Inflatable tender on trailer sailer: How's it done?

[troppo]

When I had my 25 foot keel boat (Australian Top Hat 25), I bought an inflatable tender (Mercury 250 AD HP). I could inflate it on the coach roof, just, and slide it into the water. I have sold the Top Hat but still have the inflatable.

Thinking about getting a 23 foot trailer sailer (Sonata 7, Cole 23 or similar) and wondering about handling the inflatable. If you have used an inflatable with a trailer sailer, please let me know how you did it.

Before inflating, the rolled up airdeck dinghy is a rather big package. Can it be stored on deck?

Can the dinghy be inflated while at anchor?

Or, does the dinghy need inflating at the ramp before launching and then towed?

[tenchiki]

I had a 17ft trailer sailer (Montgomery 17) and a 7ft Achilies inflatable. I stored it down below, and inflated/deflated in cross-wise in the cocpit (the foredeck was certainly not big enough). Still have the dingy, recently put it on my current 24ft (Yankee Dolphin, store it under the cocpit). I actually haven't tried inflating it on the boat yet.

[Cheechako]

No problem, just inflate it on deck. You may find it easier to inflate cross wise, depending on room.

[troppo]

Thank you for the suggestions.

This is how I used to do it with my Top Hat 25.





So what you folks are saying is I should do the same but crosswise in the cockpit (if I buy a 23 footer trailer sailer).

Is it better to have a battery operated pump with long hose? I am wondering about reaching all the pump-up points.

[Kenr74]

I carried an inflatable on my MacGreggor 22. Usually it was on the foredeck, although I towed it when water was calm. It could be inflated crosswise on foredeck without problems. I just folded it up, and lashed it down for storage, as there was no room below decks (I had 6 people on board).

[alansmith]

did you check the porta-bote 8 footer. tie it to the life lines. No inflation. it collapses and easy to unfold.

[Jim Cate]

An electric inflation pump will make the job lots easier and faster,especially if the boat is moving about a bit at anchor. Using a foot pump when leaping about is challenging! If you get one that sucks as well as blows, it will make getting all the air out feasible, and that means you can get it into a smaller package for better stowage.

Jim

[troppo]

Thank you Jim. You make good sense.

With sucking air out of the inflatable, I found by experience (when I had my Top Hat) that it can be very useful. Before working out how to do it I was struggling to get the inflatable small enough to pack properly. Then I re-read the instructions and it said to suck air out so it can roll up smaller. Yup, works. So I now understand the benefit of it. I'll make sure I get an electric pump that does both ways.