- Dec 30, 2009
- 680
Hey all, I am looking at Dingys, and wonder if anyone has had,or used a walker bay dingy. Are they well made, can three adults use an 8 footer. Any feedback...... Thanks Red
walker bay dingy
- Thread starter redhead78
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I have a Walker Bay 8ft air floor with a 6hp outboard and it works great for 2. I also have a 2 hp honda that we have been using on it for the 3 previous years and while you would never plane with it, it will get you to the shore and back and it is great for dragging up on the beach. very light and easy to handle. Because it is PVC I bought a cover for it and when it is on deck or stored, it is on. So far it has stood up very well. Thumbs up. Ian
ps. We have had 3 adults in it and it doesn't seem to bother it at all....but only in still water.
I've had the 8' plastic dinghy (not inflatable).
Very durable, rowed reasonably well for 8'.
Tippy. Not just side to side, but also be careful stepping into the stern! My friends gave me the WB after she got dumped 4 times trying to get into it. Twice when it went ass over teakettle backwards.
They had the 10' model that came with a new to them boat. Much different, way more stable, better rower and I think they put a small motor on it.
The "inflatable gunwale bumper ring" apparently is good for ultimate stability, though still tender for initial stability.
My 2 cents,
Craig
Which Walker Bay?
I don't know which 8 foot walker bay you are asking about. But if you mean the hard shell dinghy, I have one and can tell you from experience that it is a great dinghy. I used mine for several years and did not find it all that tippy. It rows easily (much better than any inflatable I've rowed) and is very durable and can be draged up any beach without worry.
Because of an incident in some major choppy water and concern about being swamped, when I had an opportunity to put the "float tube" kit on my walker bay I did. My cruising ground is very isolated and the water is very cold. The float tubes really add a lot of peace of mind and yes it is much more stable. I can stand in it and feel very secure.
But your main question is about how many people it can carry safely. In my opinion it is best for one or two people.
There are two reasons why I feel this. Three would be really pushing it weight wise. But then again, it probably depends on how big the people are. The two people my walker bay regularly hauls around are probably a combined weight of close to 400 pounds. So if your three people are light weights.... maybe it would be ok.
But the other reason why I feel it's more of a two person boat..... is that if it is being rowed, I'm not sure there is enough room for three and adequate room for the rower.
Just my opinion.
I don't know which 8 foot walker bay you are asking about. But if you mean the hard shell dinghy, I have one and can tell you from experience that it is a great dinghy. I used mine for several years and did not find it all that tippy. It rows easily (much better than any inflatable I've rowed) and is very durable and can be draged up any beach without worry.
Because of an incident in some major choppy water and concern about being swamped, when I had an opportunity to put the "float tube" kit on my walker bay I did. My cruising ground is very isolated and the water is very cold. The float tubes really add a lot of peace of mind and yes it is much more stable. I can stand in it and feel very secure.
But your main question is about how many people it can carry safely. In my opinion it is best for one or two people.
There are two reasons why I feel this. Three would be really pushing it weight wise. But then again, it probably depends on how big the people are. The two people my walker bay regularly hauls around are probably a combined weight of close to 400 pounds. So if your three people are light weights.... maybe it would be ok.
But the other reason why I feel it's more of a two person boat..... is that if it is being rowed, I'm not sure there is enough room for three and adequate room for the rower.
Just my opinion.
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I have a 10 ft WB with the inflatable tubes and have had it for the last 5 years. I find it very stable and is the weight it can carry is a little over 400 lbs. We can easily do 4 average sized adults. The only problem is the OB we use really makes it a stern dragger. Need to find a way to put a handle extenision on it so sitting farther forward is possible. Since I have davits I cannot speak to it's towing ease but it rows like a demon and easy to launch on and off a beach.
First of all you spell dinghy with an 'h' otherwise it is something not so welcoming, like, perhaps a dark, dingy day. And Princess, a short piece of white PVC from your local hardware store will fit over your tapered rubber outboard tiller handle. Because your handle is tapered, you will find it will seat snuggly and then you can sit further forward in your dingy dinghy and maybe plane a little easier.
'
Thanks BB-that is great advice although I think you had mentioned it to me before. I will take care of that this spring.
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