Aluminum ?

[canucksailor]

Hello all - I'm thoroughly fed up with my inflatable, for a variety of reasons. And it really irks me to know that in only a few years, IF I'm lucky, my $1000 plus investment will be worth nothing, just a sagging piece of plasticized fabric. If I'm not lucky, it'll be punctured or damaged beyond repair.
So I'm considering a 9 or 10 foot aluminum boat as a dinghy. It's about the same weight (75 pounds), should tow equally as well if not better, will stow on the bow in the same area, with just a 3.5 hp motor, be drier, and never, ever have to worry about rocks or shells puncturing it.
Drawbacks - somewhat less weight capacity, not useful for snorkeling, although I have a plan to fix that...
Any thoughts? I'm interested in your experiences with these boats.

[minaret]

I've gone through the same emotions, and although I still have two inflatables, one an AB aluminum RIB that goes on my stern davits, I got a Boston Whaler 11.5 Super Sport for my towable. I got it on Craigslist with a nice 18 HP outboard for 2k. It's awesome, it'll plane easily with the whole family of four aboard at about 2/3 rd throttle. Everyone stays nice and dry unless it's really ugly out, and it's fast enough to tow the kids on an inflatable. Whalers handle great, and they're unsinkable too. Check your local CL. You might find a deal.

[chris07732]

By your lack of mentioning it, you've rejected the porta bote? Curious your reasons why.

[cat man do]

And with something like this around the outer of your tinny



Stability, less damage to topsides, turn down spray and it wont deflate



Kapten Boat Collar

and some video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBrD8...embedded#at=27

[canucksailor]

What little I've seen of the porta boat I don't care for. It looks flimsy, not to mention clumsy, it's slow, I'm not at all sure of its seaworthiness and it certainly won't do for snorkeling from. I'm open to being convinced, but yes, you're right, I've pretty much rejected it. I used to have a 12 foot aluminum and I like the concept of that boat.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by minaret

Boston Whaler

Weighs a ton
well almost

Weight (dry, no engine): 424 lbs (192.3 kg)

Boston Whaler Boats | 2011 Boston Whaler 110 Tender

[MarkJ]

No problem with aluminum dinghys at all.
The north of Australia is full of them as the waters have crocodiles.

They don't deflate, but don't hit the yacht too hard!

[canucksailor]

ok, reading up on the porta bote now....seems I was way off the mark there, but have never had any experience with one, so maybe it needs to be considered. Also, that collar, was planning on something similar for the dinghy I get. Let's include porta bote comments too then.
If any Ozzie sailor wants to bring a cheap aluminum dinghy up to Canada, I'll buy the beers! Here, they aren't so cheap.

[canucksailor]

um, btw....crocodiles? Someone in Hilton Head South Carolina told me they'd NEVER heard of an alligator going after an inflatable. Are there any stories here about that?

[skipmac]

I used a 12' Al boat for a dink when I spent a summer moored in New England. It was quite handy, faster than my inflatable, drier, carried more load. Just a little too big to hoist on deck. if I could find a similar boat about 10' I might try this again.

Skip

[Unicorn Dreams]

I prefer a hard dink over a "deflatable" even though one came with my boat. I get tired of it inflating during the day's heat and deflating at nihjy when it cools off.

Have an ABS 9'4" which has a hull design like a Boston Whaler but a whole lot lighter.

[djambalawa]

Originally Posted by canucksailor

um, btw....crocodiles? Someone in Hilton Head South Carolina told me they'd NEVER heard of an alligator going after an inflatable. Are there any stories here about that?

Alligators are bunny rabbits compared to a Salty



I've seen them chewing on buoys etc enough but have only heard 3rd hand reports of chewing on boats

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by canucksailor

um, btw....crocodiles? Someone in Hilton Head South Carolina told me they'd NEVER heard of an alligator going after an inflatable. Are there any stories here about that?

There are here

A MONSTER crocodile came within a metre of making a meal of a foolhardy fisherman in a Top End river last week.

The saltie came alongside the small boat – probably looking for a free feed of fish – and suddenly exploded out of the water.
Croc turns tables on fisherman | Adelaide Now

Feast your eyes on the pictures and stories attached
Crocs eating Crocs
Crocs eating Sharks
Crocs eating People
Crocs behaving badly

Darwin Crocodile news

[Unicorn Dreams]

Don;t forget about Crocodile Dundee's boat. LOL

[minaret]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Weighs a ton
well almost

Yeah, but I can still put it on my stern davit's if I want to pull the outboard first. And it just handles so nice. I know it's not what the OP wants, just agreeing with his concerns and offering up what was the quick fix for me.
In this crazy vid from the Berserk crew, at about 3:37, an inflatable is attacked and deflated by a walrus. So sad most of them are dead now. I loved some of their vids and their attitude, though it seems someone always wants to harsh on them...

YouTube - ‪Wild Vikings Berserk‬‏