Association Forum - Best Dingy

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Best Dingy

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

tapinkham
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2002 : 12:13:57

Hi,

I am getting tired of the ever increasing amount of patchs required to keep the old inflateable inflated. Does anyone have knowledge of these plastic boats that WM and others sell????

Thanks!

Tim

Splashed yesterday! Great!

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2002 : 13:57:16

What type of dinghy fits your needs ? On my trip to the San Juan Islands last summer I took an inflatable sevalour. While in Friday Harbor I found a new Walker Bay (8'). The Walker Bay tows like its not even there and is a wonderfull little boat to putter about in. I still have the inflatable and keep it in my port locker. I only use the walker Bay when on longer trips due to the storage problem. My new slip is only 25' with nowhere to store the Walker Bay. I dont want to go day sailing with it on the foredeck because it takes up the entire area. It would be hard to hank on the jib or gen. and the sheets would get caught. My marina is presently rebuilding all the docks and we are hoping they put in a dinghy dock/rack. I can put a small Hp outboard on the Walker Bay and its a blast to motor about in. Its not as big a problem to get in and out off and you dont have to sit on your legs. I paid $375 for it. Oh it also has a small wheel on the stern so you can pick up the bow and wheel it about. Its designed for a sail kit also but the sail kit costs more than the boat. Ill make my own. I have also seen people using the plastic canoes and kyaks.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 11:07:54

Like Douglas says, it really depends on your needs and uses. I, personally, don't care for the Walker, esthetically, but they could be right for lots of folks. I think, like an inflatable, you want to keep it out of direct sun whenever possible. UV is likely to degrade a plastic boat quickly.

Personally, I dream about a good inflatable again. I mean a quality hypalon boat, not a vinyl one...Several years ago I had the pleasure of owning a used Novourania with a wood floor and V bottom. It was great, although somewhat heavy for inflatable....I sure miss it, but it wanted an outboard to move it. Most airboats don't row very well, IMHO.

For the last few years, I've used a 9' Boston Whaler Squall sailing dinghy for a dink. Once it's in the water, it's super. Has full flotation, carries the 4 in my family and rows really well. The wife LOVES it for stability and rowing. It tows well, too. Downside: besides being somewhat large, it's amazingly heavy. It takes all of us to get it down the gangway at the ramp, or 2 or more to even slide her into the water if the tide leaves her dry. It's kind of cute, and very safe, but the weight is the issue for me....Anybody with a quality inflatable want to trade? BTW: I got mine for a song...but these usually cost between 1 and 1.5 K used...There's a good reason for the Walker!

Good luck in dealing with all the compromises, even with dinks!

Gary B. #685 Encore! SK/SR

Edited by - on

jellyfish
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 11:27:47

I got a Walker Bay and love it. It tows just like it is not there!

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 15:21:19

We use a Sevylor inflatable w/ a little cruise n carry 2 HP outboard. We just blow it up when we get where we're going. It & the outboard stows nicely under the v-berth.

We just came into posession (free<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>! plus $70 in parts & $25 registration) of a hard dingy brand name "The Dink". We hope to have it in the water this weekend. One concern I have with towing is how to keep the dingy off the outboard and stern in following seas (and keep the painter out of my prop<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>!). Maybe a length of PVC pipe? Any ideas?

Cathy
"Blown Away"
'97 C250WK #253

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

Members Avatar

163 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 16:56:54

The best way I know to keep the dink from climbing the transom is to use a longer painter and position the dink on the face of the SECOND following wave. That way it will coast down the face of the wave, but you have the stern wave to keep it from climbing up your transom. Just remember to shorten the line (or use polypropylene, which floats) before using your engine to manoever, so it won't wrap around the prop.

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 21:41:51

Use a floating line and yes PVC pipe works but gets in the way. Use a longer line.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.