dinghy for 16

[philb Junkie19]

Hello, There was recent mention of a rubber dinghy. What are folks using as a dinghy for the 16?  A heavy duty two person inflatable whitewater Kayak made a good towable when I had a bigger boat.  At 3/4 the length of the Compac it's a bit of overkill to tow and deflated it's much too large and large and heavy to carry aboard.  I'm thinking of something that stows small on the 16, but will stand up to occasional use.  I see some advertised online but hard to gauge the quality.  Phil

[Pacman]

A good pair of fishing waders will get you ashore and they will keep you dry.

If the water is warm and clean, an old pair of sneakers, shorts, and a towel are good too.

They stow easily and are seldom stolen from the dinghy dock.

Also, waders don't require a state registration sticker and you can't get a ticket for using them to come ashore without a life jacket and a whistle aboard.

That is the beauty of shallow draft.

[philb Junkie19]

Yes, Shorts and a towel can work fine as would waders at the lake where I mostly sail. On Penobscot Bay the tidal range can be 12 ft. and I'm only 5 '9".

[skip1930]

Look~see at one of those German folding dinghy boats. A fellow in our USPS boat club stows one on his Seaward.

skip.

[Pacman]

On Penobscot Bay the tidal range can be 12 ft.

Wow!  That is about 4 times the range I am used to here on the Gulf of Mexico.

Inflatables are, in theory, an excellent solution because they can be stowed when not in use. 

However, I see people around here towing them most of the time and they create a lot of drag, much more than a hard dinghy.

Have you thought about using one of the new Stand Up Paddle Boards or a Sit On Top Kayak? 

Although they are too big to stow they would tow behind your boat with much less drag than an inflatable dinghy and they don't require the time and effort to inflate before each use.

[Bob23]

   Of course anything you inflate, can deflate and maybe at the wrong time.
   What's wrong with a good old wood dinghy? Somwhere here at the site, one of the regulars built a cute little dinghy in a rather short time and for very little $. Maybe someone else can remember where it it but I'm sure with a bit of searcing, you'll find it. You could make it 7' long- plenty for 2 people.
   I use a Walker Bay 8 for the tender for my CP23. It tows well, will hold 3 grown men and thier beer, and best of all, I found mine for free. Barring that, I'd build one. Check this out:
http://koti.kapsi.fi/hvartial/
Bob23

[Pacman]

I just noticed that Burgess, in his book titled Handbook of Trailer Sailing, mentioned that he used a Sea Eagle inflatable. 

Then I checked the Sea Eagle web sits and saw a small, reasonably priced, tender that packs down for easy stowing.

Sea Eagle has been in business for some time now so that might be a good indication of quality and value.

It might be just what you are looking for.

[Greene]

I used plans from the site that Mr. Bob23 mentioned in his post.  I built the Portuguese dinghy because it was lightweight, accommodates two people and is so darn cute.









Fun little project that results in an easy to lift, row and tow dinghy.

Mike

[Bob23]

Thanks, Mike for refreshing my memory and for reposting the photos. That really is a cute boat...I may have to build one just for fun. I wonder, can it be sailed?
bob23

[Greene]

I didn't put in a box for a dagger board, but I suppose a guy could build it that way.  I believe the site you mentioned also had sailing versions of some of their plans. 

Just a simple little dinghy we call "Lil Miss B".

Mike and Brenda

[kickingbug1]

    yeah, and you should see mike at the oars. show the picture buddy

[Pacman]

I have seen small dinghys set up for sail using clamp-on lee boards.

I large "C" clamp and an appropriately sized board would work just fine.

That way you don't have to give up interior space for a daggerboard well.

Also, it's simple and cheap.

[Greene]

    yeah, and you should see mike at the oars. show the picture buddy

Sorry Kick.  They'll have to go to our blog to see such a sight.  Looks kinda like a big grey bear that someone taught to row.

Mike

[brackish]

Dinghies, hmm, seems like I've had them all at one time or another.  Hard - Sportyak, abs plastic, fair rowing, good with a little trolling motor, had a sail kit for it, but found out when going to weather each tack lost another fifty yards from the goal.  Hard requires fending or anchoring separate at night or you're up when it starts to bang.  To much trouble at the dock or ramp.  Also had a Walker Bay wannabee, same issues.

true inflatable - fabric reinforced RIB; heavy and bulky when deflated, tough to find a place to stow it, but towed OK

For my 23 I bought a Sevlor 3 person fishhunter.  I can lift it inflated to the foredeck and lashed it will stay there and still allow the sail to tack.  Deflated it, the oars, and three different pumps, manual, 12 volt and 115 volt will all fit in the foreward most compartment under the v-berth.  Three children or two adults would be a more accurate capacity description.  Rows OK it has screw in oarlocks rather than something molded to the tube.  Inflates and deflates rapidly regardless of which method used, although the 115v fastest.  Remarkably tough skin.  Usually sells for about a hundred bucks, but Mejier's had it as a daily special with free shipping for $65 so I took a chance.  I've never towed it, too easy to lift and lash.  In good weather, I walk in or out and pull the dink with supplies.  Made a motor mount for it, but never tried it, probably never will.

The mount before the guys and wooden plate added:

[Bob23]

Brack:
  That is a great idea for a dink for small boats like our 23. Can't beat the price.
BTW, you did get a plumbing permit before you built that motor mount, didn't you?
bob23