The most popular dinghy size

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by DanielI

Can someone explain to me what the obsession is with planing? For a tender, I fail to see why that is so important.

I used to feel the same way before I had a planing dinghy. Then I got one and got davits that can raise it with 15hp motor attached so it’s easy (offshore, dinghy on deck and motor of course)
Expands greatly one of our pleasures which is exploring areas around where we anchor. Heading 3-5 miles away would never have happened at 4-5 knots and a 1.5-2 hour round trip. Sometimes take the paddleboard and anchor the dinghy and go paddling in a new spot once I’m there.

But if you always anchor near your shore destination then no need to plane.

[SaltyMetals]

I agree w Daniel & Marlin. What is the obsession about planing? Does it really matter if it takes 5-10 mins more to get to yr destination in yr dink? I am happy w my Zodiac (Al floor) 2.70m (9ft) with a 4 hp (2T) o/b. Semi-planes w one up but i am not bothered, will not plane w heavy shopping or 2-4 up. So what? I have an engine that does not need a crane and can stay on the dink when on the davits, although i take it off and clamp it to the rail for a long crossing.
Andrew

Andrew

[Paul L]

Whether you need/require/want a planning dinghy depends a lot on your cruising style. For our current cruising I definitely want a planning dinghy. We spend a lot of time snorkeling reefs. It would be impractical to explore the many distant to the anchorage reefs without planning. We also cruise in areas with limited secure anchorages. Being able to anchor in a secure spot a fair distance from a village, but still make a couple of mile run in to get supplies is nice.
Can you do these on a non-planning setup - sure. Will you do it often, probably not.

[louisstubb]

I have an 8' glass and I use a dinghy lift to store on foc's'l of a 30' boat.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by DanielI

Can someone explain to me what the obsession is with planing? For a tender, I fail to see why that is so important.

Well, it's about speed, and speed is a consideration when there is distance to cross. It becomes a bigger deal with deeper draft mother ships that can't safely navigate some of the channels and inlets that lead to closer-in anchorages, particularly in Florida and the Bahamas where shallow anchorages are common.


Planing speed can also be important when exploring inland, up river.


You may find it insightful to look at charts for the Key Largo area, see how few cuts there are between the ICW and Hawk Channel, and think about how you would explore that area with a deep draft sailboat. Of course, Key Largo isn't unique in this regard, but it's a good example.


In contrast there are areas like the Chesapeake where displacement tenders are more common, and trips like the Great Loop where people sometimes have no dinghy at all due to the preponderance of free dockage.


Of course, there are non-inflatable (hard) tenders available as an alternative to RIBs, that will plane.

[ausaviator]

Much better to plane ashore than bogging in at 3 knots with waves splashing up over the front. A planing dinghy goes so much faster and lets you explore up rivers and shallower waters without long trip times. Maybe a 2.3-2.5 planing may not be that important to you, but certainly in a 3.0 or so.

[Joli]

The main reason to have a planning dinghy is to stay dry. When up on a plane the spray is behind you. We carry a 4m AB aluminum dinghy with a 25 horse Yamaha, it cruises at 15~17 knots. Great for getting groceries or to a dive site.

[Island Time O25]

Avon 310 hypalon works fine for us. Oldie but goodie. Our 2nd choice would be hypalon Achilles 290 or 310. About 3m hits the sweet part on a 36' boat.

[IslandHopper]

We have a Swift Alloy 310 RIB with Hypalon tubes, I would say most that I come across are in the 310 to 330 range and alloy.

I don't see to many FG RIB's these days, to heavy and not as durable as alloy imo...

[Brdog]

We’re buying a lagoon 440 and it looks like a highfield 360 classic is the biggest we can get that will fit the davits. We’re a family of 4 with two dogs so I’m thinking bigger is better to a certain degree. Does this sound right to you guys?

[akopac]

I once ran over a submerged 4x4 post in El Salvador. It was so easy to get wood, glue, and such. But hypalon glue was nowhere and impossible to ship or get on a plane. This is on reason I went to a hard dinghy. The othe is my hard dinghy I can sail, row, and motor on a plain with a 3.5hp motor on a plain. That motor requires minuscule amounts of fuel, nobody wants to steal it, and I can easily carry in one hand on board without a block and tackle. 5 gallons of fuel lasts me a year.
https://shop.inflatableboatparts.com...ir-kit-xlarge/

[Cheechako]

I found a change from a 10 ft to a 9 ft inflatable RIB a big change in stability and performance. 10 ft will do 3-4 people in a pinch. 9 ft will not. 9 ft was much wetter. (both were the same brand)

[DanielI]

Thanks to all the planing responses. I was imagining all these sailors quietly slipping in on their sailboats and then jumping into their dinghies to zoom about like all the other annoying power-boaters. But I can see the point in certain anchorages.

My ideal dinghy would be large enough to get my family of four aboard with supplies, but small enough to lift aboard a 30’ boat. As far as I can tell, such a creature does not exist.

[Dave Isom]

Daniell, you’ve received a whole gamut of responses but now we know your actual needs and boat size it would seem that a modest inflatable with a small outboard would probably do the trick and be able to be stored ( deflated) on your 30 footer. You may be able to carry it inflated on deck for short passages.
Forget all the hype about planing if you just want to get to and from shore for supplies or socialising .

[picklesandjesse]

Originally Posted by DanielI

Thanks to all the planing responses. I was imagining all these sailors quietly slipping in on their sailboats and then jumping into their dinghies to zoom about like all the other annoying power-boaters. But I can see the point in certain anchorages.

My ideal dinghy would be large enough to get my family of four aboard with supplies, but small enough to lift aboard a 30’ boat. As far as I can tell, such a creature does not exist.

What maybe a deciding factor is the weight of the 4 people. My wife happens to weigh 42 kilos ( about 86lbs) and she's great to have in a small dinghy, can jump straight out like a bird too.