West Marine RU-260 Dinghy

[C-Duck]

I’ve read a few posts about the RU-260 model dinghy that West Marine sells – sounds like a good little boat. I like the fact that it only weighs ~50lbs, it has a hard transom, and it seems like a good size to ferry people and dogs to shore. I am wondering how well it fits inflated on the roof of a 22’ C-Dory cruiser? Is it too long? Too wide? Do you need an extra tall radar arch to squeeze it under?

Do any of you have a photo of the RU-260 mounted on the roof? I’ve got an old 4hp 2-stroke Evinrude that weighs ~30lbs and this little dinghy seems like a good fit for it (?). My biggest concern is it may be too wide or too long for the roof of a 22’ cruiser – also am not sure how it will fit under my radar arch (not the short model, and not the extra tall one, sort of the “medium” height arch).

Anybody out there have this inflatable or a comparable one? Pro’s/con’s? Thanks.

[JamesTXSD]

Good morning C-Duck,

We have the 260, but carry it on the top of our 25...



I'm not sure of the exact size difference in the cabin top on the 25 vs 22, but the inflatable extends just a bit past our handrails and isn't as long as the cabin top on our boat. Here's another angle...



... that shows the inflatable from the side and rear.

It seems to me that there are other 22 owners who have this same dinghy. BTW, we are pleased with the 260; the slatted floor allows it to be rolled up reasonably small for packing, and the dinghy moves decently (won't plane with that bottom) with a 2.5 hp motor. It doesn't row great, like most inflatables. We've had 4 adults on ours in a pinch... or two adults and 10 bags of groceries. Light enough to be able to heft it up on top by myself (I pull it up from the bow of our 25). It works.

HTH 'till you get advice from a 22 owner.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I believe that our dinghy is the RU 260 or an earlier version. Here's a photo of it on the cabin top. The pontoons stick out past the back of the cabin, but once I move the anchor light to the radar arch that should no longer be necessary.

[C-Hawk]

We had the RU260 and as James said- it doesn't row to good. The flat bottom allows it to drift whether you are rowing or use an engine. We used a Honda 2h and it tends to slip sideways when you turn. PJ did not like the slatted floor- not firm enough for her.
We sold ours and bought one with the inflatable keel and floor--- much better. It weighs about 60# and is 9'6" in length and has larger diameter tubes. We tow it almost everywhere.

[thataway]

We owned the 260 RU and I believe that Jeff (C Pelican) now has that boat. It worked very well for us, and we kept the smaller version (about 6'). We used a 3 hp and as noted it does not plane. We put it upside down on the top of the cabin--at times over the radar dome, other times rolled up, and even sideways if for only a short distance. We didn't have a radar arch, so cannot comment on that. Currently we still have the shorter version, the articulated slatted floor 310 (about 10.5 feet), which is considerably heavier and the HP 285 (about 9.4 feet)--heavier but considerably more stable floor. The latter two are Hypalon boats.

We felt that the 260 RU was a good compromise in size and weight--easy to put on the cabin top, yet would carry two to 3 people and a dog. The slatted floor is not as good as the vinly articulated or the HP floor, but the weight is a good trade off. I did have to repair one of the slats--it broke and I just glassed in together with epoxy and 6 oz cloth.

[mpmccoy]

I have the Achilles version RU 260. 8'6" I't comical to row beacuse of the useless seat. It's a compromise. I like the fact I can roll it up which it is most of the time. I have the weight at 62lbs? I put it on the cabin roof once. It wasn't easy as I have a radome in the middle. It cleared the radom and If it's put up with the stern forward the hangover at the cockpit end doesn't interfere with climbing in and out or around the cabin.
It tows reasonably but will catch air and fly above 20 knotts. I've seen five people in one.

[Pat Anderson]

We had an RU-260 - it was stolen and we replaced it with a Gary King Alaska Series that we like much better, it rows wonderfully.