Foldable RIB

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ssobol

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Joined
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C Dory Year
2008
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
SoBELLE
Here is something interesting (IMO), a foldable RIB. The one in the video is about 11.5 feet, but they have other sizes. The smallest RIB is about 75#. I don't know if how easy it would be to inflate and deploy from a C-Dory if you are on the water. (I blow my SIB up about half way when it is across the cockpit and then fill it after it goes over the side.)

http://winboat.info/en

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYz4sWL8IZo

Supposedly in the $2-3K range.
 
Pretty neat design but still on the heavy side. Could be a solution for more compact deck storage on a sailboat in open seas.
 
We used a 12' 6" Avon RIB when we took the Cal 46 4x to Alaska. The RIB has some real advantages going up on the rock shores in the PNW--you don't worry about sharp rocks or oysters etc on the bottom as you come ashore. Their 12 footer illustrated in the Video weight was about 106 LBs. I suspect that is a PVC boat, and the Hypalon boat would be a bit heavier.

The disadvantage of the boat we had was weight of 300 lbs, but we had a roller on the aft deck between the legs of the Radar arch, and an electric winch, to bring it aboard easily, even when under way. It was too heavy for us to carry up the beach, so we had a pulley anchor system which allowed us to keep the boat off the beach even in 25 foot tides.

The smallest at 79 lbs is not much heavier than a similar sized inflatable floor…(this was a 9 foot boat).
 
A RIB might be more amendable to towing behind than a SIB. If you anticipated using it a lot it could be towed. If you weren't planning on using it for a while it could be folded up for storage. Folding and unfolding it often for use might get old (although it only takes a few minutes).
 
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