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sailingpup · 01-11-2011, 20:10

Does anyone have any thoughts on this dinghy Porland Pudgy

My wife and I just took possession of a Westsail32 on Friday (yeah!!) and are looking at getting a dinghy. We've looked at a couple and are wondering if this boat would work for us? Mainly, storing it on board.
Ideas??

cal40john · 01-11-2011, 21:10

Start with these threads about the Pudgy

Using the custom Google search found in the Search button on CruisersForum

portland pudgy - Google Search

**roverhi** · 01-11-2011, 23:27

I wanted to buy one but got jerked around so much by the distributor, I gave up. They are really expensive for what they are, a blow moulded boat. By the time you get the life raft package and the sailing kit, they get into 4 boat units to get them equipped with all the gear. Don't know how much they weigh but be conscious of weight for any dinghy that you get. The difficulty of muscling a dinghy around on deck and lauching and retrieving it really ramp up with each additional pound over about 60#s

I waited around checking Craig's List and Ebay on SF Bay for a few months and picked up an old but unused Montgomery 8' sailing dinghy, a used Redcrest and a nearly new Liferaft a about 3 boat units, total.

If you are seriously cruising, two dinghys are a really good idea. If you only have one, anyone on the boat is stranded while the dinghy is in use is stranded. Second doesn't have to be much but it's really nice not to be tethered to each other because of only having one dinghy.

**Boracay** · 02-11-2011, 01:11

My opinion is that the weight (128lb) is too much for one person to handle. And it's expensive.

In the US inflatable boats seem to rule. Not knowing the local conditions it's hard to know why. RIB's seem to be the most favaoured, and many look to weigh less than the Pudgy.

I'll second the 60lb limit for those wishing to avoid a hernia.

If you really want a rotation molded dinghy then the Walker Bay 8 is lighter (71lb), cheaper and about the same beam.

Have you thought about how the dinghy will be used? Is it going to sit in the sun all day, will it be dragged over rocks, is it going to be stored in a high theft area? How will you get it onto your boat, and where will it be stored once it's there?

Before buying have a look round where you keep your boat. Check where dinghys are stored, locked, and moved. What type is most preferred?

In my area smaller battered fibreglass wrecks, chained up together with their oars by stout padlocks, rule.

Marksman · 02-11-2011, 11:55

The Walker Bay's are injection molded and have the floatation in the bolt on seats. I can attest that the floatation will keep you from sinking (unless you have a load of deep cycle batteries on board), but they are pretty tippy, so you will get your opportunities to test it yourself, only a matter of time.

cd30ketch · 25-11-2011, 16:26

The Portland Pudgy is a great boat. I have one and towed it across the Gulf in some crappy weather and it handled it fine. It is very stable rows great and the 2hp Honda moves it along without a problem. When I went up the Tombigbee I lifted it with the main halyard just enough to keep it out of the water and gained ½ knott. I keep a few provisions in it when I make a crossing and would rather step into it in an emergency then a Walker Bay. I don’t know if the boat was produced with a blow mold or an injection mold, don’t care. I guess at some point inflatables might go through a sewing machine or some other gadget.

defever · 25-11-2011, 17:13

can't understand why anyone would want one of these at this price...expensive/weighs alot/not much room...get an inflatible...you'll be alot happier...

Lance835 · 27-11-2011, 13:33

I too am considering the Pudgy as well as the "Rigid inflatable Boat". I don't understand the comments about price. They are actually cheaper than the higher quality inflatables.

My only concern with the Pudgy is the 2hp limit. Is that fast enough and is the boat large enough to enjoy the beaches of the Bahamas with the other sailors?

Lance835 · 27-11-2011, 13:36

One more thought or observation. The Pudgy has a kit which allows the boat to be "Hinged on the swim deck". This makes for a stable and easy loading especially since it means one is only lifting less than half the boat weight.

svHannabel · 29-11-2011, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance835

My only concern with the Pudgy is the 2hp limit. Is that fast enough and is the boat large enough to enjoy the beaches of the Bahamas with the other sailors?

While I don't have a PP, I do use a Honda 2hp outboard on our 10' RIB (and previously on our Sandpiper 8). She's not "fast" at all, but it'll get you to and from shore reliably. There's not enough power to overcome a big swell coming ashore, but in calm conditions it'll do just fine.

As for the Pudgy: I like the concept, but the price seems high for what it is. Check here for blog posts from a cruisers who has used a PP extensively: Sailing Vessel Precipice: Search results for pudgy

WhosYerBob · 19-02-2012, 06:56

Effective yesterday, we now own a used Portland Pudgy. I won't be able to try it out on the water until later in the spring (see my detailed blog post about it here), but it appears to be of stout construction. Compare that against some of the RIBs that share our dinghy rack -- the ones that have sagged and/or deflated since November.

**Hudson Force** · 19-02-2012, 07:39

While at a mooring in Portland, Maine, I toured the small manufacturing offices of the Portland Pudgy and I was very impressed with their product. Though I like the Portland Pudgy, I selected a lighter dinghy for my own use on my davits with the same concerns expressed by Boracay. If you can deal with the weight the Pudgy can be a good choice.