Dinghy Wars: Hard, Soft, Nesting, Folding...

[woodymr]

Believe me it took a long time thinking about the stowage issue and I want to use a self steering vane so no davits on stern and for offshore use the waves could rip dinghy off davits from a small boat I would think. he dink only weighs about 50lbs. and I winch it aboard with halyard . This is a 31' boat with 7 1/2' clearance from mast to inner fore stay. can walk around it easily on deck and leave my forward open cause the dinghy covers it so that is plus, no seas taken on board at least in theory have not tested offshore yet. The tubes attached to hull of a hard dinghy makes it an inflatable with a hard bottom. Best Regards

[S/V Alchemy]

Had davits and an 11 foot RIB.

Davits broke, RIB was too heavy/too windage-y to hoist on the foredeck, so switched to no davits, a small deck crane and wind gen on the old davit pads, a windvane, and two tenders, a 10 foot folding Portabote and a 10 foot nesting F/G dinghy capable of being rowed, motored and sailed.

Works for us and leaves the foredeck remarkably clear. The Portabote is more "cargo" and the nesting dinghy is more "passenger", but one can usually sub for the other.

[rtbates]

The choice of a dingy comes down to not only how you intend to use it, but your size and agility.

[wingssail]

A RIB is the best dingy/motorboat (performance under power) however it is hard to store. If you have big foredeck or a small dingy you can put it upside down on the foredeck. It's OK. I didn't want it on the deck.

Davits on the stern seem to be de-rigeur these days but I think they are bad seamanship, windage, catch waves in heavy weather, weight in the wrong place, how to you fit a windvane, etc etc See Posting above by S/V Alchemy

So we got an inflatable floor dingy, 20 years ago, an Avon 3.41. Good boat, served us well. We put on the foredeck for short trips, deflate it entirely and stow it below when going offshore. Nothing on deck, no davits. The boat is exceedingly light. After 15 years we sold it and bought a zodiac 3.6FR with inflatable floor. Also a very good boat but it is a bit large. We use it the same way, on deck for short trips, (or towed) and deflate it and put it below for longer trips or offshore voyages.

Inflation pressure is critical, that's a nuisance, and reinflating it when we get to a new port is work we don't like, but the overall solution fits us. The boat is big, fast (with 15hp) dry, light, a great boat. Oh! becareful about going full speed into a brisk wind, it will fly.

[deckofficer]

Since this thread is now 6 years old, we now have a new choice not covered in the poll, and that is the catamaran hull inflatable. Gives the best of both worlds, performance even better than a RIB (can plane with 3 hp) yet stows easy at just a bit over 30 lbs.

[S/V Alchemy]

I wouldn't mind seeing links and reviews of that "catamaran hull". Isn't windage a worry, and can such a beast be rowed?

[rjgmt1]

I also use a 10.4 inflatable and the seams are literally coming apart; also a 15hp that doubles for an emergency engine. I don't like the repairs on the inflatable and am considering changing to something else, but what?

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I wouldn't mind seeing links and reviews of that "catamaran hull". Isn't windage a worry, and can such a beast be rowed?

My pleasure.
Best inflatable tender - Takacat lite - YouTube

Not bad for 5 hp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=e9ftXH_h6Jw



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[deckofficer]

Correction, 33 kg, so 74 lbs. whoops.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Correction, 33 kg, so 74 lbs. whoops.

Inflatable catamaran tender - Fast and Fun - YouTube

I think it is a 15 but have loved them.

Now to have the need for one............

[mikereed100]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

My pleasure.
Best inflatable tender - Takacat lite - YouTube

Not bad for 5 hp.
Inflatable catamaran tender - Fast and Fun - YouTube



HOME - Takacat.com

I love the idea, but, since the middle is not raised out of the water, I wonder if it might not pound badly in any kind of chop?

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

I love the idea, but, since the middle is not raised out of the water, I wonder if it might not pound badly in any kind of chop?

That's what I was thinking when I was looking at it. In any kind of a chop or swell, the front of that thing would make a wonderful scoop, to bring gallons upon gallons of seawater in!

[daletournier]

Hi, havent contributed before but as i recently bought a 2.6m takacat sport i thought i would. Ive been using it for 6 weeks now in Thailand and Malaysia and are very impressed. It seems very well made and planes very well with my 5hp one up. It is different from normal inflatables as the pontoons at the rear are very large therefore it will sit slightly nose down until the power is on. When theres a small shore break you need to get your weight right back. Rows extremely well. Isnt as comfortable in a job as a rib but thats because its not a rib! As earlier statedi think its very good and Greg as been a pleasure to deal with.
Cheers Dale.