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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Hard Dink or Soft?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5379 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/21/2011 :  16:20:09  Show Profile
I have an oppty to purchase a used 8' West Marine dink with a small trailer and a shorty 2 stroke engine for $600. It's a great deal, but I'm concerned that I'll have a whole new bunch of used stuff I'd have to store over the winter, and two DMV registrations (one for the dink, one for the trailer). I'd really prefer a 6' hard plastic rowboat that I can carry on top of the car. Any suggestions on a model/brand and a good retail source?
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2011 :  17:16:39  Show Profile
Come over to Defender's warehouse sale 3/30 - 4/3. (They say it starts on 3/31, but there's a little local secret...) They have about a 10,000 sq. ft. room full of every shape, size, and type of dinghy, plus a wide range of kickers. I've long been interested in Walker Bay's "hybrid"--the hard plastic hull with an inflatable "collar", and with an optional sailing rig with dagger-board.

What I have is an 8.5' Achilles roll-up with a Honda 2. It's not great for rowing--not very directionally stable, but I really like the load stability of an inflatable, particularly for stepping on and off to/from the mother-ship. Hard dinghies don't come close, but they tend to row better. My CT registration fee is $7.50.
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/21/2011 17:36:51
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2011 :  17:29:29  Show Profile
The Walker Bay hard shell is a excellent choice. Light, portable, durable.
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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts
Response Posted - 03/21/2011 :  20:26:24  Show Profile  Visit aeckhart's Homepage
I've had a 7 ft Zodiac for 12 years. Slat floor with same poor rowing problem. It's very stable, carries a lot of weight, and wears like iron. I use an electric trolling motor to power mine to and from my mooring. I don't use the motor when cruising though since I don't register it.
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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2011 :  06:32:26  Show Profile
I have/had both. I previously owned a hard plastic dink, easy to row but very unstable. Difficult to stand up in. I now have an inflatable. I would not go back. The stability of the inflatable outweighs any of the others benefits. YMMV.
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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2011 :  06:41:35  Show Profile  Visit DaveR's Homepage
I have a 8' Quicksilver rollup with a a Suzuki 2.5 and love it. Stable as all getout and sturdy. Don't want the tipsiness or the price of the hard dink. I'd love to have the WM w/collar & sail but that'll have to wait till I win the lotto
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 03/22/2011 :  06:46:41  Show Profile
Well, I didn't win the Lotto but we like our Walker Bay with the inflatable collar. Easy to row, easy to tow, and very stable. I can stand and move around in the dink. We had a small outboard and sold it, the WB rows so easy for our needs.
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5379 Posts
Response Posted - 03/24/2011 :  19:49:35  Show Profile
I will definitely look at the Walker hard shell dink. Unfortunately, I will be working in Reston VA on 30-March. But I will be home for the weekend, and in Groton with the power squadron, so perhaps I can get over to Defender at that time.
The only problem I have with the inflatable dink is that it's been used and it looks dingy (not dinghy). I wonder whether there's any way to clean and brighten it up????
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts
Response Posted - 03/24/2011 :  20:22:42  Show Profile
Like [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=102177&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10110&subdeptNum=10648&classNum=10652"]this[/url]?

(It might be something like Tub-n-Tile Cleaner in one bottle, and Armor All in the other. But who knows...)
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/24/2011 20:28:11
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Patrice C25
1st Mate

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78 Posts
Response Posted - 03/25/2011 :  05:55:47  Show Profile
hI,
Had a hard dinghy with the boat, we did not like the feel that it was not stable.
Got an inflatable, and love it.
Would be best if you have a chance to borough one from fellow at your marina, and try both.
You'll feel the difference.
Inflatable might be harder to row, but you can still manage.
We bought a small electric motor, and it is nice to go aroud a bay quietly. And it move fast enough (we do lake sailling)
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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts
Response Posted - 03/25/2011 :  07:31:30  Show Profile  Visit delliottg's Homepage
When we got our Avon rollup, it was covered in grime, dingy is a good word. I scrubbed it down with a green scrubby and Simple Green if I remember correctly. It took a while to do, but it looked a whole lot better after some elbow grease and detergent. It was a charter boat's dink, and not overly well taken care of. We've used it four years now without complaint. I'd like to have one of the WB 10' with the inflatable tubes like Randy's got, but I don't have sufficient reason to change away from our Avon.
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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.