Dingy Experience

G

Grazer

New member
I am looking at purchasing a small light tender/dingy for the cruiser. Anyone have any experience with WEST MARINE 2013 RU3 Inflatable Dinghy? Is it the same as the RU 260? RU 260 doesn't show up on West Marine's website, has it been replaced or discontinued?

I'm looking for a lightweight, easy to take apart, fairly rugged tender to take the dog ashore or to abandon ship (heaven forbid that from being required).

Grazer
 
Just bought a West Marine HD270 inflatable, used but seldom in the water.
I have limited use so far, but I like it and it is not too heavy. I can get 16 mph with a old 5 hp motor if I am the only one aboard.
I packs pretty small, and the inflatable floor is easier to deal with.
Jerry c22
 
We have an RU-260 and it has been quite satisfactory. Looking at the RU-13 (I think) it appears the only difference is that on mine the rear of the tubes comes to a pointed cone while the new ones are just a slightly rounded.
 
If you want something very lightweight but well built, take a look at the Achilles LT-2 or LT-4. Over many years we've owned just about every brand and keep coming back to Achilles. I can easily lift the LT-2 (37 lbs.) over the rail of our TomCat and put it on the roof myself. We have a Suzuki 2.5 4-stroke (30 lbs), and it gets the two of us and our 60 lb. dog to shore easily. For some reason the Achilles plywood floorboards only cover about half the length of the boat, so I simply fabricated two more pieces. Very satisfied with this simple, lightweight setup.
 
The both the RU 3 and RU 260 are 8'6" long. The RU 3 beam is 4'7" vs 5'1'. Biggest difference is tube diameter. The RU 3 is 14" the RU 260 is 17". Weight are close and the floor is similar slat. Neither is a true planing boat since they have the soft slat floor, and will develope a "Hump" in the floor as you try and plane. You are best served with a 2 to 4 hp outbaord. If you want to plane consider an inflatable floor.

I agree that the Achillies is a good boat.
 
My Bombard AX 1 is 3' 9" wide. Fits perfectly between the grab rails on my 22. Easy to drag out of the water and onto the roof with one hand. Easy to pull into the cockpit when changing anchorage. If I was starting again, I would look at the AX 2. Same width but 18" longer.

Martin.
 
We love having a dinghy and would never cruise with out it. I has so many other uses then just going to shore.

I like to fish and crab from mine in protected bays. Exploring and viewing wildlife in and around the bays is far easier in a small dinghy with oars then in a bigger boat. We have rowed right up to otters playing and scrambling in the rocky shore lines several times. Far easier to take pictures of birds and other critter from a dinghy. Also great for going visiting from one boat to another in some anchorages.

I was big on having a motor on the dinghy, and I do, but to tell the truth we don't use it a lot now that we have a dinghy with a inflatable floor and keel. The flat floor of our first dinghy was just horrible. Not sure how anyone can stand to owe one once you have rowed a inflatable floor and keel. Its just so much better to row and guides thru the water. I am sure that a hard wood dinghy is even better but not at the weight.

I have no problem getting mine on and off the boat. Its all in the technique and using the boat to your advantage. I cant recall the weight right off the top of my head but its one of the bigger ones.

There was another post on towing a dinghy, and I have a lot in the past, but I don't see a need to when they are so easy to get on and off. We often stop along a shore for a 30 mins so Susan can take the dog for shore duty. I just drop the hook in 10 ft of water or less and toss the dinghy over. When she gets back I just put it back on top and pull anchor. its fast and easy and just as much time as towing I think. I cant fish with the dinghy towed so its better to be on top.
 
With tax and fees (thanks, Maryland) the LT-2 cost me close to $900 from a local, servicing retailer. I could have saved a few bucks online, but I like dealing with an authorized Achilles dealer in case I have problems or need service. The LT-4 is a couple hundred more, I believe. One word of caution, however. There is a real trade off between light weight and stability. We chose to go the light weight route because of my bad back and the fact that I like being able to go out on my TomCat by myself once in a while to shoot photos. Being able to manhandle the dinghy on and off the roof without any stress or strain is worth it to me. But it is a bit skittish and I have to be careful to balance my weight. I weigh 190 lbs, and if I sit on the very rear with the Suzuki in place, the inflated tube gets close to going under. But it does the job in getting me around, and it can handle two of us plus our dog. The LT-4 is a foot longer and a bit wider. It may have been a better choice, if my back wasn't so fragile at the moment.
 
"...a dinghy with a inflatable floor and keel..."
Click to expand...

This is a "must" have, IMO. I've used dinghies w/ cloth floors, wood floors, aluminum floors and the inflatable is the way to go. It's solid yet gives and is safer to stand on, which is the main reason I like it. I doubt the "keel" makes any difference in our use as our 2.5 doesn't have the real power to make it plane; a 4 horse might, though it's heavier so I wouldn't do it.

We use it as Tom said above; sometimes we just go for a "ride" and see what's around.
 
The inflatable "keel" just gives a bit of a "V" to the bottom. We have a 3.5 hp Merc 2 stroke which weighs the same as the Suzuki 2.5 and it will plane our inflatble floor/keel boat with one person--if I sit way forward (PVC pipe as tiller extension for the outboard).
 
The keel is what give the boat direction and less drag when paddling. its what makes rowing the boat so much easier then the non keel or flat floors. I am not worried about using a motor or even planing when I do. I want to make rowing as easy and as efficient as I can and having a inflatable floor is a must. I would not have thought so before I rowed both types so if you are thinking its not worth it you are wrong based on a lack of experience. :wink:
 
I've laid down in the boat trying to get it to "plane" w/ the 2.5. I would not call it "planing", even at full throttle. It never rises out of the water and I'm pushing 196 lbs. But I don't care, well about the non-planing; the lbs....that's another story. :wink:
 
Well I haven't got a dingy yet, and now have yet another thought... a Walker Bay 8 rigid hull boat. These high density injected molded plastic boats are 71 lbs, and never get a hole like inflatables. 10 year warranty seems like they may fairly durable. They accept a motor albeit a short shaft small 2 hp motor. One down side is that they are rated for 2 people and only 425 lb capacity. Anyone have one of these? What are they like?
 
Plenty of folks in my yacht club have Walker Bay's, I have not heard a bad word against them. Of concern to me would be getting 71lbs on and off the roof.

Martin.
 
There is more room in an 8 foot hard dinghy than in an 8 foot inflatable. But the inflatable will have more floatation, and thus a larger load capacity.
Also, the inflatable will act as its own fender along side the boat--the Walker Bay, would be best with one of the inflatable collars or a rub rail (or put out fenders to avoid scratching your C Dory.

As for holes in inflatables--in over 50 years of using inflatables, I only had a hole in one of them. That was my fault when I left a sharp edge edge of a propane tank handle lashed against the inside of the tube when going about 10 miles in rough water--and rubbed a hole in the boat. Patched it and owned the boat another 5 years. A quality inflatable should not develop a hole--but if you want to land on sharp rocks or barnicles then go with a hard dinghy.
 
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