the main halyard and securing it can be time consuming. (you cant leave them in the water). Inflating and deflating also not a reasonable option. If you are taking long journeys and need a life boat, then its a good thing to drag along. However, as a beach launch, a kayak, or a 2 man 5-600' capacity roll-up that weighs less than 65's w/b fine.
Think small and light. I went through the same process a year ago for my 32'. I ended up with a Mercury, which was great but the thing weighed close to 100 lbs and was 8' long. Hoisting the thing on deck using the main halyard and securing it can be time consuming. (you cant leave them in the water). Inflating and deflating also not a reasonable option. If you are taking long journeys and need a life boat, then its a good thing to drag along. However, as a beach launch, a kayak, or a 2 man 5-600' capacity roll-up that weighs less than 65's w/b fine.
Bob Sail...
Bob, We are up at Detroit this year as well, We have been on Fern Ridge and the columbia and wanted to try Detroit. My E-mail is sales@mortoncontracting.com. I'd like to see your boat if we are up there at the same time. Rob Morton
Bob, We are up at Detroit this year as well, We have been on Fern Ridge and the columbia and wanted to try Detroit. My E-mail is sales@mortoncontracting.com. I'd like to see your boat if we are up there at the same time. Rob Morton
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