New boat- need advice on my Dinghy Choice!!

[dmalcol1]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

The dink you've chosen weighs 130 lbs without the motor, far exceeding the PO's recommendation.

Specifications:

• Length 8' 10"
• Beam 5' 1"
• Weight 86 Lbs
• Capacity: 4 Persons or 1010 Lbs
• Maximum Motor 8 hp (Maximum motor weight 88 Lbs)
• Manufacturer recommends 6 hp (15" Shaft)
• Tube Diameter 17"
• Separate Air Chambers 3
• Stowed Dimensions: 6'-11" x 3'-5" x 1'-1"
• Fabric Type: Hypalon
• Factory Warranty: 5 years

[hamburking]

With 4 adults in a short RIB, I think you will need 15hp at least to plane. I say this from my own personal experience. However, if some of the adults are kids, or svelt ladies, you may have better results.

I recommend this boat:

9’6" Saturn Inflatable boat | saturninflatableboats.ca

I owned a saturn inflatable and I give it a high recommendation. I will be buying another myself.

This boat meets your weight requirement (well under 100 pounds), is bigger, much cheaper, and has an awesome high pressure inflatable floor. It has reinforced chaffe gear on the hull for beaching...go ahead, no problem.

Put a 9.9 on the stern and you will plane, waterski, no worries. Personally, I would use a 8.

BTW, that web price is in Canadian dollars!!!

[Alec H]

Hi neighbor, I'm in East Hampton. Lot's of good info being posted. I don't think you can find a motor/dinghy combo that will plane more than 1 or 2 people; dink would need to be 10-12 feet. I want to suggest you look at electric or propane motors. Unless you plan to travel far from those fuels, they are clean and quiet engines. I'm usually available to crew in Gardener's Bay - once held CG license.

[tikirawker]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

The dink you've chosen weighs 130 lbs without the motor, far exceeding the PO's recommendation.

The shipping weight looks to be 130#'s but the dingy weight is only 86#'s.

Achilles HB-270FX Gray 2016
Length: 8' 10", Material: Hypalon - CSM, 86 Lbs

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by dmalcol1

Specifications:

• Length 8' 10"
• Beam 5' 1"
• Weight 86 Lbs
• Capacity: 4 Persons or 1010 Lbs
• Maximum Motor 8 hp (Maximum motor weight 88 Lbs)
• Manufacturer recommends 6 hp (15" Shaft)
• Tube Diameter 17"
• Separate Air Chambers 3
• Stowed Dimensions: 6'-11" x 3'-5" x 1'-1"
• Fabric Type: Hypalon
• Factory Warranty: 5 years

Thanks for that--I had seen shipping weight of 130 lbs.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by msaltzman

Good idea. Does anyone have opinions on the Rib floor vs an air floor?

RIB's are far superior, but much heavier. I would compromise and go for a lightweight dingy for your davits. Either an air floor or a solid floor type, and limit it to 9 ft.... unless you can confirm that rib really only weighs 86#. If so... go for it!

[Scrimshaw4]

I've had an aluminum RIB for 18 years. The hull is still in great condition. They handle the rocky gravel beaches of New England where I cruise in the summer far better that FG and weigh much less.

[Joyful Noise]

I am averse to dinghy davits for aesthetic reasons as well as the problems they cause when sailing in anything but smooth calm seas and I have a cutter with a self tailing boom on my 38 foot boat so there is little space to stow a dinghy on the foredeck.When she is moored, I use a 25 year old carribe 10'6" (much patched) rib and push her slowly with my spectacular 4 cycle Honda 2hp engine which weighs 27 lbs. When cruising I stow my 7'11" Dyer Dinghy above the main hatch below the main boom and use the same Honda 2 stowed on the stern rail at my ports of call unless I am in the mood to row or sail the small dinghy. Whatever works.

[barboak]

I would trust the 100 lb recommendation but get a hard bottom 9.5-10 ft. Dinghy, both AB and Caribe have light models that fit the bill, I am sure that there are others. Then get a 10-15 hp outboard to haul on the rail so you can plane with some passengers aboard, the first time you need to dinghy into 15-20kts you will be so happy that you don't have a smaller one! My Kato davits are rated at 300lbs per arm and we pull the dinghy and 15 hp ob up each night here in the Caribbean, but we leave the ob on the stern rail mount when underway! By the way I like seeing a pair of davits on the stern of a cruising boat, to me it looks ship-shape as we all need to deal with our dinghys when underway,




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[a64pilot]

I like having a flat floor, do any of the aluminum hulls have flat floors?

[Cheechako]

Not sure, but a flat floor means a double floor, which means more weight.

[scareygary]

I'd prefer you to buy a smaller engine and forget about 'planing' with your dink. You go slow on your sallboat anyway. Personally, I get pretty irritated getting to a destination and then being 'buzzed' by dinghies flying around at high rates of speed. Take your time! The smaller engine will get you there, and probably be far less hassle. Just my 2 cents. "Sail fast, dinghy slow" Full disclosure: My inflatable is only 8'6" (slat floor), but I do just fine with a 1960s 3 hp Evinrude! (or a hefty trolling motor, on occasion). It does what I need a dink to do.....

[steamgoat]

I use a AB 9ul ,aluminum floor ,motor is an old 8hp Johnson two stroke, does 17mph solo and 15 with two,never tried more.Defender spring sale is end of this month,look on craigslist for a freshwater used two stroke [the NH lakes]

[muttskie]

Originally Posted by boatman61

My favourite was a slat floor inflatable with inflated keel and a 6hp long shaft.. planed great and no cavitation..

Boatie,
Do you mean something like this?

Achilles Inflatable Crafts | Boats & Parts

I have been struggling to find something that fits neatly aboard and is easy for this single-hander to muscle around. I already have a 5hp two stroke Mercury that is nice and light.

I have, also, thought about this:

PT11Description

I don't think the PT11 would be very durable in the long term, though.

I had been considering the same model as the OP, ( the Achilles HB-270FX ) but worry about my ability to move it around/deflate/inflate, etc. It will fit, tubes deflated, on my cabintop, though.

[muttskie]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I like having a flat floor, do any of the aluminum hulls have flat floors?

This is a roll-up. But it does appear to have a flat floor. There is a good photo showing it in the photo section.
Achilles Inflatable Crafts | Boats & Parts