What is the most rowable dinghy?

[Dr. Sea]

I need to buy a 10-12' rigid bottom inflatable dinghy. I'll put a 15 hp outboard on it, but I want one that will row well. What brand have you found to be the easiest to row? Any special features of that RIB that make it easy to row?

[denverd0n]

No RIB is going to row "well." Some may row a bit less horribly than others. I would suggest that you make a choice between having a RIB and having a boat for rowing.

Good luck.

[Tayana42]

A good rowing boat is long and narrow with the oar locks at about hip height, about 10-14 inches off the water and placed outboard of the gunnels. None of which makes for a great tender for a fiberglass yacht. I like to row. I rowed single sculls for years. But I like my inflatable dinghy for a tender.


S/V B'Shert

[David M]

No such thing as a RIB that rows well...compared to a hard bottom non-RIB.

RIBs have more windage, more wetted surface area for its displacement and do not have a skeg to help it hold course.

[Four Coconuts]

I sent you a PM

[capeharj]

What's wrong with an 8' wooden or fiberglass prom? The accept an outboard and row fairly well. We have a 1954 Chris Craft 8' wooden pram and it's great.

[Don C L]

Sounds like you want a 15 foot dory with an outboard well, But that is not such a great tender. To row in the wind you need a long thin boat and dories handle well when you load them up heavily. But, unles you have a large boat you will be towing it which is not necessarily a deal breaker for some. Witha nice full cover you can avoid it getting loaded from splashes. I know this is not what you are looking for but after many incarnations of dinghies. I am happy with my heavy duty inflatable kayak. It's 14 ft long, holds 850 lbs and you can paddle it into a headwind. It rolls up to a manageable size. True no outboard though.

[Snore]

Are nesting prams an option?


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Scout 30]

I've got a Bauer 10 & an 11' Avon. The Bauer rows & sails well. I can, and have, rowed back to my boat against a 20 knot headwind. I use a 2 hp Honda on it & can't even open it up because it overpowers the boat. My Avon's a great inflatable but I never want to row into a headwind with it so, as an important safety feature, I make sure there's a good anchor in it.

[Xlantic]

The Walker Bay rows very well but is non-planning and the maximum engine it takes is 6 hp.

[Canibul]

Very interested in this thread. We got a West Marine RIB with the boat. Have a Merc 15 two stroke with it. I've been looking at replacing it with a Porta-Pote and smaller outboard. It's supposedly rowable, although obviously a flexible boat is not going to be as good as a rigid hull for transferring forces. My reasons more about weight and storage but it might also be worth looking at as a compromise between the RIB and a dory.

In fact, any cruisers coming through the TCI who need an 11'6 West Marine RIB,

bring me a used Porta-bote from Florida and I'll swap you the RIB for the Porta-bote. This RIB new is $ 4K, you can get a Porta-bote on eBay in FL for $500.

[Cheechako]

I don't think the OP asked for dingy opinions, they asked what kind of RIB rows best.
For a RIB to row it's all about the oars and oarlocks. So check those out. Buy good long oars instead of trying to use the wimpy ones.

[Group9]

If rowing, and the ability to row, is important to you, you need a hard dinghy.

RIBs can be rowed, the way mules can be ridden. But, why?

[kenL]

I have a 9 foot "Minto" , hard Fiberglas dingy that is fantastic to row. I no longer take an outboard with me when I go for my 2-3 week summer cruises in the northwest. I can take my wife and two teenagers ashore quite safely and with minimal effort. I can row out through four foot waves safely with two people in the boat. It is kept on a swinging stern Davit on my Endeavour 32 while underway and can easily be deployed in less than a minute. The Minto was the predecessor to the Whitehall rowing and sailing skiffs so lighter,newer and larger boats are available if you want to pay for them. I bought mine for 350. and spent another 150. for better hardware. Make sure that you get some good oars that are light and long enough to move the boat efficiently. I have 6.5 foot oars for a boat that is about 4 feet wide.
My plan is to get an electric oar which are made here in the Seattle area which is a light and efficient way to move these boats when you don't want to row. In their demonstration video they use a 9foot Minto so you can see one in action.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by capeharj

What's wrong with an 8' wooden or fiberglass prom? The accept an outboard and row fairly well. We have a 1954 Chris Craft 8' wooden pram and it's great.

I was wondering if someone would suggest a pram. A great rowing tender.

I don't think it fits the OP's wants. A 3 HP would work.