Help Me Choose a Dinghy

[Morgan3820]

I have sold my rigid sailing dink, and i am looking to get a RIB to replace it. Locally there is a 10 yr old, 10ft Caribe. It is in OK condition, no patches, usual scuffs and scraps on the hull. The owner wants $1000 but I'm sure that I could get him down to $800. It appears very substantial (heavy). It would easily carry my family. I am conerned that it would tow heavy.

Alternativley, down the road is an inflatable dealer/repairer with a brand new Avon RIB lite 3.1. He is willing to sell at his cost of $2000. I think that Avon makes a quality product, but the design seems a bit dated. I'm told that they are wet when running. It is lightweight and is the only rib that will fit (transom folds) below decks. Which would be neat going to Bermuda or on an offshore run to Cape Cod. Did I mention that it was brand new?

Also, for $2000 I can get a Mercury 3.1 RIB from defender. I don't know much about them but what little I have heard has not been positive.

Having looked around for a couple of years i have found that quality used ribs at a good price are hard to find.

What do you all think?

Thanks,
Morgan3820

[Laidback]

Hi,
What O/B are you going to use on the 10ft Caribe? They can take a 15 hp.

[tager]

The new one.

[Minggat]

Not sure why you'd call the Avon dated. That's exactly the dink I've been looking to buy. Nice to know what "his cost" are so I can beat the dealer up with it when I get back to the states.

As for being a wet ride, there are too many opinions out there.
As for being the only one with a folding transom, check out the Walker Bay RIBs.

[idpnd]

Wouldn't mind a rigid sailing dink myself

[boatman61]

Why dont you take a look at the Tinker Tramp... it'll take an outboard, converts to a sailing dinghy, converts to a Liferaft you can use to help yourself instead of sitting waiting for someone to find you.., folds up for easy storage....
Downside... you cant stick a 15hp on it and scream along at 20kts.

[Dave the Canuck]

Have a look at a RIB with an Aluminum hull. Great peace of mind when grounding and lighter than fibreglass. Here's a link to one option...
.: Titan Inflatable Boats :.

[biltong]

The Tinker Tramps take a max 5 HP. I have just bought a 41 foot yacht with a Tinker on the davits, but have not yet had a chance to try her out. The TT is registered and recognized as a legitimate liferaft (at least in Switzerland where my yacht is registered)

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by biltong

The Tinker Tramps take a max 5 HP. I have just bought a 41 foot yacht with a Tinker on the davits, but have not yet had a chance to try her out. The TT is registered and recognized as a legitimate liferaft (at least in Switzerland where my yacht is registered)

And at 2678GBP(sailing version) outside the EU well priced when compared to the cost of a Liferaft + dinghy new.... and a helluva lot more fun...
www.tinker.co.uk.

[Troubadour52993]

I'd buy used but try to get the price down even more. I got a 12 year old Novurania dink that needed a patch and some new valves, and now have a solid ride for $700 total. Not pretty, but hopefully they'll opt to steal a new Avon instead of my cosmetically challenged dink. All my bareboat charters came with a Caribe dink and it seems to be as nice as any.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Dave the Canuck

Have a look at a RIB with an Aluminum hull. Great peace of mind when grounding and lighter than fibreglass. Here's a link to one option...
.: Titan Inflatable Boats :.

I second Dave. I have an Aquapro 9' 2" dink with an aluminum bottom, it weighs 89lbs. 28mph with two people aboard with an 8hp Suzuki.

[DaveSherman]

I had a Tinker on our circumnavigation as well as a Avon. I think we used the Tinker about a dozen times in 5 years. It was just too much trouble to put it together compared to having the Avon and 10 horse outboard.

And for a life raft? I am glad that the four of us never had to test it out as a liferaft. We would likely not have survived.

Cute idea but . . . .

Dave

[mesquaukee]

A happy dink is a dry dink.
A 10 ft Caribe is a dry ride. With a 15 hp it planes with 3 people, plows with 4.
A 12 ft planes with 4 people and dive gear.

[Inkwell]

I have the Walker. Purchased from Defender two years ago. No problems. Use a 15hp on it. Leave it hanging on davits.

[speciald@ocens.]

I would go with an AB aluminum hulled RIB. Much lighter and will fly with 15HP. I currently have an 11 ft Caribe - it will plane with 3 adults and a 15 hp motor but it weighs alot. It costs me 1 knot of speed when towing.