Inflatable? Lifefraft?

R

Rabbits Hutch

New member
Sorry for all my questions...

Given the water temperature of Puget Sound, do many of you carry a liferaft or a small inflatable on your boat? I'm considering the purchase of a small 6' or 7' inflatable to keep under the v berth. They store in very compact bags these days.

Although my boat is only 16', and we would rather not think about such things...what happens when the worst case scenerio happens? Or if you all decide to have dinghy races?

Thanks.

Gary R.
 
Gary -

If your only reason for the inflatable is safety, it is probably not all that needed on the CD 16. All boats under 21' have full flotation, so no matter what, enough of it will stay floating to hold you up.

Now then, if it is for the races, that's a different story! If you will be bringing kids along to the gatherings, they will have a blast dinking (dinghying?) around the protected harbor. We have to get one before we all haul up your way next summer.

Just don't get the wrong color......
 
OK, I'll let my girlfriend know that bright white and neon green are out. Dull slate gray it is... ha ha.

I'm sincerely considering the 7' zodiac with a 2hp outboard.

Mike, think I'll be out on a mooring ball much at these events as opposed to a dock? That would certainly require a dink.

Thanks,

Gary R.
 
Agree that dinghies are a lot of fun, especially for kids (of all ages). But if you don't want the expense and storage of a dinghy and outboard, an alternative is an inflatable kayak. We have a Safari, made somewhere in eastern europe. Very durable, easy to inflate, and easy to tie on top of the cabin with a couple straps when you may be using it for a few days at a time. The only drawback of that model for cold waters is that it is self-draining, so you will have a wet seat. There are other models that are drier. I also like having the kind of hand air pump on board that can be used as a manual bilge pump in a pinch by putting the hose on the other nipple.
 
Gary: If I was putting money down, Id check out that ride that RedFox has... Inflatable...and really a good ride looking at his site. But, as he puts it... a bit "spendy.." But then, what high quality product is not.
 
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