Good inflatable dinghy?

mutski · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 1:35 am Post subject: Good inflatable dinghy?

Who knows a handy inflatable dinghy to fit on the 22 Cruiser? How do you anchor and get to shore?

ssobol · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Good inflatable dinghy?

starcrafttom · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:21 am Post subject:

There are a lot of option on the market and everyone has a different brand and preference. WE have found that a good inflatable with a air floor and a blowup keel rows the best and does not require a motor for short trips to shore.

We like to drop the hook or grab a buoy then paddle to shore for walking the dog or going for a walk in port. If you want to explore more while on anchor and have no pets I would go with kayaks. We often carry two 10 ft old town loons on top. Much faster and more fun for poking around the islands and wildlife watching. Getting in and out of the boat to a kayak can be fun but its never been dangerous for us and I am no ballerina.

As far as getting a dinghy on and off the boat I just stand on the bow or the roof and pull the boat up by a rope to the bow of the dinghy until its standing on its stern then pull it up half way across the roof before tilting it down flat and swinging it around to go between the radar arch uprights.. its easier to do then explain.

thataway · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:53 am Post subject:

We also agree that an air floor and inflatable keel is easiest to row or use with a motor. We have used both the Suzuki 2.5 hp 4 stroke engine and the Torqeedo 3 hp electric motor.

Since we are elderly, we use a Garhauer davit to hoist the dinghy onto the to of a cabin. See my photo album with a specific page on the davit toward the end of the album photos.

For a "doughnut type of dinghy the Alaskan seems to be the tuffet.

mutski · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 1:10 pm Post subject:

The davit looks slick, Thataway! It looks like you have put an impressive amount of work into your C-Dory. It's a sharp boat!

Thanks all for the input! I'm still pondering. My original idea was to just run it up on the beach and let it go dry, but now I'm pondering the scrapes to the bottom. Our previous dory was wooden. I understood the material better and didn't worry too hard about putting it ashore. We also used to balance an anchor on the bow with a rope tied to its foot, push the boat off, then pull the anchor overboard when it had drifted a ways offshore.

mutski · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 5:07 pm Post subject:

Any thoughts on this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Intex-Mariner-4-Person-Inflatable-Aluminum/dp/B00CMBTCHW/?tag=bsafe06-20&th=1

Reviews say it's durable, has inflatable keel, comes in three- and four-person sizes - 9'9"x 4'2", 77 lbs or 10'9"x 4'9", 91 lbs

gulfcoast john · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:50 pm Post subject:

77 pounds or more vs 47 on a CD22?

We think you should ask why EACH of the three boats now doing the SE Alaska cruise why ALL of them have Saturn KaBoats (full disclosure, we bought the 12 foot model off Calm-C used once).

Just food for thought.

https://saturnrafts.com/12-saturn-kaboat-en.html

Happy Hunting!

John

thataway · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 11:31 pm Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:11 am Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:11 am Post subject:

mutski · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 1:47 pm Post subject:

mutski · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 2:32 pm Post subject:

Whoa! You can put a sail on it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCF10kga7nY

Brings back memories of the time I put a sail on my Klepper kayak and a sudden gust of wind turned it over in the middle of Seldovia Bay. I had to sit on the overturned kayak and paddle it upside-down to shore. Tales of stupidity and survival...

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 2:50 pm Post subject:

The best dinghy we ever had was the Alaska Series by Gary King. Very tough material, inflatable floor, and the Bearclaw bottom could be dragged over rocks, barnacles, or whatever. We had a 2 hp Merc, and it also rowed extremely well. But it weighed 50 some pounds and got too heavy for me to get over the bow rail and up on the roof, so we got a Sea Eagle 12 foot inflatable kayak the weighed just north of 30 lbs. But the Alaska Series was Baxter-approved!

mutski · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 2:59 pm Post subject:

I was looking at the Sea Eagle kayaks. How are they for stability when you climb off the C-Dory to get in.

thataway · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 4:38 pm Post subject:

The small trolling motor (non salt water series, or non "brand name", often will not hold up well in salt water use. The true electric outboards, have a larger prop than the trolling motors. (There are some expensive high thrust salt water series trolling motors which do have good blade area, and the thrust to push a boat.). I have about 10 years experience with a Torqeedo 3 hp (equiv) electric outboard, they work fine.

Also the bracket for the Intrex, does not look as if it will hold up to heavy use.

The fastest thing down wind on the water is an inflatable boat. As the wind picks up, it becomes more dangerous. I have had a situation where I had a brand name, inflatable, and a 3 hp outboard. I went downwind and past my larger boat. Fortunately, I was able to get in the lee of the larger boat, and then power to the transom. Trying to go along side, even with a 3 HP outboard, into the wind, was impossible. If there had not been that lee, I would have been blow out to sea. I have rescued several boaters who tried to row against wind and chop and were not able to prevail.

They show video and talk about the sailing kit--fine in a lake, and gentle breezes. Not so good with a ocean, higher wind and chop. You could easily find yourself trying to sail back to windward, and unable to do it.

The dinghy is also a life raft--or a boat you must depend on. You boat in some very cold water. Thus you want a very reliable dinghy. I have experience the rocks and barnacles in SE Ak. and they will take a toll on even a solid fiberglas boat bottom (RIB). I had to add a sacrificial layer of fiberglass each season on the bottom of. the RIB, from "beaching" on rocks and abrasive material. There is a very good reason that the "Alaska" Series of inflatables has the "bear claw" material. That does hold up to the rocks, and sharp barnacles, I doubt that the Intrex will hold up.

Please be safe.