Inflatable Boat Questions

[Ironman162]

Hope Im not too far on a Tangent here but we had 30 knot winds in Sydney yesterday.

I had to get back to my boat and my otherwise trusty 2.7m airdeck Mercury inflatable just could not track well at all.

I was rowing and much to my surprise the inflatable tend to act almost like a sail in high side winds!

Luckily the Southerly kept blowing me back to land until a neighbour noticed me and came to my rescue in a 10ft Tinnie with a 4hp outboard. The tinnie tracked well much to my surprise.

I learnt the hard way that small dinghy type inflatables are no good in more than 10knt winds and actually dangerous!

Now shopping for a Polycraft tender with tracking and a bit more hardy.

I have a new 5hp Mercury outboard but didn't have it with me as I prefer to row.

[Ironman162]

Before you all shoot me down, I've rowed this 100m distance from the shore to my boat at Half Moon Bay more times than I can say, always in favourable conditions without fail in various dinghys.

I know it like the back of my hand and yet yesterday I got caught....just goes to show hey?