What Dinghy Is 'Unsinkable' ?

[atoll]

we used a mirror dingy as a tender and life raft for many years,bow,gunnel seats and stern seats all filled with expanding polyeurathane foam,could still be rowed when full to the gunnels with water!!!!!!

[onestepcsy37]

we have a watertender 9.4, pretty common at least on the east coast of the u.s.a., i've seen it for sale at west marine for about $600. the admiral prefers it to our inflatables. it's got a double hull with air space in between.

since it's possible for it to leak between the hulls it also has a drain plug and you're supposed to tip it up once in awhile and remove the drain plug to let out any water that's accumulated between the hulls. i occasionally do this but have never had any water come out.

a few years ago we were in the exumas, going about a half mile to shore. we had a 3.5 hp j/e on the back and a bundle of clothes in the boat. it was a bit choppy. the admiral leaned too far forward for some reason and buried the bow. in an instant the boat was full of water up to the gunwhales. but it was floating and level. i shut the engine down (it was still above water) and we just sat in the boat and bailed it out. then started the engine and continued on our way.

i also once saw a couple of guys at fernandina beach lower an atomic four into a watertender from a dock, then tow it out to a sailboat in the harbor, then pick it up with the mainsail boom. interesting....

[Mike Vogdes]

Portland Pudgy is the way to go...

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[onestepcsy37]

portland pudgy looks like a nice idea but at 7' 8" it's kind of short for a serious cruising dinghy for two or more people....

[Mike Vogdes]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

portland pudgy looks like a nice idea but at 7' 8" it's kind of short for a serious cruising dinghy for two or more people....

The Portland Pudgy has a USCG approved capacity of four people.

[HarveyN]

Adding flotation tubes to a rigid dinghy hull will help.

[capn_billl]

I like a RIB myself.

[Seahunter]

Originally Posted by transiberian

A friend of mine told me that there is hard dinghy that is unsinkable and its mostly used by people who sails a lot. As far as I understood it has like a double hull and between these hulls some kind of foam. I can't get in touch with him and ask the name of that type of dinghy.

Everything will sink eventually. How long would you like it to stay afloat? How much maintenance are you willing to do? How much are you willing to part with? However I think the one you're thinking about is a Walker Bay.

[Lance835]

The Pudgy is short but can be hinged to the swim platform for transport. It is only rated for a 2.5 motor and I wonder if it will plane with 2 people much less 4.

The "Rigid Inflatable Boat" made by Rigid looks just like an inflatable but is a solid core boat and cannot be sunk. It is full of closed cell foam. I am leaning toward it since it comes in various lengths and has all kinds of options. It also can be hinged on the back of the boat. It is rated for up to a 30 Hp engine and therefore I feel it will suit my needs best. It weighs in at 310 pounds but since it hinges that should not be an issue.

[Seahunter]

'Unsinkable' ?

[Lance835]

I looked at Rigid Boat who makes the fiberglass "inflatable boat". I don't know why it is called an inflatable since there is not bladder to blow up. It is solid and therefore one does not have to worry about UV degredation nor leaks.

Rigid Boats

[capttman]

I use a carolina skiff 12 foot long fill it with supplies and people and she still floats fill her with water and still floats this is as unsinkable as you can get

[markpierce]

All hard dinghies sold in the US are required to have water-tight compartments to make them unsinkable.

[ssanzone]

the titanic?

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Lance835

I looked at Rigid Boat who makes the fiberglass "inflatable boat". I don't know why it is called an inflatable since there is not bladder to blow up. It is solid and therefore one does not have to worry about UV degredation nor leaks.

Rigid Boats

Looks like it's going to beat heck out of the mothership.....