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Rick · 13-01-2006, 12:12

Prudence dictates that you ALWAYS take your oars. Assume that your engine will quit at the worst possible time and place. Take a handheld VHF with you if you are around others who monitor. When you are all alone, like in some remote spot where you take the dinghy to go diving or fishing, go nowhere that you do not feel that you cannot get to safety using the oars.

Carefully monitor the currents and winds when you are alone with no help around in order to maintain prudence regarding being able to row back to safety. Practice rowing your inflatable for some distance to become proficient at using your body efficiently with the power of the strokes.

Be aware that you might have to actually partially flood your inflatable in order to get off a shore with breaking waves that otherwise always push you back ashore when attempting to get past the breaker line. The added inertia helps you to push throught the breakers with a reasonable attitude to your dinghy.

13-01-2006, 12:12	#2
Rick Senior Cruiser Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle area (Bremerton) Boat: C&C Landfall 39 center cockpit "Anahita" Posts: 932	Prudence dictates Prudence dictates that you ALWAYS take your oars. Assume that your engine will quit at the worst possible time and place. Take a handheld VHF with you if you are around others who monitor. When you are all alone, like in some remote spot where you take the dinghy to go diving or fishing, go nowhere that you do not feel that you cannot get to safety using the oars. Carefully monitor the currents and winds when you are alone with no help around in order to maintain prudence regarding being able to row back to safety. Practice rowing your inflatable for some distance to become proficient at using your body efficiently with the power of the strokes. Be aware that you might have to actually partially flood your inflatable in order to get off a shore with breaking waves that otherwise always push you back ashore when attempting to get past the breaker line. The added inertia helps you to push throught the breakers with a reasonable attitude to your dinghy.