Non floating dingy?

[Cheechako]

I see nothing inaccurate about my statement until you show me a portaboat swamped upside down and someone righting it and getting the water out! :>)

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

This is a good article related to dingies and flipping one. A good read for those considering a non floating dingy like a Portabote etc.
Hopefully anyone can link to this... How to Save a Flipped Dinghy | Sail Magazine

The BOLD fragment is the part of your statement that is inaccurate. Portabotes do float, as has been repeated already many times here.

As to dealing with a flipped bote, I already discussed how it could be done. Flipping it in the water would be little harder than flipping a canoe. It's submerged up to the gunwales, so all you'd have to do is kneel on one side. Getting the water out ... THAT would be the hard part.

My point in responding here is that I think it might be possible to get a portabote up and underway again if people found themselves floating beside an overturned one in water over their heads. I've certainly managed it with canoes and kayaks, so I think the techniques might work here as well. I don't think it would be possible at all with an inflatable, although you could probably crawl on top of the latter.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

The BOLD fragment is the part of your statement that is inaccurate. Portabotes do float, as has been repeated already many times here.

As to dealing with a flipped bote, I already discussed how it could be done. Flipping it in the water would be little harder than flipping a canoe. It's submerged up to the gunwales, so all you'd have to do is kneel on one side. Getting the water out ... THAT would be the hard part.

My point in responding here is that I think it might be possible to get a portabote up and underway again if people found themselves floating beside an overturned one in water over their heads. I've certainly managed it with canoes and kayaks, so I think the techniques might work here as well. I don't think it would be possible at all with an inflatable, although you could probably crawl on top of the latter.

Ahhh... I see... yes I concur.. poor choice of words.. maybe should have been "waterfilled dingy not on the surface" or something like that!
I just thought that article was a good part of the thought process for anyone considering the compromises of dingy selection

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Ahhh... I see... yes I concur.. poor choice of words.. maybe should have been "waterfilled dingy not on the surface" or something like that!
I just thought that article was a good part of the thought process for anyone considering the compromises of dingy selection

Agreed . It's a good example of why to stay away from an inflatable .

[dpddj]

HopCar - thanks for the nice words. Plans are to make some modifications to lighten it up a tad (want to get to 120# or so) and make some seats tooling changes to speed up the assembly process. I was pleased with the prototype in the water. Pretty stable, got up on plane with a small outbd. The bow knocked the waves down much better than my round dinghy.
There are a few other priorities at my shop - next hull should start before January is over. Check back in February.

[HopCar]

dpddj, If you decide to sell them through dealers, think about making the seats and other interior parts dealer installable. Without seats installed you may be able to nest several hulls and save on shipping. Carolina Skiff does this. Installing required flotation may prevent you from doing this but give it some thought.

[Jim Cate]

Why all the concern about righting an overturned inflatable? I can't recall ever hearing about an inflatable dinghy with occupants being flipped. Trailed behind a yacht in strong winds... sure, it happens. But under way? Not a common problem!

I can't remember how much floatation is provided in POBs, or where it is located. I wonder if a swamped POB with an outboard would still float, and in what orientation it would lie? My uninformed guess is stern down some ways if it floated at all (guess it depends on the size and weight of the o/b!), and that might interfere with attempts to right it.

And FWIW, we've known a few long termers who started with POBs and later changed to inflatables of one sort or another, and can't recall any who went the other way. I don't claim that this proves anything at all... just an observation!

IMO the perfect dinghy has yet to be developed!

Jim