Dinghy for ICW?

[tanksalot]

I'm planning, very soon, to go "Down South" through some of the ICW just for the adventure and the fun of coming back with my wife up some of the ICW (she's not an avid sailor, especially out of sight of land). I'm a diehard "cheapskate", and although I plan on occasionally using a marina for showers, gas, food etc. I expect to anchor out often. Should I bring my dinghy? (I'll have to tow it) I'll be leaving the boat from late Nov. until early May, when WE will bring it back. I had planned on taking it, then it just occurred to me that it might not be there when I return. Should I be concerned, and, should I bring the dinghy or "streamline" the trip by leaving it behind?

Thanks in advance!

[Vasco]

Take the dink. You'll need it.

[Islandmike]

We came down from CT last winter, we anchored as much as possible.... You will need your dinghy, especially if you are watching your pennies. And it makes exporing some of the more remote areas possible.

[onestepcsy37]

tanksalot, i'm probably cheaper than you. bring the dinghy. you can't be both cheap and without a dinghy. the dinghy makes cheap possible....

[s/v 'Faith']

Water is getting cold, your wife may not appreciate being asked to swim ashore to get dinner.

Bring the dingy.

[Noname1]

I have a 10 ft Zodiac with a 15 hp mtr and must admit to using it as a tug to push the big boat off sand bars. Don't leave home without it

[tanksalot]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I WILL bring the dinghy. I had been hoping to have left by now, but the marine forecast for the Northeast short-term is too intimidating, especially for a solo trip. Looks like a Sunday departure at the earliest. I wanted to go outside to Cape May and then to Norfolk, but it'll depend on the weather. "outside" seems scarier, but then I'll be in warm weather MUCH sooner, and need a smaller weather window.
Thanks again!

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by tanksalot

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I WILL bring the dinghy. I had been hoping to have left by now, but the marine forecast for the Northeast short-term is too intimidating, especially for a solo trip. Looks like a Sunday departure at the earliest. I wanted to go outside to Cape May and then to Norfolk, but it'll depend on the weather. "outside" seems scarier, but then I'll be in warm weather MUCH sooner, and need a smaller weather window.
Thanks again!

If you going offshore, you aren't going to tow the dink are you?
TJ

[Jim St.Pierre]

By all means bring a dink......If you are going to go off shore I would not tow anything what so ever. We left Cape Cod the 12th of October and we are now in Fernandina Beach FL. We are sitting out the TS Ida. The weather we have had off shore is not recommended for towing a dink. I have a 10' inflatable on a davit and before leaving Charlston, I took it off the davit and put it on the fore deck. Thank God because it was very rough and very big swells. If you don't want to spring for an inflatable, I would recommend a Pota-Bote. I have both and you can tie this on deck or if you have enough room below, it could go there. The web site is www.portabote.com good luck

[motion30]

Be aware towing your dinghy can be bad, Do a search several members including me have lost dinghys that way, best if you can store on deck

[tanksalot]

I'm afraid to ask......but I have to.
It's about a 30-hour run from my location to Cape May via offshore. With my 27ft. Ericson, I could either bring my inflatable Zodiac (which setting up and deflating would be a royal PAIN), or tow my Dyer dinghy. No way to bring the Dyer aboard as far as I can see. What's the big problem with towing the Dyer? If the seas were really miserable, either I wouldn't go or I'd be glad to have the dinghy "just in case". But......I'm not that experienced and get the sense that there's something I'm missing. What is it?

[FSMike]

The possibility that
a) the dinghy will fill up with water, or
b) the dinghy painter will break, or
c) both.

This doesn't take into account various other potential problems, such as the
dinghy surfing down a wave and attacking the paint job on the big boat.

[Noname1]

True all that but for some of us our dink is our life boat and having ready for use is a comfort. My Zodiac has a one way drain in the transom as I imagine most do and doesn't hold water very long. If you choose to tow make sure you have a well attached bridal. You will also get a good case of "dingy neck"
In the end you are Captain and bear the ultimate responsibility for your decisions

I do want a foldaboat too

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by FSMike

The possibility that
a) the dinghy will fill up with water, or
b) the dinghy painter will break, or
c) both.

This doesn't take into account various other potential problems, such as the
dinghy surfing down a wave and attacking the paint job on the big boat.

Or the stress of the tow causes the dink attachments to break,
towing a partially filled dink would put great stress on the attachment
points, and while some are self draining, the drains are small will take
a while to drain.
I'll add:
d) the dinghy will flip over
e) the painter will get wrapped in your windvane, or if you are dumb
enough not to have a painter that floats, ends up wrap around your
prop or rudder
f) will slow you down...A LOT.

Your chance of causing problems greatly outweighs the chance that
you will need immediate access to your lifeboat.
TJ

[FSMike]

Tanksalot - I would carry the inflatable upside down on the foredeck. You might have to partially deflate to do this. When you leave your boat this would enable you to store the dink disassembled inside out of theft's way.