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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Tender/dink for C25

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/24/2005 : 01:32:04

Any recommendations for a tender? I've got an inflatable kayak, but getting into it from a C25 usually involves falling into the water first, then climbing into the kayak. It does take up very little space.

I'd like something that I can store onboard. Portabote maybe? Or an inflatable with HP floor?

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus 1984 C25 #4679

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 08:19:58

Albert,

I have used a 7' Zodiac with slatted floor for several years. It is used primarily to get from shore to mooring. I also tow it when cruising. Many of our members frown on towing because of a perceived loss of speed. I have not been too concerned about the 1/4 or 1/2 knot, if that, lost while towing the boat. I prefer towing to storing on board because the boat takes up too much room inflated on deck, and I do not want the hassel of inflating it on deck. The boat is very stable, carries two to three people, allows for an easy step up to the cockpit without marring the topsides, and motors well with the electric trolling motor I use. I have also tried a two hp gas motor with similar, though noisier, results.

In all I am very pleased with my selection of tenders. I would not trade it for other alternatives, except perhaps for an inflatable with a rigid or semi-rigid keel.

AL
GALLIVANT #5801

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 08:35:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by albert
 Any recommendations for a tender?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When I was shopping for a dinghy to take to the San Juans, I looked at a lot of different models at boat shows and dealerships, and decided on an Apex 10' hypalon roll-up. Reasons for buying this boat:
1. First, I decided on an inflatable instead of a rigid hull for portability. I needed a boat that could fit in the back of my pickup and be handled by one person. Rigid hull boats have better performance, but are more difficult to carry, usually requiring a trailer of their own or a means of carrying them on the roof of the tow vehicle.
2. PVC vs. Hypalon: No question, Hypalon is much more durable. PVC boats (West Marine, Zodiac, Quicksilver, Bombard) are a few hundred dollars cheaper, but they have only a fraction of the service life. Exposure to gasoline hardens and cracks PVC in only a few hours; Hypalon is rubber-based and impervious to gasoline. If you want a dinghy that will last 25 years and still have some resale value, get Hypalon.
3. Hard floor vs Inflatable floor: I read too many reviews that gave high-pressure inflatable floors bad marks for reliability, so I went with a plastic roll-up floor. This floor board system is a series of 5 or 6 plastic slats that hinge together and stay in the boat, even when it is rolled up. The plastic floor won't rot like plywood. Only time will tell how durable it really is.
4. Storage: My 10' Apex rolls up into a bundle about 4' x 3' x 2' weighing about 90 pounds. Not quite small enough to fit through the lazarette hatch of a Catalina 25, but it fits in the back of my pickup.
5. Stability. Inflatable dinghys of this type are very stable and easy to get in and out of without falling into the water

6. Speed issues: With a 10 to 15hp outboard, my dinghy will plane, but only with a load less than 250 pounds. It would be better to equip it with a 2 to 4 hp lightweight outboard that will push the boat at 6 kts, and be much easier to lift and carry. Rigis hull inflatables have much better planing ability and can hit 35 kts with a 15 hp outboard, but you can't carry one in the back of your tow vehicle, which was the overriding concern for me.
7. Price: My Apex 10.2 was $1250 (on sale, full retail was about $1600). A 4 hp Nissan 4-stroke outboard can be purchased for about $900. $1200 was 1/3 less than the price of the same size Apex RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat)
8. Size: Inflatable sport boats (dinghys) come in sizes from about 8' to 20' or more. I decided that 10' was the smallest that would be practical to carry two large adults. The 12' dink can carry three or four people, but is 120 pounds, making it more difficult to wrestle in and out of the back of a vehicle.

I don't think you will find any kind of dinghy that will offer more stability and load carrying capacity than the kayak you already have, that will also fit into a Catalina 25 lazarette.

Good luch and have fun shopping!

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 11:05:18

Last year I built a "Nutshell", 7.5ft, "stitch-n-glue" design dink as a winter project. It has turned out to be stable, easy to row, easy to tow and cute.

I had looked at inflatables (Pricey) and Walker Bay's which I liked. I like to work with my hands and decided on the do it your self route. It cost about $700 all in, with fiberglass outside, epoxy inside and took about six weeks to do. Easy construction.

There are plans on the net for a variety of dinks and rowboats.

Truth is, it has been hanging in my garage attic since just waiting for that one trip when I need to row ashore. I also set it up with a mast and lug rig. If I had it to do over I would have built in a centerboard trunk.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 11:48:58

Well I chose a hard dink, Livingston 8', which does tow good, rows good and can be powered. Have used it for 25 years to go out to the mooring and when cruising. Safety thought is escape pod if needed, fire or sinking. Could also be one more chance for self rescue if overboard. The design of the Livingston makes it very stable and can sure haul a lot. Have added things over the years to make it very friendly. Not sure what they cost and they make a 7.5 now. http://www.livingstonboats.com/boats_75.asp

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 18:48:07

Reference this post:
http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6293

I saw the inflatable that RichardG refers to in Costco today for $87.00. If your looking for something cheap to keep on board this might be the ticket.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 13:01:23

I have one of those Intex inflatables. For the money, it's OK. Not as good as a dink with a slat floor. It does roll down to a small carrying case that you can put into your VEE berth storage. I bought an inflation pump from Northwest River Supplies.

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