Inflatable dinghy advice on a 26X

[Gary N]

I need to sort out a new tender (or canoe) that I can use from our 26X. We already have a 2.9m round tail inflatable which has proved ideal in the past as a way to get to our boat when it was on a mooring. However, it is too big for what we now need.

However, now the requirement has changed. Mainly that there is a new pub opened up on Flatholm which is an island about 5 miles away from when we keep the boat. See here for more details -http://tumblr.com/xu43b3fgu5

We would like to carry a tender on the boat that will be ready to be inflated when we need it and also would like to store it on the foredeck if possible. Ideally the tender would carry 3 adults but I think I could accept the compromise of 2 adults. Also I would be open to using a canoe and i would prefer not to use our outboard as it is one more thing to use up space on the boat and stink of petrol.

I have seen a picture here of a 2.4m tender on a 26M here which is very encouraging.



My concerns about this arrangement is that it looks like it will restrict access to the fore deck cleats, fore hatch opening and anchor, and also that it may interfere with the jib. We have a 150 furling jib so thinking out loud we may be able to sail on a limited amount of jib.

I am considering either a 2.4m Plastimo tender max size or a Waveco 2.3m round tail or even a Plastimo 2 man 1.8 compact tender.

The advantage of the compact 1.8m tender will (I expect) be that when deflated it will be easier to stow somewhere inside the boat. However, i am struggling to imagine how you would inflate a dingy on a 26X let alone deflate a wet slimy muddy tender and pack it away. Anyone done this?

Also anyone got experience of stowing a tender or canoe on the deck of a 26X?

Gary
http://www.cardiffyachtclub.org

[Retcoastie]

Investigate an inflatable kayak such as a SeaEagle 270 or 370. I carry mine on the port cabin top, when I carry it. Most of the time I tow it. That leaves the starboard cabin top for easy access forward, doesn't interfere with the sails, and is not quite so visibility restricting.

[Gary N]

Investigate an inflatable kayak such as a SeaEagle 270 or 370. I carry mine on the port cabin top, when I carry it. Most of the time I tow it. That leaves the starboard cabin top for easy access forward, doesn't interfere with the sails, and is not quite so visibility restricting.

That sounds interesting but I should have mentioned that we have a spray hood fitted which goes forward to the end of the hatch and reduces the main roof area. I think from your drscription that our situation would not allow a canoe. I will actually measure it up later today and see what we have.

[Chinook]

I've experimented with using a canoe as a tender, with poor results. The canoe in my case was a 17 foot aluminum canoe which we trailed. It trailed very poorly. It's narrow beam made it impossible to rig a bridle, and the canoe tended to swing back and forth excessively. When outside the wake, which was often, it easily took on water. Also, when at anchor the canoe kept wanting to bump into the Mac. Regarding inflatables, we have a 9.5 foot model sold by West Marine, made by Zodiac. It features a high pressure floor, which makes it easy to pump up while sitting on the foredeck. If we're traveling on relatively protected waters we trail it. It tracks and trails very well. If we're making a passage on exposed waters where I want it stowed, I carry it, deflated, in its storage bag. It stores easily on the foredeck, deflated, or can also be stored below. Since it has the inflated keel and floor, it's easy to pump up while standing on the foredeck. I wouldn't want to try carrying it on the foredeck while inflated, since it would tend to obstruct forward visibility while underway.

[DaveC426913]

Ideally the tender would carry 23 adults but I think I could accept the compromise of 2 adults.

I think maybe I agree with your compromise.

[Gary N]

Ideally the tender would carry 23 adults but I think I could accept the compromise of 2 adults.

I think maybe I agree with your compromise.

Suddenly the task becomes orders of magnitude easier now that 3 people are enough.

[Semper Fi]

We have been using a West Marine RU360 (roll up) with acceptable results. It is rated for three people and a 4HP engine. We can inflate it on the foredeck. It fits on the fore deck once inflated but blocks vision from the helm. It tows well behind our 26M. When deflated and stowed it fits in the cabin. We forgot to bring it with us on our last trip to the FL Keys and had to purchase another while down there. I don't need two. Please let me know if you would be interested in it.
Semper Fi

[dlandersson]

Anyone have any thoughts on the linked item as a dingy?

http://tinyurl.com/5voldml

[Chinook]

I'm not familiar with the brand and its quality. The price is sure great, but I think 12.5' is too long for our boats. It would be heavy to tote around, difficult to set up, hard to stow, and create more drag than a smaller inflatable when being trailed.

[dlandersson]

Good point, I was also thinking of the 1.2mm.

I'm not familiar with the brand and its quality. The price is sure great, but I think 12.5' is too long for our boats. It would be heavy to tote around, difficult to set up, hard to stow, and create more drag than a smaller inflatable when being trailed.

[DaveC426913]

Anyone have any thoughts on the linked item as a dingy?

http://tinyurl.com/5voldml

Well, at $200, either that's a cheap dinghy or I got seriosuly ripped off.

I paid $800 for an 8.5'er.

The only things I've seen for < $300 is floaty toys for children.

[Sumner]

Anyone have any thoughts on the linked item as a dingy?

http://tinyurl.com/5voldml

Well, at $200, either that's a cheap dinghy or I got seriosuly ripped off.....

Notice that it has 2 days left and the shipping is $150. I'll bet it goes for a lot more, if not I got ripped off also

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

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[aya16]

A few of us mac owners in s. cal have bought these baltic boats from this guy on ebay, by picking them up we saved on shipping.
If you notice the guy has free shipping, but believe me that's included in the price, this 7.5 dinghy , well one just like it, I bought for
around 400.00.

What about the boats? they are great, inflate hard, have inflatable floor and work great with a 2-4 hp engine. I have bought 3 from this guy, all boats are in great working order
7.5 good for three people, the 6.5 works for two (and is so easy to get on and off the mac) the 9.5 really strong nice riding 4+ person boat.

I even put a 15hp on the 9.5 just for grins and it really scoots, but for a dink I use a honda 2 hp that will push all the dinks, and easy to carry aboard the mac.

http://cgi.ebay.com/7-5-BALTIK-INFLATAB ... 2eb2811e33


Mike

[bobaefa]

We really like our Saturn Kaboat. It seats two very comfortably but we have done it with 4. I would not want to do any more than boat to shore if I had 4. We use a 2hp Island Hopper 4 stroke to push it and have not had any problems. It also paddles well since it has four 5 inch hard rubber fins on the bottom. This helps it track better. We lost the oars overboard (too much fun at the Key Largo Stone Crab festival) and have replaced them with Kayak paddles $16 each. We really like the Kayak paddles. I drilled a whole in one paddle to put it in the built in paddle holder on the boat and bungee the other ends together.

It inflates easily and can be stored upside down on the forward deck but I don't like it there. I only put it there when I launch the boat. At other times it tows very well or can be pulled up along side the Mac and tied to the winch to keep nothing but the stern in the water. We have also hung it off the lifelines and stanchions but that was a pain.


http://www.kaboat.net/inflatable-kayak-boats-sk396.asp

[img]inflatable-kaboat-SK396[/img]

http://www.smalloutboardengines.com/

[Catigale]

That foredeck dingy has to be upside down of course. If its rough enough to merit the dinghy on board, then it will be taking on water. If it filled, with a load of approximately 100 gallons of water, 800 pounds of weight on the foredeck would make for an interesting stability curve...