Inflatable Hypalon - For Beach Landings

[socasailor]

Thanks for the excellent replies. I think I'll use the hyaplon inflatable and go from there.

It might be light enough to just carry (davidoldjersey) and onto the beach. If that doesn't work, I'll try the wheels and then I'll get a RIB if that doesn't work. I really like the small size of the inflatable, just didn't want to trash it unnecessarily.

[HappySeagull]

...maybe take a sacrificial piece of "truck tarp"(heavy duty pvc reinforced nylon stuff) and drag the dinghy onto it then drag the whole works...tarp wears out-not dinghy...I've a friend does this on sand where wheels just don't work....unless they are boat-bumper wheels.

[osirissail]

As with all things cruising, simplicity is the key to success. The more complicated you make things the quicker you stop observing them and end up with having to replace the item.
- - Where you plan to cruise and use the dinghy makes a huge difference in the type of dinghy you want. Sandy beaches are the easiest to deal with. But rocks and coral beaches are a whole different story. Then there is warm water versus cold northern waters. You really don't want to be wading through near freezing water to get the dinghy and you to shore.
- - So many different things will work if you keep the process simple without complicated do-hickies to rig and activate. One of the reasons the over-priced Walker Bay is popular is that it can be rowed well and will take the abuse of being dragged over rocks and beaches.
- - Pure inflatables are the most economical to purchase but have major drawbacks as to lasting when dragged or run over sharp stuff. And rowing is near impossible. There are no "hard points" on the tubes so everything twists and flexes too much for the oars to get a bite. Paddling is more productive. A pure inflatable may be attractive at first due to it low cost but if you have to keep patching and/or replacing it then the rigid dinghies may be a better deal in the long run.

[keepondancin]

Find some older, small diameter fenders, and use two of them under the dink to roll it up the beach. Put one in front of the other as it moves along. Saves the back, and reasonable in price.

[cabo_sailor]

You might want to look into a keel guard to reinforce the bottom.

KeelGuard offers a shield for keel protection for boat hulls and personal watercraft

Rich

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Pure inflatables are the most economical to purchase but have major drawbacks as to lasting when dragged or run over sharp stuff. And rowing is near impossible. There are no "hard points" on the tubes so everything twists and flexes too much for the oars to get a bite. Paddling is more productive. A pure inflatable may be attractive at first due to it low cost but if you have to keep patching and/or replacing it then the rigid dinghies may be a better deal in the long run.

I read that a lot on CF . Will agree that easier to row a (good) hard dink especially over long distances / against tide / in rougher weather - but I can't say I have ever had any great problems under oar power in an inflatable....downside is might get a wet backside and less than perfect performance, but upside is you know it ain't gonna sink .

I will concede that probably never row more than 1/4 mile each way - and I won't go out for a row in an inflatable simply for the pleasure of it, but nonetheless (especially alone and unloaded) seem able to acheive fairly rapid progress. Maybe it is a practice thing?

Or maybe because always use decent sized wooden oars? or not overloading, especially the bow........and keeping the dink pumped up. Downside with an Avon is oar "pop out" under power but have to be going a good lick to do that or be heavily laden and over accelerating.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I read that a lot on CF . Will agree that easier to row a (good) hard dink especially over long distances / against tide / in rougher weather - but I can't say I have ever had any great problems under oar power in an inflatable....downside is might get a wet backside and less than perfect performance, but upside is you know it ain't gonna sink .

I will concede that probably never row more than 1/4 mile each way - and I won't go out for a row in an inflatable simply for the pleasure of it, but nonetheless (especially alone and unloaded) seem able to acheive fairly rapid progress. Maybe it is a practice thing?

Or maybe because always use decent sized wooden oars? or not overloading, especially the bow........and keeping the dink pumped up. Downside with an Avon is oar "pop out" under power but have to be going a good lick to do that or be heavily laden and over accelerating.

Ditto that... keeping it pumped hard is the key to rowing... and a practiced technique...
Oh.... helps if your European... used to a more 'basic' energetic lifestyle...

[HappySeagull]

..just remembered from my inflatable days....a piece of plywood if it doesn't have a floor....You can get a long way in a soft inflatable like this..ie:cold night you return,it's soft due to temperature.or slow leaks-this'll stiffen it so it don't fold up as you paddle!...in fact,I used to blow mine up on the way to boat.The ply also preserves the rubber from the stuff you put in etc. and,you can take it out to use as a drag-protector...oh,the good ol days...

[nautical62]

I have a basic Mercury 8 ft. inflatable dink, that I've had for about 6 years now. I made a plywood floor with keel for it, but the bottom is completley unprotected. It's been beached at least 200 times now and seems to be wearing well. I am, however careful not to drag it over shell and rock.

The only hole came from rolling it up and jamming it into a car trunk it didn't quite fit into.

Through bolted oar locks help it row much better than the pop out types I've had on previous dinks. Making sure the tubes are well inflated is also very important to gettng any rowing performance out of it.

To me, replacing it for fear of wearing it doesn't make much sense. Use it, repair it if necessary and learn from it what you like and dislike so you can make a better choice based on first had experience next time.

[barnakiel]

You can always glue on more protection. Mother ship permitting, nothing beats a hard dink though if there are any stony / coral landings planned.

b.