Which is the best dinghy ? - Page 4

Ruffryder · 12-09-2020, 03:07 PM

We like her too!
Here's a red one next to our Achilles 370...
very stable & fast, enough seating for 5 or more.

backinblue · 12-09-2020, 03:38 PM

IMO, the best dinghy is not about the dinghy itself but how it is launched, retrieved, and stored. Solve those and you have the best.

rgano · 12-09-2020, 04:01 PM

The best dink is the one you have, just like the best of anything else be it steel/fiberglass hull, twins/single, anchors, and you get the idea. Happy with NO dink nowadays, but glad I had one when the boat was bigger.

Simi 60 · 12-09-2020, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgano

The best dink is the one you have, )

If that were true people wouldn't be looking for better dinghy's.
We went through 3 before getting what we are now happy with.

Saying that we do need a second smaller lighter one for dragging up a beach when a jetty is unavailable
Need to build a new version of the 8ft flatty I did on a previous boat.

rgano · 12-09-2020, 04:22 PM

But if you don't have anything, and you need one, you're wet. So I reiterate, with a grin, that the best one is the one you have. Guess you missed my vague humor.

backinblue · 12-09-2020, 04:26 PM

I haven't found the best dinghy or an easy way to store it on a "smallish" boat. I deal with an inflatable roll-up (questionable term) as best I can. I do believe I found the best dinghy motor which is an ePropulsion electric that I covered in another thread.

**Baker** · 12-09-2020, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backinblue

IMO, the best dinghy is not about the dinghy itself but how it is launched, retrieved, and stored. Solve those and you have the best.

BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha. Truly an amazing boat. But it does not serve as a tender to my big boat. I will end up selling it and trying to solve the 3 things you have listed in your criteria. The lightweight 12 foot Caribe with that lightweight 25hp Yamaha on Hurley Davits is what I am leaning toward. There are other solutions. The Ilmar aluminum (RIB)dinghies are becoming popular around here as there is an aggressive dealer pushing them. I have 3 friends that have recently bought them.

RonR · 12-09-2020, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baker

BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha. Truly an amazing boat. But it does not serve as a tender to my big boat. I will end up selling it and trying to solve the 3 things you have listed in your criteria. The lightweight 12 foot Caribe with that lightweight 25hp Yamaha on Hurley Davits is what I am leaning toward. There are other solutions. The Ilmar aluminum (RIB)dinghies are becoming popular around here as there is an aggressive dealer pushing them. I have 3 friends that have recently bought them.

Looks just like the Aluminum Rib Zodiac I picked up.
Light, fair price. If mine last 5 years I will be very happy!

backinblue · 12-09-2020, 05:07 PM

Light is a relative term.

ghost · 12-09-2020, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgano

But if you don't have anything, and you need one, you're wet. So I reiterate, with a grin, that the best one is the one you have. Guess you missed my vague humor.

When you had a dingy did you just tip it on its side or have to hoist it onboard?

**Baker** · 12-09-2020, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonR

Looks just like the Aluminum Rib Zodiac I picked up.
Light, fair price. If mine last 5 years I will be very happy!

I sure hope it lasts longer. I know you’re assigning a value of dollar versus time of possession. But that 14 footer that I was talking about is 15 years old and looks damn near new. One of the reasons is “Hypalon”. DuPont quit making Hypalon ten years ago. Now everyone had their own interpretation of what hypalon is. West Marine’s version is not a very good one. I have a hypalon WM310. It is pretty much toast after 7 years. I guess I can’t complain. I paid $1700 for it on sale. But it has nowhere near the durability of the Caribe. I do believe you get what you pay for in this case.

hmason · 12-09-2020, 06:07 PM

Having had numerous inflatables I migrated to a fiberglass Boston Whaler. I'll try very hard to never go back to anything with inflatable tubes. My slip neighbor just purchased a "Rigidboats" dinghy after giving up on his RIB. He's waiting for delivery in the next week or so. I've seen them at boat shows and I think it will be a great purchase.

**Baker** · 12-09-2020, 06:17 PM

My only knock on the Whaler is the ride and dryness. Otherwise you can’t go wrong.

hmason · 12-09-2020, 06:25 PM

Baker, my Whaler has a different hull shape than the older models. The ride is very dry and fairly soft although not as soft as a deep vee other than occasional spray if you hit a big wake head on.

Spinner · 12-09-2020, 07:05 PM

The pudgie is a decent enough row boat. It tracks well. It’s a multipurpose boat, so I wouldn’t expect it to be the best row boat. It sails well, rows well, moves well with my torqeedo electric motor, and serves as a life boat. Yep, for pure rowing I would get a custom-ish build from Gig Harbor Boats....

smitty477 · 12-09-2020, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baker

BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha. Truly an amazing boat. But it does not serve as a tender to my big boat. I will end up selling it and trying to solve the 3 things you have listed in your criteria. The lightweight 12 foot Caribe with that lightweight 25hp Yamaha on Hurley Davits is what I am leaning toward. There are other solutions. The Ilmar aluminum (RIB)dinghies are becoming popular around here as there is an aggressive dealer pushing them. I have 3 friends that have recently bought them.

"BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha."
Tow it behind your boat - you will have a great time.

OldDan1943 · 12-09-2020, 08:54 PM

I have a little bitty 8ft RIB and a 6hp gas motor. It works for me. I can go ashore and come back. I dont have a dog to transport. My sweet Yen is about 4'9", 88# so she doesn't take up much room. LOL
I have to add air to the RIB once every 2 weeks, it is tired and needs to be replaced soon.

helm · 12-09-2020, 09:39 PM

Look in the boats for sale, there is a 10 dingy, honda outboard and seawise davit system on there for $6500. We have a hydraulic seawise system on our lindell works great.

menzies · 12-09-2020, 10:22 PM

We have decided it is time to donate the 2002 11 Novurania RIB with the 2002 25HP carb'd four stroke Yamaha to the local Boys Home. Just time to retire it.

On its way is a AB Mares 12' RIB with a 30HP EFI.

We have owned an AB 15 DLX with a 60 Yamaha on the transom for nearly ten years and love it. Hence the selection.

Jmarsh203 · 12-10-2020, 01:32 AM

Picked up a hobie power skiff for the tender for my 42 foot boat, it’s a little large but I can’t think of anything that would do the job better. Has 2 3” scuppers in a fiberglass deep V self bailing hull. The 30 on it now is a bit heavy and the boat only does mid 20s with it but the 30 is minimum recommended power for the boat.