pram, dory, portabote, WB, skiff, susan, whaler, boston........

[Rastarea]

To much reading and getting confused on selecting our next dinghy.

We need a new tender, we had a 1990 Avon 10 ft inflatable with soft bottom with 8hp witch is no longer good enough. On the plus side : it came with the boat 5 years ago, easy to get in and out of water and nobody will steal it, that is it for the plus's. On the down side: we got wet in any chop, cannot be rowed, my new 4hp was not big enough, lots of drag when towed.

The facts:
- will be carried on davits
- we have a new 4hp 2 stokes yamaha
- 2 adults and a dog, total 340 pounds
- should be less then 100 pounds
- my budget is less then 1000$
- live aboard for winter in Bahamas
- I can build it myself or purchase used

Our criterias in order of importance:
- able to get in and out of water for snorkeling, our main activity.
- will plane with our 4hp 2 stk yamaha (to go far)
- we will not get wet in a chop
- can be rowed
- can be sailed
- can be towed for short distance on flat water at 5 kt
- not too ugly

I know my list point out to a RIB, and it might be what we end up with. But I am looking at hard dink : lower cost, more durable, versatile, still good when used.

So,any suggestions?

[hpeer]

Used 10' or 12' Porte Bote will fit you bill. Not great at anything but adequate at everything. I have modified mine to make rowing easier and to use real oars.

I've bought a few used for good prices. But you need time to look for a bargain and what you want.

The only issue might be hanging from davits. They don't have a drain plug. You will need to tilt it or something to keep water accumulation reasonable.

[BriaF]

Ditto the above portaboat
Just put my money where my mouth is.
Bought a 10' have not used it yet
They will plane with one person maybe 2 if you
are light enough. (4 hp )
Will use mine with a 3.5 merc
Soft riding tough durable & ugly so unlikely to
be nicked
Put a bung in for hanging on Davits , I will
Not worth the risk of filling with rain water &
ripping the davits out

[Rastarea]

Originally Posted by BriaF

Ditto the above portaboat
Just put my money where my mouth is.
Bought a 10' have not used it yet
They will plane with one person maybe 2 if you
are light enough. (4 hp )
Will use mine with a 3.5 merc
Soft riding tough durable & ugly so unlikely to
be nicked
Put a bung in for hanging on Davits , I will
Not worth the risk of filling with rain water &
ripping the davits out

Portabote, yes this one is on top of the list. Question is, will we be able to climb back on board after a swim? (we are both fit and thin)

[maine50]

The portabote is occasionally used for diving according to others,but it's not easy. Nothing like an inflatable. We used a 10" for 7 mo in Carib. Seats and oars tend to be junk. Do google search to get more input. A used one is the only way I would recommend.

[Rastarea]

I will be on the lookout for a used Portabote 8' or 10' for next winter trip.

But as a plan 'B', I am still searching for a hard bottom planning tender. And as for diving from it, I have found that the solution is to use 'dinghydogs' or some type of flotation to put on the sides.

[ShaktisBoy]

I dive out of our Porta Bote all the time. Full gear and I'm a big guy 215 pounds. I keep seeing people say its hard to board and honestly thats not my experience. The sides are soft so usually I surface and remove my BC and toss my fins in the boat leaving my BC clipped to a bowline attached to a seat in the boat. Once ready to get in I pull down the soft side and roll in. This will usually ship about 2 gallons of water easily bailed after your aboard. We keep ours on davits and added removable floors, a bimini, lifting bars and a bung plug low in the back to keep rain from overloading the davits. The Porta Bote is by far the best dingy choice I have made and you wouldn't believe the amount of groceries you can pile in the thing. Cargo space on our 12 footer is easily 4x what it was on out previous 10 foot avon. We actually have 2 Porta botes 1 for each mothership a 10 footer and a 12 footer we keep on the catamaran. All these additions to the boat do mean a longer setup time if your going to fold it for a passage and more weight but they are nice to have if you have the space to store the seats and floors I should also add that the floors will keep your stuff dry which can be an issue because of the v shape of the hull causing items in the boat to slide to the lowest point which it just so happens is where any water in the boat wants to go.


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[ShaktisBoy]

Hers a picture of our modded 10 footer.


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[Group9]

Originally Posted by Rastarea

To much reading and getting confused on selecting our next dinghy.

We need a new tender, we had a 1990 Avon 10 ft inflatable with soft bottom with 8hp witch is no longer good enough. On the plus side : it came with the boat 5 years ago, easy to get in and out of water and nobody will steal it, that is it for the plus's. On the down side: we got wet in any chop, cannot be rowed, my new 4hp was not big enough, lots of drag when towed.

The facts:

- should be less then 100 pounds

So,any suggestions?

You can throw out Boston Whalers. I have an eleven footer, and while it does pretty much everything else in your list pretty well, it weighs 280 pounds without an engine or oars.

I love mine, but I will never tell anybody it is light.

Indestructible yes, pretty much so.

Light, no, not so much.

[Rastarea]

Originally Posted by ShaktisBoy

Hers a picture of our modded 10 footer.Attachment 97373


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I spotted a Yam 6hp on your picture, what is your speed at WOT?

[hpeer]

I'm still trying to figure out how you put q bung in a PB?

Please, show and tell!

[ShaktisBoy]

It planes with my wife and I aboard but I've never really checked Im guessing about 15 mph.


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[ShaktisBoy]

I will take a picture soon but its simple. Get a small one of these.

I think ours is a 5/8 inch plug.
Drill a hole to match the drain plug then insert drain plug in said hole tighten then lock. Ours is on the port side very low and just forward of the transom. We made up lifting bars and hang the boat in the davits slightly stern low to facilitate draining.


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[vfsurgpa]

Spirainternational. I am building my own dory, a Juneau. I am going to shorten it to fit on my deck, should be easy to row. I am adding some rocker, and will retrofit a centerboard and gaff rig for sailing. I am hoping for 12 ft overall length, and under 125 lbs.


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[Greatketch33]

Originally Posted by ShaktisBoy

I dive out of our Porta Bote all the time. Full gear and I'm a big guy 215 pounds. I keep seeing people say its hard to board and honestly thats not my experience. The sides are soft so usually I surface and remove my BC and toss my fins in the boat leaving my BC clipped to a bowline attached to a seat in the boat. Once ready to get in I pull down the soft side and roll in. This will usually ship about 2 gallons of water easily bailed after your aboard. We keep ours on davits and added removable floors, a bimini, lifting bars and a bung plug low in the back to keep rain from overloading the davits. The Porta Bote is by far the best dingy choice I have made and you wouldn't believe the amount of groceries you can pile in the thing. Cargo space on our 12 footer is easily 4x what it was on out previous 10 foot avon. We actually have 2 Porta botes 1 for each mothership a 10 footer and a 12 footer we keep on the catamaran. All these additions to the boat do mean a longer setup time if your going to fold it for a passage and more weight but they are nice to have if you have the space to store the seats and floors I should also add that the floors will keep your stuff dry which can be an issue because of the v shape of the hull causing items in the boat to slide to the lowest point which it just so happens is where any water in the boat wants to go. Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Check the PB website; I believe they make a scuba dive PB.

I have an 8 footer, and it folds neatly and sits between stern pulpit and cockpit.

With a 2.5 outboard my PB really goes.