Dinghy's Onboard

[Shaun]

From: nswsailor (Original Message) Sent: 2/5/2007 3:11 AM
G'Day All,

Last weekend I attempted to get my dinghy onboard, which resulted in a dive for a winch handle (lucky it was low tide), but I found that my 2.1 hard dinghy is just too big to be located on the foredeck and to be able to work the jibs and anchor winch etc.

What is everybody else doing for a tender while cruising?

Phillip
SEAKA

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Recommend Message 2 of 10 in Discussion

From: SilverGull Sent: 2/6/2007 2:12 AM
Philip, I just tow mine behind the boat so as I can take the kids to the beach. Slows you down something awful. Sorry cant help...

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Recommend Message 3 of 10 in Discussion

From: sealix Sent: 2/20/2007 8:47 PM
Hi Phillip
I just take an inflatable and an electric pump, and a spare pump!
I found it the best compromise.
George

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Recommend Message 4 of 10 in Discussion

From: nswsailor Sent: 2/21/2007 11:54 PM
George,

Yes, I had sort of come to that conclusions also.

It now remains to see what sort of inflatable I can get for a reasonable cost. Any suggestions?

I have taken note of your comment on having a spare pump!

Phillip
SEAKA

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Recommend Message 5 of 10 in Discussion

From: sealix Sent: 3/9/2007 2:18 AM
Hi Phillip
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I moved house and have only just got a net connection - dial-up!

I can't help with advice on which type to get. I've had mine for about four years and it's still going strong. Its a "Bombard" made in France, I got it as part of a job lot so I cant help with the price.
Good luck
George

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Recommend Message 6 of 10 in Discussion

From: fatcontrollerJT613N Sent: 3/9/2007 2:12 PM
Hi there...

A problem we have all faced and without a perfect single solution. I have used and contuinue to use both and there are "for and against" arguments for both.

Find out if you can do a "field repair" on any inflatable you are considering buying.
I have just been through the expensive process ($300 plus) of having an inflatable repaired. Also would have been inconvenient, but for being at home. (I cut the fabric while loading it in inflated state onto the back of my ute; a small but very sharp piece of metal was the culprit). I have become much more cautious around oysters etc as a result.

I used to carry my hard dinghy on the cabin top. It fitted neatly and was easy to lash down. Yes it was a brief sweat getting it up there single handed; yes it did restrict forward view but it was also a very effective solid dodger.

In terms of total handling involved I think the inflatable is more work, remembering inflatable almost always means outboard and all that goes with it.

happy boating!

Doug



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Recommend Message 7 of 10 in Discussion

From: nswsailor Sent: 3/12/2007 4:40 AM
Doug,

Thanks for that advise.

Can you post a photo of your hard dinghy on your cabin roof? or what size and make was/is it?

I am still looking at all posiblities so am open to all suggestions!

Phillip
SEAKA

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Recommend Message 8 of 10 in Discussion

From: nswsailor Sent: 9/3/2007 5:28 PM
Message for Doug, (fatcontollerJT613N)

Doug,

You never came back with the make, or possibly a photo, of the hard dinghy you mentioned in your post of 10/03/07.

Would be very interested to see the information as I have not yet made any decision on a dinghy I can use to my satisfaction.

Phillip
SEAKA

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Recommend Message 9 of 10 in Discussion

From: fatcontrollerJT613N Sent: 9/12/2007 8:36 PM
Hi Phillip, sorry for the delay... life!!
I dont know the make of the dinghy I had, but it was small, and I lashed it across the boat, not in line, on the cabin top. All my lines run aft to the cockpit and I have a furler, so not much reason the go forward. Dinghy was. Ok for me on my own (I.m 90kg) and Ok for short calm trips with more load. I have since gone to a larger ( and heavier) to cope with the chop in the lake. Days out I tow it; days away I use the inflatable. What else can you do? Davits on a Tophat anyone?

regards, Doug



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Recommend Message 10 of 10 in Discussion

From: nswsailor Sent: 9/13/2007 6:36 PM
Thanks Doug,

Seems its back to the drawing board, but its looking more and more like an inflatable every day!

Phillip
SEAKA

[storm petrel]

Hi All,

I have a lamoore 5'6" snub nose dinghy that fits on the foredeck OK. It is quite light and easy to get aboard even on my own, but it is quite small and struggles with two aboard. To get to and from my mooring I am using a 7' snub nose Lamoore dinghy that I sometimes tow.

Cheers,
Mark

[Phillip]

Good Evening Mark and All Top Hat'er's,

I had to bite the bullet and have been building a 1700mm long dinghy which, if I have measured correctly , will fit both on the foredeck and on the cabin top .

As I have a Mk 1 I have yet to sort out the arrangement on the cabin top, but it is built to sit upsidedown on the fore deck.

I will post the whole story with plans after I finish it. I have enjoyed the building of this dinghy as it is 44 years since I last built a ply boat, and I'm not letting on how old I am .

Have added a photo of dinghy under construction.

Phillip
SEAKA

Bow Dinghy under construction.

DSC03274a.jpg (88.27 KiB) Viewed 8225 times

[Alan]

great dinghy that i used cruising on a Top Hat is Montgomery 68 very stable small pram dinghy designed by Lyle Hess available in Australia http://www.dinghies-daysailers.com

[brendan.lyon]

I have a small 'devil cat' tender which came with the vessel when I bought it - relatively stable and is easily lashed to the foredeck between the forestay and the mast for coastal passages - and low enough to stay out of the way for the foresail and sheets -

Works well for me - though thinking that an inflatable might be the go on longer trips.

Brendan

Topknot mk III

[Ian]

I've been pondering this very question for a while too (not surprisingly... )
I think Dave Gerr outlined the pros & cons of each option in his book: The Nature of Boats, Chpt 12 "Nester Dinghy and the Terribly Trying Dinghy Dilemma", pretty well.
His suggested solution is a nesting dinghy, which provides the benefits of a hard hulled dinghy of functional size (11'), but the convenience of an inflatable in storage terms as the boat is cut in half, with the front half nesting in the back half to a storage size of 5' 10", which can be stored on deck (not sure whether this is a viable solution for a Top Hat though...). The critical element of such a design is the join between the two halves of course. Dave's Nester Dinghy seems to have solved this problem with four joining clamps of sturdy design which reportedly provide a very positive locking action. Plans for the dinghy can be purchased from Gerr Marine http://www.gerrmarine.com/small.html , for US$45. postage paid in the US, plus international postage.
I haven't built one, so cann't vouch for it personally, but it does look like an elegant solution to a perennial problem, which I'm seriously considering when I finally buy a cruising yacht, probably a Top Hat (or perhaps a Compass 28').
I'm not a big fan of inflatables, they seem like too much work to inflate/deflate, storing them wet invites mould issues & frankly they're not terribly good boats; they don't seem to handle well, aren't dry and need an outboard to operate, and yet small hard hulled dinghies, while convenient to stow, are less than useful in their tendering duties, not being capable of taking passengers and gear in one trip; but a tender of useful size, usually cann't be stowed on a small yacht hence must be towed. A towed dinghy can not only slow you down, but can inhibit efficient tacking, can turn into a sea-anchor if swamped, and can be dangerous in large or following seas becoming an impromptu torpedo which could do serious damage to your transom...
It's a dilemma that's for sure...

[Tales]

Phillip,
How did you get on with your plywood dinghy?
Cheers,
Tom

[Phillip]

Tom,

She's all finished mate .

But I think she's only good for one person and I hear that in QLD she would not even be considered a ????.

I've included a couple of photos of Tui sitting on SEAKA's foredeck.

Phillip
SEAKA

[Tales]

Neat!
How do you find it to row etc?
Looks like you get good access around it to go forward.
How much does it weigh?
Cheers,
Tom

[Phillip]

Tom,

Its OK to row with just me, real quick, haven't found anybody to try 2 up yet.

It weighs in at 28kg, but if I had not use firbreglass on the inside floor and had use the next thinner ply on the sides I reckon it should have come in under 25kg.

Access is good as you can see from the photos. I have no trouble throwing it over the side or pulling it onboard.

Phillip
SEAKA