Which dinghy/tender would be best, etc?
- Thread starter dserrell
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Watching this with interest. Difficult to recommend because I think people use them differently. Going from Lake Erie to Tampa the inflatable with 2hp was more than adequate. I never anchor where I have to fight wind, waves, or distance. But some people want to waterski. If I ever go again it will be with a hard dinghy on davits(we towed the inflatable). But I love my 2 hp, air-cooled, 4-cycle Honda(http://www.tackletour.com/reviewhondabf2d.html ).
Well, like so many other things, the answer is... it's a matter of personal preference.
On L'Attitude, using Ocean Marine Davits, I carry a 9' AB RIB
( http://www.abinflatables.com/i_producto.asp ).
I bought it in early '04 after getting rid of a 9' Mercury PVC inflatable whose valves leaked terribly. The Mercury Quicksilver's PVC fabric was degrading after only 3 years and I was so disgusted with the dingy that I literally threw it in a dumpster.
I bought the AB after talking to several cruisers. After 7 seasons, it still looks almost new, holds air excellently and has been everything I could have asked for.
I have a 15hp Mercury 2 stroke OB which stays mounted on the dink's transom even when hoisted into the davits ... even offshore. I know, many will say that's foolhardy... but, despite being in some pretty rough offshore situations, it's never been a problem.
I use the 15hp OB because, not only is it fun (it gets the dink up on a plane w/ 2 people), but it can (and has, on one occasion) allow the use of the dingy as a tugboat in an emergency situation.
I would think that hanging a dingy on davits off the stern of a 31' boat may be problematic. Can a 31' IP accommodate the weight and size of davits and a dingy hanging off it's stern ?
On L'Attitude, using Ocean Marine Davits, I carry a 9' AB RIB
( http://www.abinflatables.com/i_producto.asp ).
I bought it in early '04 after getting rid of a 9' Mercury PVC inflatable whose valves leaked terribly. The Mercury Quicksilver's PVC fabric was degrading after only 3 years and I was so disgusted with the dingy that I literally threw it in a dumpster.
I bought the AB after talking to several cruisers. After 7 seasons, it still looks almost new, holds air excellently and has been everything I could have asked for.
I have a 15hp Mercury 2 stroke OB which stays mounted on the dink's transom even when hoisted into the davits ... even offshore. I know, many will say that's foolhardy... but, despite being in some pretty rough offshore situations, it's never been a problem.
I use the 15hp OB because, not only is it fun (it gets the dink up on a plane w/ 2 people), but it can (and has, on one occasion) allow the use of the dingy as a tugboat in an emergency situation.
I would think that hanging a dingy on davits off the stern of a 31' boat may be problematic. Can a 31' IP accommodate the weight and size of davits and a dingy hanging off it's stern ?
"Best" anything in boating is always a compromise
The dinghy choice has always been a difficult one to answer because, as Ed says, what you plan to do with it, and how you use your boat (which we don't know and you didn't say) are critical to the choice.
Hard or inflatable? Hard dinghies rock when you get in and out, inflatables are far stiffer. Inflatables can get holes in them, but they are far faster. When we use our air floor high speed 10'-2" Zodiac Fast Roller with our 9.9 HP engine, we can get up on a plane with four people in the boat. It's great for those longer trips and to scoot across Racoon Strait from Ayala Cove to Sam's for brunch! But most of the time we either are rowing or going slower. A friend in Chicago has a solid Walker Bay 8, rows to his mooring, can beach the boat without worrying about scraping the bottom, keeps it locked on a rack during the week and loves it.
You can always put a smaller engine on any boat, but you can NEVER put a bigger engine on a smaller boat. Usually most recommendations are to buy the biggest one you can. Downside is foredeck space, or, in your case, space awthwartships to mount on the davits. Not all of us have your boat, so we don't know the dimensions.
Read the Boats & Engines topics on the West Marine Advisors: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...51&catalogId=10001&page=West-Advisor-Articles
Do a search on "dinghy" here and read some more.
Also, where you are planning to go with the mothership are also critical: local waters or far afield will make a difference.
Your boat(s), your choice(s).
The dinghy choice has always been a difficult one to answer because, as Ed says, what you plan to do with it, and how you use your boat (which we don't know and you didn't say) are critical to the choice.
Hard or inflatable? Hard dinghies rock when you get in and out, inflatables are far stiffer. Inflatables can get holes in them, but they are far faster. When we use our air floor high speed 10'-2" Zodiac Fast Roller with our 9.9 HP engine, we can get up on a plane with four people in the boat. It's great for those longer trips and to scoot across Racoon Strait from Ayala Cove to Sam's for brunch! But most of the time we either are rowing or going slower. A friend in Chicago has a solid Walker Bay 8, rows to his mooring, can beach the boat without worrying about scraping the bottom, keeps it locked on a rack during the week and loves it.
You can always put a smaller engine on any boat, but you can NEVER put a bigger engine on a smaller boat. Usually most recommendations are to buy the biggest one you can. Downside is foredeck space, or, in your case, space awthwartships to mount on the davits. Not all of us have your boat, so we don't know the dimensions.
Read the Boats & Engines topics on the West Marine Advisors: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...51&catalogId=10001&page=West-Advisor-Articles
Do a search on "dinghy" here and read some more.
Also, where you are planning to go with the mothership are also critical: local waters or far afield will make a difference.
Your boat(s), your choice(s).
We have a Mercury Quicksilver 310 dynamic (hard bottom) and love it. We have a 3.5hp 2 stroke Nissan to push it around. I like the stability stepping in and out and the ability to beach it without too much worry about the bottom.
I really liked the idea of the Honda aircooled 2hp motor and bought one. Ended up selling it because it was undependable starting. If you did not baby it or did not use it about once a week, I had to clean the carb in order to make it run. Bought a spare carb that I kept soaking in cleaner and would swap it out before each use. After getting trapped on the boat without a dependable motor I sold it and bought a used 3.5 hp nissan. I've been very happy with it.
For mounting the dinghy, I used Weaver industry mounting system.
I really liked the idea of the Honda aircooled 2hp motor and bought one. Ended up selling it because it was undependable starting. If you did not baby it or did not use it about once a week, I had to clean the carb in order to make it run. Bought a spare carb that I kept soaking in cleaner and would swap it out before each use. After getting trapped on the boat without a dependable motor I sold it and bought a used 3.5 hp nissan. I've been very happy with it.
For mounting the dinghy, I used Weaver industry mounting system.
All depends on where and for what purpose you intend to use the dinghy.
Inshore and protected waters - 'just about anything' you choose will work. The lighter weight the OB the better as very light weight OBs dont have to be removed from the dink when on davits. Heavy OBs on dinks on davits can be a 'problem' in a heavy sea state ... and should be secured to the dink by 'additional/alternative means' beside the OBs 'thumbscrews'
For offshore or 'island hopping', etc. a dinghy that is small enough to fit and be adequately tied down on your foredeck or cabin top (prudent sailors dont use davits when offshore), and enough HP to be faster than the waves when anchored out and you NEED to get to shore -- usually sufficient HP to be able to get up a plane, usually 8HP minimum.
Typically on davits you dont want the dink to be longer than the beam of the boat, so that you can easily 'reverse-warp' your boat away from a crowded face-dock and without fouling the dinghy/davits on a piling, etc. when you make your 'departure-turn'. Most boats (right handed props) 'warp'-off best from a long dock when the boat is portside-to the dock and Its common to have the dink 'protruding' well beyond the starboard side of the 'mother-ship' to allow for 'swing room' or 'clearance to pivot' on the portside stern.
FWIW - when traveling, docking charges are often dependent on the TOTAL length occupied. So, a set of davits that can 'swing -up', etc. and out of the way can save you $$$$$ in those 'really expensive' docking places.
Inshore and protected waters - 'just about anything' you choose will work. The lighter weight the OB the better as very light weight OBs dont have to be removed from the dink when on davits. Heavy OBs on dinks on davits can be a 'problem' in a heavy sea state ... and should be secured to the dink by 'additional/alternative means' beside the OBs 'thumbscrews'
For offshore or 'island hopping', etc. a dinghy that is small enough to fit and be adequately tied down on your foredeck or cabin top (prudent sailors dont use davits when offshore), and enough HP to be faster than the waves when anchored out and you NEED to get to shore -- usually sufficient HP to be able to get up a plane, usually 8HP minimum.
Typically on davits you dont want the dink to be longer than the beam of the boat, so that you can easily 'reverse-warp' your boat away from a crowded face-dock and without fouling the dinghy/davits on a piling, etc. when you make your 'departure-turn'. Most boats (right handed props) 'warp'-off best from a long dock when the boat is portside-to the dock and Its common to have the dink 'protruding' well beyond the starboard side of the 'mother-ship' to allow for 'swing room' or 'clearance to pivot' on the portside stern.
FWIW - when traveling, docking charges are often dependent on the TOTAL length occupied. So, a set of davits that can 'swing -up', etc. and out of the way can save you $$$$$ in those 'really expensive' docking places.
KL Industry Stable Questioned
I have given considerable thought to soft or hard dingy. I have looked at a Hard dingy from KL Industries (water quest) which is 10 ft 2 inches long and is a double hull construction. It has two swivel seat with running lights and battery compartment including a live well and a place for trolling motor with connection receptacle. It weighs 160 pounds less motor. I have a 9.9 Mercury which is a little bigger than the rated size (7 HP). It is much less than most inflatables It cost around $1500. I do not know how stable. Does anyone have experience with the KL's ??? I am quite certain that it is more stable than the walker bay without inflatable sides. Interior width (4ft 7inch) is much greater than an inflatable. I have garhauer 400 lbs rated davits which should handle load.
I have given considerable thought to soft or hard dingy. I have looked at a Hard dingy from KL Industries (water quest) which is 10 ft 2 inches long and is a double hull construction. It has two swivel seat with running lights and battery compartment including a live well and a place for trolling motor with connection receptacle. It weighs 160 pounds less motor. I have a 9.9 Mercury which is a little bigger than the rated size (7 HP). It is much less than most inflatables It cost around $1500. I do not know how stable. Does anyone have experience with the KL's ??? I am quite certain that it is more stable than the walker bay without inflatable sides. Interior width (4ft 7inch) is much greater than an inflatable. I have garhauer 400 lbs rated davits which should handle load.
I had an inflatable canoe from Sea Eagle that lasted 20 years. Bought another a year ago to continue using in mild whitewater. I would consider one of their boats for a tender. http://www.seaeagle.com
If you are going to travel longer distances in your dinghy - like in the islands, you going to want an engine that will get it up on a plane.
On the Great Lakes, I usually just go to shore from a small anchorage so a 2.5 hp works great.
If I had davits, I would probably look at a RIB, unless you want it off the boat for stretches of time, because then storing it may be a problem.
On the Great Lakes, I usually just go to shore from a small anchorage so a 2.5 hp works great.
If I had davits, I would probably look at a RIB, unless you want it off the boat for stretches of time, because then storing it may be a problem.
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