Most of the long term small boat cruisers we know prefer hard dinks to inflatables.
They are more durable and a less inviting theft target. They are also much easier to row than an inflatable. Of course you need a place to store them, and this is typically going to be over a hatch where the overturned dinghy acts as an awning.
Posted by Steve Dashew (January 14, 2011)
January 15th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Of course,the hard dink is much less stable than the inflatable (I used to call them deflatables), but perhaps that is way the hard dinks are called tenders. My aluminum dinghy is rather tippy (tender) but it holds alot more stuff than the same size inflatable. If one has ever sailed or raced dinghys, tender is not a bother!
January 16th, 2011 at 4:40 am
On most sailing boats you face two sets of problems:
– Use an inflatable, which you can deflate and store inside the boat, but its a pain to prepare every time you need it
– Use an hard dink, which certainly is a better dink, but is really difficult to store while sailing.
In my J133 I have been using a rowing folding tender, which can be stored on deck like a sail board, while keeping an inflatable with outboard for longer works in storage.
The inflatable has been used only twice in 3 seasons, so it seems the foldable is more than enough for normal mediterranean cruises.
January 16th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Steve,
Regarding traction batteries, how do you monitor their charge status.
Thanks,
Kevin
January 16th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Hi Kevin:
Re monitoring traction batteries, the process is the same as with normal construction. If they are a wet type, then a hydrometer is ideal. If sealed, then you watch voltage (a poor indicator) and keep track of amp hours.
January 16th, 2011 at 9:24 am
It’s not difficult to design and build a hard dinghy that’s as stable as typical inflatables. Unfortunately, it’d also perform like an inflatable (hard to row, inefficient under power, pounds on waves).
I tend to concur with Steve’s conclusion on this topic. Unless there’s a pressing need to fold it up into a little bag for storage, I’ll take a well-designed rigid hull (or RIB, if you must) over a fabric-hulled inflatable. That rowboat in the photos above, or a nesting variant of similar design, would be a handy little thing to have around.
January 16th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Steve,
Here is a great nesting dinghy kit made by PT Watercraft.
http://www.ptwatercraft.com/ptwatercraft/Whats_Next.html
Kevin