Aluminum Dinghy

[Madehn]

i am currently using a 11 foot boston whaler as a dinghy on my gulfstar 51-- it is just too darn heavy to continually lift on and off the boat- i like the idea of a hard dinghy and need something that can hold my wife, myself and our 100 lg dog plus some groceries etc. I am wondering about some type of aluminum v hull- has anyone used such a boat? reccomendations? The whaler, outboard, gas etc pushed 550 lbs and is just too much of a pain in the neck. Looking for a good idea for a hard dinghy that can plane up and be reasonably speedy. any ideas?

[Sailorman Ed]

The "new" bot came with a very heavy double hull RIB, too heavy for us to drag across the sand so I had to drive quite far to get one but I have an aluminum hull RIB - much, much lighter!!. You could certainly use an aluminum rowboat but likely to be too long.

[Therapy]

You don't say what size outboard you have/want. Nor the size of the Whaler. Tiller steering??

147lbs. -

Aluminum Utility Boats for Fishing, Hunting and Work | Deep V Boat : 2015

[bobofthenorth]

We use a 12 foot Lund type runabout - just your basic farmer fishing skiff - with a 9.8 Thunderbolt Merc that's almost as old as my wife - and that's OLD. Even with the 2 of us and a load of groceries that wore out Merc gets it up on plane pretty quick. With just one person its a sportscar. It may not look elegant but its as cheap as you can get, it works and I never worry about running it up on a rocky or oyster covered beach. We carry it on St. Croix davits with the motor always mounted. If you pulled the motor or put something lighter on it wouldn't be hard to wrastle ondeck.

[Reefmagnet]

I have a 10 foot and 11 foot aluminium dinghy. I prefer the smaller because it has low freeboard and is thicker material. They are much tougher than inflatables and I absolutely love them for the punishment that can take alone. I don't use mine on deck although I could in a pinch. There are car topper versions available that are made of lighter material to keep weight down. These are much better for manhandling. My only caveat is that they do bash the topsides around if not protected. I use industrial air hose riveted to the gunwales and small fenders for protection, but be aware of the placement of fittings which can cause damage both when alongside and when stored inverted on the deck. With some models this isn't a problem whereas others have bits hanging off them that just can't be effectively bumpered.

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[downunder]

These are about the best dingy's around.

Very light and durable. 3.6m is 41kgs or 90 lbs

Tender Catamaran Kits | Tender Catamaran Plans | Ripple Tenders

More info here if you scroll down news.

Boat Designs and Kits | Spirited News

[JPA Cate]

Don't know your foredeck geometry, but we carry a 3.5 meter aluminum hull RIB upside down on the foredeck between the mast and the inner forestay. The hull was made by Swift, in Australia, and it's on its 3rd set of tubes (long story). The main problem is that mostly nobody knows what size the UNinflated dinghy is. When we bought it, the sale was contingent on trying to fit it on deck, and we wouldn't take it if it didn't fit. I guess one step is to learn exactly how much room you actually have.

An all aluminum dinghy could work fine for you, and they're more impervious to oysters, etc., than RIBs, and are quite common in the North, here, where there are crocodiles, because inflatables are fairly vulnerable to croc teeth and curiosity.

Ann

[Madehn]

ok, i should have given more information in my initial question- the whaler i have now is 11 feet long and together with the motor weighs in at around 550 lbs- the motor on it right now is an 8hp merc 2 stroke- i had a 15 hp evinrude on it that was much better-- we will buy a new motor before we go out but that is another story- the dinghy normally sits across the back deck- the back 4 feet of our boat is a factory added 4 foot extension that is a big well (imagine a 4 foot deep tub the same size width as the stern and about 4 feet in additional hull length as well. - it has been described as a bathtub like addition to the hull- they only built 4 of them) We will deck this over but it makes a perfect place to store the dinghy- attached is a pic - i am thinking that the semi v bottom Lund that someone mentioned might work out well.

[Therapy]

And where you are may well limit your choices.

I'm a cat guy. If I had the bucks I would get or have built a cat. There are several out there.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Therapy

And where you are may well limit your choices.

I'm a cat guy. If I had the bucks I would get or have built a cat. There are several out there.

The cat dingy I mentioned a couple of posts earlier the 3.6m version weighs 90lb a long, long way from 550lb.

Buy the plans. find someone to infuse enough on a flat table and assemble.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by downunder

The cat dingy I mentioned a couple of posts earlier the 3.6m version weighs 90lb a long, long way from 550lb.

Buy the plans. find someone to infuse enough on a flat table and assemble.

OH HAHAHAAHAHA.
That sounds so easy.
You're not fooling me.

[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by downunder

These are about the best dingy's around.

]

Best dingy around for what?

All hull forms and construction methods have their pros and cons.

[blinkerfluid]

I would really like to have one of this company's Dinghy's:
Ocean Craft All aluminium inflatable style, cylinder craft, oceancraft boat builder,high speed military vessels used as coastal patrol boats intercept vessels and certified military vessels Caloundra, manufacturers, leisure, recreation, travel, trans

OCEAN CRAFT 3300HD Spearo Craft

I don't think I'd be able to get one where I am though, which is a shame.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

Best dingy around for what?

All hull forms and construction methods have their pros and cons.

Performance, weight for a hard dingy if you don't want a RIB. Some don't. I don't see a tinny coming near it in all aspects bar cost. My opion and may not be yours. You may not have seen one.

cheers

[RaymondR]

My alloy dingy is only about 8' long but it fits nicely on the foredeck. I hoist it using the capstan on my anchor winch. It is probably one of the ugliest dinghy's ever created however I consider it the most practical I have seen. The tricycle wheels and box are my own additions as is the 2" poly pipe fender riveted around the sides.