Advice re: Difference in Dinks

[zeehag]

longer dink=carry bicycle if desired, also--they dont fit well into 8 1/2 ft dinks--best with 9 1/2 dinks. also able to carry one more person without wetbuttosis....rides dryer also over longer distances....

[MarkJ]

Thanks for all that advice and ideas.

The alaminum series Lamina I have been looking at too, and discarded, but will have another look as so many think I should. The 9.5ft one is $540 dearer than the 9.5 frp. That may be a factor.

Sarah and Pip, theres 2 sailing dinghies in this anchorage and one pops over here often. I never have worries as most who sail a dink can manouver it They both make the anchorage look wonderful

I am going for a full power, gas guzzler this time, not folding etc. Lodesman & Minggat I saw an ad for one with folding transom but just want it all ridgid this time so theres fewer weak spots.

Its interesting most people do see a difference in the 8.5 to 9.5 size, so I think its the one (I dont think I can afford longer)... and yes, it will fit on Sea Life the Fat Assed Bene.

More work to be done yet on the decision, but I think you've confirmed I'm not completely off the rails

I love boat buying!!!!!!!!!!!!


Mark

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by zeehag

and sportyak is a plastic thing that will deteriorate from cribean sun in a matter of months

Made from polyethylene - same thing that shopping bags are made from. So we're to believe it takes thousands of years for plastic shopping bags to break down, but a boat falls apart in months? AFAIK inflateables are made of plastic too.

[Jim Cate]

G'DAy Mark,

Another vote for alloy bottomed RIB's from us. We've had a Gemini 3.5 M for several hard years now, and the hull has stood up to our serious abuse. The tubes... well the first set had a serious failing: they ain't fireproof! Some mongrels pinched the dink in Hobart, drove it 15 miles up the Derwent, took the 12 Y.O. Suzuki 15 off of her and poured some petrol in and set it alight. Bastards! So, we got a scorched hull with some black ashes attached to it back from the police. The Gemini guys stuck new tubes on for about half the cost of a new dink. But, I'm not too happy with the quality of their Hypalon as it is dying after only about four years use. May replace with Swift who use the same alloy hulls.

Anyhow, I've only heard good things about AB's in general, but haven't seen an alloy one.

Good luck, mate

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Trinity Inlet, CAirns, but hoping to be southbound tomorrow at last!

[bewitched]

I have the small AB rib with the alu bottom - it's too light on the nose and is hard work going any long distance - but it's nice & small and easy to hoof up a beach and get on the foredeck.

A friend of mine has a longer one - not sure what size. The difference is chalk and cheese in terms of the comfort - so much smoother - but it's big

[MarkJ]

Hi Bewitched, how long is yours?

[noelex 77]

Mark
The aluminium hulled RIB's from Naad are excellent.
The charter companies in the Whitsundays say even charters cannot kill them.
I don’t know if they are distributed outside Australasia, or the relative cost, but they may be another option.
Of course you could complete the picture and get an aluminium hulled boat to go with the dingy



Naiad 2.5m Tender

[Nauticatarcher]

10 ft, 15 hp, Alu hull, everything else is personal choice regarding build quality, we had a NAIAD, NZ designed and built tubes held on using bolt ropes and used an outer cover over a rubber tube, two compartments and hull would float without pontoons almost bullet proof and easily repairable if needed but on heavy side but gave great peace of mind cruising in remote cold climates

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Hi Folks

Normally one can't test drive a selection of dinghies. Often one can only see photos not the real thing.

What I am looking for in my new dink is to be able to go exploring, adventuring, provisioning and socialising.

I will be in the Caribbean for the next 5 years running up and down South America, North America and the Med.






Some of my considerations:

• Can it range 5nms from yacht?
• Can I pull it up a beach. Is it necessary?
• 106lb/48kg or 95lb/43kg
• Use my 9.9ph OB
• Davits when I can buy them, fordeck till then
• Will I want to use it often?

The two I am looking at - links below - look 'nice' on the website but I haven't seen them in the nekkid flesh, nor driven either. The prices are very similar so not a factor.

Has anyone any opinion or advice that might help me on this decision?

AB Inflatables 8'6" 2.6m
AB Inflatables 9'6" 2.9m

Thanks for your help


Mark

If you want information from someone who has driven these -- we owned an AB RIB similar to the 2.9m one you refer to with our old boat. It was ok. We have an Avon RIB now and the quality seems about comparable.

We used a 5 horsepower Mercury two-stroke with it, which was all it needed. We started out with a 15 horsepower which was overkill and much harder to get on and off the rail. It would plane reasonably well with two men on board with the 5 hp.

Over 10 feet LOA and these RIB tenders start to plane and drive much better. Of course at the same time they become much harder to store. We now have a 12 foot Avon RIB with a 25 horsepower two-stroke, and this is already suitable for all-day dinghy exploring trips.

A center console and remote steering is a huge advantage in comfort, making you much more willing to roam long distances. But probably unrealistic in your size/weight category.

[svcambria]

I had a 9' Apex which I found to be too small for two people plus groceries or jerry cans or snorkeling/fishing stuff. Went to a 10' AquaPro (the Al hull) - much lighter but squirrelly when not loaded. Ended up with a 10'6" AB fiberglass "lite" (partial flat floor) - after surveying the dingies I saw up and down Mexico, ABs were the most common, and older ABs were much more common than any other model.
The AB is huge in comparison to the others but the fiberglass model is heavier - an issue if trying to beach in an area with surf. However, the extra weight came in handy in rough seas as the dinghy (with 15 HP Yamaha) pushes right through; the larger tubes keep it dryer. And now, if the surf is too high, I anchor offshore and swim in.
The deciding factors were price (a lot more for Al) and I paint the bottom of the RIB with antifouling paint to keep growth down, something one shouldn't do with an aluminum hull.
The 10'6" is a tight fit inflated and upside down on the foredeck of my Panda 40; the smaller size would have fit better.

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Hi Bewitched, how long is yours?

Do I have to answer that?

Well alright

It's very small

I can't remember the exact size, 2.2m maybe

I like it because its small and easy to chuck about.

It will just plane with one person and a tube over the throttle and a 4 HP.

I fits between my inner forestay and mast - that's why I chose it. If I didn't have the inner stay, I personally would go bigger.

Edit: - just been to the wemsite - the smallest they do is 2.55m - so i guess that's the one

[donradcliffe]

My experience is that you would be happier with the longer AB models--they plane easier and are more comfortable that the sawed-off versions. My next rib will be alloy, as we are happy with our Swift 10.5 alloy --much lighter to drag on the beach and invert on the foredeck.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

you would be happier with the longer AB models-- .

You're probably all on commish

Thanks for everyones ideas. Its an important decision and I want it to work right.
Pitty I buy the dink before I get the davits

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by cfarrar

Mark,
I often wish we had a 9 1/2 ft inflatable instead of our 8 1/2. The longer hull and bigger tubes would plane more easily and offer a better ride. We have the small one b/c a bigger dink in the davits would stick out beyond our narrowish transom. I am guessing your Bene has a fairly wide transom, though...

I will put in a hearty "ditto" to wanting the 9.5 version of the AB aluminum dink.
- - Are you saying Mark has a "fat ass," so to speak? Any rigid dink is necessary to be able to hang it from davits - and a little hanging out is not a big problem except aesthetically. A "little bit hanging out" -> here in Grenada during Carnival the local "mamas" in their bikinis have way too much hanging out in their stern sections. Other do not, see below: [ah! cruising the Caribbean is a tough life, but somebody has to do it . . .]
- - On the other hand that Boston Whaler looks like it has provisions for a sail system? That would be a big (huge) plus, but I would want an inflatable tube system around the gunnel for stability getting in and out. The Walker Bay has those options but has gotten seriously expensive.
- - One strange thing about the 8.5 AB aluminum is that the inflation tube is mounted rather high so most of it is out of the water unless you have people in the boat. And it is pretty good about deflecting waves when underway. I don't know if traditional dinks can do that. I hate getting "dinghy butt" or wet shirts when heading into town.

[sck5]

I have an achilles 9.5 ft. aluminum bottom rollup. Works great and planes with one person with a Mercury 8 hp 2 stroke. rollup feature is nice with a 33 ft. boat.