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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

dinghy

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Larry
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/03/2007 : 15:08:50

I almost purchased a Walker Bay dinghy yesterday. I was all excited but then friends told me I should go with an inflatable and my bubble was burst. Now I am frustrated and may just go dinghy-less. Are rigid dinghys that bad. I thought it would be good to take my young daughter out on and have some fun when not sailing. Any input would be appreciated.

Larry
"Kate Caroline" 1985
Great South Bay, Long Island, NY

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2007 : 16:39:10

Larry,
I went through the same thought process. I thought it'd be fun to have a Walker 10 with the sail package. A friend pointed out the major difference in capacity between a hard dink & an inflatable. The inflatable wins hands down. My Avon has something like a 1200 lb capacity, so I can load the dog, my wife, the little outboard, a cooler, the dry bag full-o-crap and me into the boat w/o worrying about being overloaded. Couldn't have done that in a Walker 10, unless I wanted to spend an extra couple of boat bucks on the inflatable bumper thingy they have.

An inflatable is also more stable, but it doesn't row as well. However I've rowed my friend's flat bottomed inflatable around and it's not too bad. Mine has an inflatable keel, so it should row better and track better.

My $0.02

Edited by - delliottg on 05/03/2007 16:39:32

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2007 : 17:02:50

Having gone through all the contortions of deciding which was best...i am very happy that I bought a Zodiac Inflatable. Very sturdy for getting coolers and dog etc into and out of a C25 under iffy conditions. A truly stable inflatable is one that you can stand on any part of and it won't flip over.

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2007 : 20:56:11

Your choice depends on how you use it. A hard dinghy will outlast an inflatable (I called mine a "deflatable") ten to one. Hard dinks are easier to tow, but treacherous (they can surf behind you and crash into your transom). If your dink will spend a lot of time at the dinghy dock or on a sandy beach and will be used mainly for ferrying yourself and crew to and from a moored sailboat, I'd go with the hard dink. If you want to be able to deploy the dink in any port of call and roll it up between times, then the inflatable is your best bet. If you want a dink your kids can learn to sail in, buy a centerboard Puffin with sailkit (about $1700) or a Walker Bay.

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millermg
Navigator

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159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2007 : 23:11:44

My two bits- borrowing a friend's 8' inflatable last summer was great, except we were short-hopping around puget sound and it got to be a bit of a chore to deflate and inflate 2 or so times a day. Plus, there's no great place to store it except on the deck if you've got a boat-full.
Just picked up a used Walker bay last week, and am going to try the towing alternative. We'll see how that works.

garner

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2007 : 23:15:19

I considered an inflatable, then built a plywood sailing pram. Swamped, it floats high enough I can sit in it with water only up to my ankles. Mine came in heavy (overkill construction), and doesn't point as high as I would have liked. However, I'm pretty sure it will outsail and out row any inflatable, particularly after dragging them both up and down a few rocky beaches. It will surf in a following sea, and can deliver an impressive blow if it catches up to the transom. I can get the pram on and off the C-25 foredeck by myself in flat water, but I wouldn't even try in whitecaps. In hindsight, I'd go to the extra effort to build an 11' foot or so 2-piece nesting dinghy, such as a Spindrift, with carefull attention to weight.

-- Leon S.

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 06:50:01

We had built many kayaks over the years. When I put Swimmer on a mooring, I got an inflatable, which is currently for sale in the swap meet. I did not care for the inflatable, found it heavy, difficult to row, which meant it required an outboard. I am building a wooden dinghy to replace it, same construction as the kayaks. Finish weight, 35#, capacity will be in excess of 600 lbs. Most important to me, it will truly be rowable.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 07:41:29

I've had a Walker-Bay 8 for the past 5 years and love it, But I agree that there are trade-offs and it depends what your major use will be. I bought my dink mostly because I like to row. and a hard dink rows best. My boat club had a dink rowing contest once where the object was to row around a small island with one passenger aboard. All the other competitors had inflatables or hybred inflatables. My Walker-Bay 8 finnished the race so far in advanve of the other boats that I was able to row back to my boat, tie up, get a beer, get back in the dink and row out to meet the rest of the fleet before the got to the finish line. My point is,if you are going to row or sail your dink alot then a hard body can't be beat. Inflateables are more versatile and will carry more cargo and passengers but are designed to be motor driven and if the motor fails they really don't row well, especially in rough water or high winds. Like everthing in boating, it's a trade-off. You pays your money and makes your choice.

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ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 10:50:55

When I hear 'inflatable' I think 'leaks' so a few years ago I bought a Walker Bay 8 which was a lot cheaper. Big mistake. We've only used it a few times because every time you step into it from the boat it wants to capsize. It is only rated for a 2 HP moter which may be a problem against a strong current. The sail kit and inflatable tubes would make it better but those would equal the the price of an inflatable.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 11:09:27

This topic has been discussed in depth a number of times before. Check the archives. I'm sure you'll find additional input to your decison-making process.

Edited by - aeckhart on 05/04/2007 11:10:02

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2007 : 13:19:16

My choice was all about cost. I'm cheap, what can I say!?

Built a nesting dinghy for all of about $200. Built the break-down oars too. Those cost about $25 for both. To buy 'em was nearly $100 each.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2007 : 00:10:56

Have an 8' which is not available now but the 7.5 is being built.

http://www.livingstonboats.com/boats_75.asp
It is 28 years old now. Cost? Lots of time towing with ideas that now make it very easy.

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