looking for a dinghy --ideas

[NiceAft]

I have three different tenders depending on what we are doing or where we are going!

For towing the boat away somewhere, nothing beats an inflatable, with an inflatable floor, that can be stowed in the stern berth on the road, and inflated easily. We also take the inflatable if we are going to be going through a coastal bar (don't want to be towing hard dingies out in the Paciifc). The good thing with an inflatable floor model is that they can pretty easily be pulled out and inflated on deck when you get to your destination. Fast forward to 8.34 in this vid to see me getting it ready after arriving in port
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-h-KQu0XmM

However I confess to not thinking much of blow up boats. Our last one with a Merc 4hp on the back was fun when we were at least half a mile from the boat and the seam decided to pop They are supposed to have three chambers but I guess the internal wall had given out as the whole thing starting going down and I had my wife and two kids onboard. THe wife managed to grab the seam and pull it over holding it closed with her hands and we just got back to the boat and I reefed the 4hp Merc off the back as the transom collapsed. I had to pull the deflated mess up with a boathook...

I also have a good old fibreglass dinghy which I like best. In this video at from about 8.40 I explain why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJ0BWwpVMc

However, we actually had a bit of a medical emergency that night and had to leave that remote location at 01:30. It took me more than 5 hours to get home at about 6.5knots. If I had had an inflatable, I would have been able to deflate it and stow it and we would have been able to get home considerably quicker...

The other kind of tender we use is these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dwi4d9N8Y8

But its a bit hard to transport them like that with the mast on the boat. Mind you we just bought another smaller one which may work, but is not as good to paddle. Kayaks are the winner as far as enjoyment is concerned, but not always a practical option and you can't just leave them while you go shopping or whatever like you can with an old dinghy.

Having said all that, if just for occasional use, something to just roll up and keep in the boat, the inflatable is of course the most practical (no matter how much I distrust them - did I mention they are pigs to row too). Definitely get one with an inflatable floor. I'v had both types and the inflatable floor is awesome, so much less hassle and they are rock hard once inflated.

Also an inflatable keel. It's an asset. My twelve year old inflatable has both an inflatable floor and keel.

Ray

[Sumner]

Also an inflatable keel. It's an asset. My twelve year old inflatable has both an inflatable floor and keel.

Ray

When I was looking a friend with experience also recommended the inflatable keel so that then became a must have and I'm glad that I kept looking until I did find one with it. It does make a difference.

Another item is tubes that are larger in diameter than those that some of the cheaper ones have.

I have always felt very safe in the inflatable under any conditions and have never been in a situation where if I had to abandon ship felt that it wouldn't of kept me safe. I would strongly recommend one for anyone venturing very far from shore,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Wind Chime]

...make a cover for it to extend the life....

Here's the cover we had made for our Walker Bay.

[Wind Chime]

Hey ... did I mention how well the Walker Bay tows behind the Mac ?

[Sumner]

Hey ... did I mention how well the Walker Bay tows behind the Mac ?

Curious? Where do you guys put the hard side dinghy's when towing the boat? I have the inflatable in the back of the Suburban on one side,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Wind Chime]

Hey ... did I mention how well the Walker Bay tows behind the Mac ?

Curious? Where do you guys put the hard side dinghy's when towing the boat? I have the inflatable in the back of the Suburban on one side,

Sumner

Hey Sumner,

We tow it down the road just like in the picture

But deriously, we have a Jeep grand Cherokee tow vehicle with roof racks, so I just put ithe Walker Bay on the racks upside down on top of the jeep, just like a standard car topper tinny boat.

[Hugh]

We bought a SOAR inflatable canoe. It's no pool toy but an expedition paddling boat.
Ours is 12' and I glued D rings to the hull for towing. Tows well under sail and power.
Hypalon $ though.
Our rationale was we wanted a boat we could paddle efficiently and explore with while getting some exercise in addition to the traditional dingy uses.

http://soar1.com/

[shrektruck]

Wow, we just tow an old kayak we picked up for 3 carwash tokens and some couch change. I can fit 2 kids or 3 days worth of groceries and gas on it. Stows easily in the cabin when trailering and I'm as fast as any 2.5 horse outboard.

[Herschel]

Hugh reported his SOAR inflatable canoe

I went to the SOAR website and got this technical info about their boats. Based on the previous input from a variety of folks, this is starting to mean something helpful. Thanks again guys.

"What is hypalon? Hypalon is a rubber DuPont coating that has been used in manufacturing the best quality inflatable boats for nearly 50 years. Along with neoprene, hypalon is the most time-proven coating for long lasting durability and abrasion resistance. Rafts such as Avon and Achilles, along with military-spec Zodiacs, are built with hypalon.

How strong is a SOAR boat? SOAR boats are built with a 30 oz. hypalon coating on the tubes and the top of the floor surface. The bottom of the floor is coated with 40 neoprene coating. An 840 denier nylon base fabric all over provides excellent puncture and tear resistance."

[RobertB]

Check this out http://ferryboat.eu/index.php/about-ferryboat/
I like the smaller size.

[Bilgemaster]

Bit late to the party, but I've been closely following this thread for advice. Finally, on an impulse two days ago prompted by a Google pop-up coupon code, I went ahead and clicked the "Buy" button on an Intex Mariner 3 inflatable and matching motor mount from VM Innovations for just $185.31 with free shipping and after 10% off using the checkout code HOLIDAY10. That coupon code may be good for a few days yet, in case anyone else feels similarly afflicted by a dearth of dinghy.

I'd actually been mulling over getting some kind of inflatable dinghy for those ever-lovely future Chesapeake anchorages that perennially waft through my mind's eye when I really should be concentrating on performing my Federally-appointed duties here at the Museum in a minimally satisfactory manner in accordance with the regulatory provisions of the Office of Personnel Management as outlined in U.S. Code Title 5, Section...[Oh look! an iridescent blue dragonfly on the rigging!].

Here's the thing: I can't be lobbing a couple-few grand at some Hypalon Zodiac military-grade assault craft inflated with unicorn farts. I'm not shooting the Panjshir River rapids to Baadqol on a hostage rescue mission, and I've got pizzas to buy for you bilge dwellers. So, I had already pretty much decided on getting one of the more "upscale" and hardier Intex Mariner models, reportedly certified by the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) and as a U.S. Coast Guard approved vessel, as opposed to their lesser offerings, which range from straight up flimsy pool toys like their Challenger models to slightly more rugged pool toys, like the Seahawk models without the roman numerals (the far better but formerly confusingly-named Seahawk II having since been basically discontinued and its successor renamed Mariner 3 to avoid confusion). It seems the most current Mariner 3 model I bought now includes rigid flooring slats like its bigger brother, the Mariner 4 has had for some time.

Only two days since ordering it, I was flabbergasted to find it already sitting in a big box at my doorway when I got home from work today. I haven't opened it up yet, but from its size and weight I'd say it'll be an easily manageable addition to our little 26X, even allowing for the fact that I'll probably never again get it so compressed and compact once I break it out. From some reviewers I hear tell that a duffel bag's just the thing for stowing it handily once it's in real use. Fortunately for me, a buddy who just bought a new house found a great little electric trolling motor in the shed that he had absolutely no use for, along with a huge pair of rubber wading boots in just my size, so I'm gonna strike quite a figure bounding down the planks with those pizzas at the marina. Although it comes with a dual-action handpump (whereby both the upward and downward strokes pump into the boat), I might eventually get one of those electric pumps that automatically cut off at a pre-defined pressure level, which I've heard of during my research, since I understand over-inflation's the killer for these things. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[Russ]

That was a hysterical post.

I love to read reviews of stuff people bought before buying. This boat seems to get high marks by owners.
http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Mariner-Boa ... B00ACBCOII

[Herschel]

Any suggestions would be welcome

Having "gone through" one Intex, and before that a Navigator, I would recommend that you guard against abrasive rocks. I was not as careful as I should have been pulling mine up over some relatively soft sandstone here in Florida and got a puncture that did not lend itself to successful patching. As far as over inflation is concerned, I recommend that if you are going to leave the boat on land in the sun for a few hours, that you release some of the air until it is a little soft to the touch. It is easy and quick to reinflate up to operational pressure with the Boston valves. Good luck.

[yukonbob]

Any suggestions would be welcome

I like using the foot pump to inflate. You can switch the hose and suck the last bits of air out and seal them to make sure it's as small as possible for storage onboard.

[Bilgemaster]

Any suggestions would be welcome

Having "gone through" one Intex, and before that a Navigator, I would recommend that you guard against abrasive rocks. I was not as careful as I should have been pulling mine up over some relatively soft sandstone here in Florida and got a puncture that did not lend itself to successful patching. As far as over inflation is concerned, I recommend that if you are going to leave the boat on land in the sun for a few hours, that you release some of the air until it is a little soft to the touch. It is easy and quick to reinflate up to operational pressure with the Boston valves. Good luck.

Would you happen to recall which model of Intex you owned? As for scrapey landing spots, I have heard tell of folks carrying along a small tarp for dragging it onto when landing on rougher surfaces. So, I might stuff one of those little cheapo/often-free-with-any-purchase blue Harbor Freight tarps under the battery box for just such occasions, since I'd like my Mariner 3 to last at least a few seasons. At about 7'x9' those tarps are just about the perfect size..and would also make for a decent jury-rigged sunshade on a beach. Man, I can hardly wait for Spring...