Dinghy - What type?

Tony B · 08-07-2011, 08:33 PM

For general cruising on the ICW, Tenn-Tom, etc. which is the best type dinghy?

I am selling my sailboat and the inflatable dink goes with it - whenever that happens.

I am currently in the process of buying a trawler and it don't come with a dink. I am tired of repairing inflatables but I really like them for the stability. I was thinking about RIB's but not sure how well they will hold up banging against a pier or piling. Solid dinks are kinga heavy and unstable when getting in and out.

What do you use and in what conditions such as river, lake, bay?

*

Thanks in advance.

*

Moonstruck · 08-07-2011, 08:38 PM

Oh, TonyB, you have opened a whole can of worms.* It seems there are many different opinions as there should be.* For our cruising, a RIB with large diameter tubes fits the style.* There is plenty of info already posted if you care to do a search.** My opinion is that your choice of dinghy is almost as important as your choice of boats.

-- Edited by Moonstruck on Monday 8th of August 2011 08:34:17 AM

-- Edited by Moonstruck on Monday 8th of August 2011 08:35:00 AM

FF · 08-08-2011, 03:48 AM

Aluminum . that rows well , an electric trolling motor for the bride .

Tom.B · 08-08-2011, 04:02 AM

http://www.livingstonboats.com/ (new window)

This is going to be our next one. Made in NC. ;-)

DCBD · 08-08-2011, 04:28 AM

Quote:

GonzoF1 wrote:
http://www.livingstonboats.com/ (new window)

This is going to be our next one. Made in NC. ;-)

I agree, we've had several dinghys over the years, the Livingston was the best fit for us.

jleonard · 08-08-2011, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Moonstruck wrote:
Oh, TonyB, you have opened a whole can of worms.* It seems there are many different opinions as there should be.* For our cruising, a RIB with large diameter tubes fits the style.* There is plenty of inro already posted if you care to do a search.** My opinion is that your choice of dinghy is almost as important as your choile of boats.

*Since the can is open, here's another who favors the RIB inflatable with an engine that will plane easily.

dwhatty · 08-08-2011, 04:41 AM

Quote:

jleonard wrote:Moonstruck wrote:
Oh, TonyB, you have opened a whole can of worms.* It seems there are many different opinions as there should be.* For our cruising, a RIB with large diameter tubes fits the style.* There is plenty of inro already posted if you care to do a search.** My opinion is that your choice of dinghy is almost as important as your choile of boats.

*Since the can is open, here's another who favors the RIB inflatable with an engine that will plane easily.

*And here's another.

**Larry M** · 08-08-2011, 04:42 AM

Quote:

*...an electric trolling motor for the bride ...

We have seen more and more electric trolling motors and I have yet to talk to some one who truly likes it.* Unless you live on the dock, charging is problematic, over 12 hours on the Torqeedo.* If you spend anytime at anchor you need two batteries.* I'd rather have a small outboard for the money.

-- Edited by Larry M on Monday 8th of August 2011 05:42:45 AM

Tony B · 08-08-2011, 05:00 AM

Electric is out of the question for me. I definitely want an outboard.
I never owned a RIB inflatible and was wondering if the inflatible portion was MUCH tougher than the average inflatible.
In the late 1960's, I owned a 10' inflatible with a 25HP motor. That boat was indestructible. It was a neoprene rubber. They just don't make them that tough anymore. If they do, I'm unaware of them.

My last option is to build a 12' flat bottom dory from hardwood and plywood and glass it.

Steve · 08-08-2011, 05:13 AM

I have a Livingston and like it well I had some complaints about the hull drains but I understand the factory has improved it that.
It performs well with my 2 stroke 6 HP Merc.
Steve W.

sunchaser · 08-08-2011, 05:48 AM

It depends on how you intend to carry,*use and care for your dink. For us, a carried* on-the-boat-deck*rigid V *bottom inflatable (Avon) has done fine. It carries lots of people safely and does not require any paint or varnish. Cover it over *the winter and wash with soap, bleach*and water in the spring. With two of us it will do 30 mph with a 9.9 HP 4 stroke.

Intentionally, I do not bang it into pilings nor drive it onto barnacle encrusted rocks. For that kind of use,* I'd buy an unpainted Al fish boat with Al dinghy. They are all over the PNW.

Capn Chuck · 08-08-2011, 06:50 AM

We were in your same situation and here is our solution.

http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot....ig-change.html

Chuck

Tony B · 08-08-2011, 06:51 AM

Quote:

sunchaser wrote:

Intentionally, I do not bang it into pilings nor drive it onto barnacle encrusted rocks. For that kind of use,* I'd buy an unpainted Al fish boat with Al dinghy. They are all over the PNW.

*I think it would besafe to say that not many people do it intentionally. When I sail, we dinghy a lot and dont always have a choice in picking out the dock or landing that is ideal. I think we just hang with diffferent crowds.

Nomad Willy · 08-08-2011, 07:23 AM

Tony B,

Dorys are great but not good for dinghys. They have a very short WLL and need to be loaded for good stability. I don't like inflatables. I get my dinghys from <a>The Dinghy Co</a> in Mt Vernon Wa but that's not in your area. The only dinghy that I know of that is excellent is the Trinka 10. Maybe you can search that. Don is right. The dinghy is an important choice.

sunchaser · 08-08-2011, 07:33 AM

"When I sail ---" The same intentional use and care applies. I note is our marina there are both beat up and pristine dinghies on the*top deck*or back of sailboats as well as trawlers.

But, the "what kind of dinghy" question asked is specific to trawlers, no? Yes, that can be a different mind-set and crowd with lots more dinghy choices. I saw a 48 trawler the other day with a hard bottom*25 hp Whaler dingy on*the top and a 10 or so HP RIB on the swim platform.*

healhustler · 08-08-2011, 07:38 AM

I have to come down on the side of the Livingston as well. I have two dingys now, an inflatable bottom Achiles and a Caribe 9. The Mercury 9.9 moves either of these boats well. My first ride on a Livingston was from a guest here at the dock. The stability, bullet-proof construction and ease of maintenance were a plus, and even thought it might be more difficult bringing it aboard with a boom set-up, it tows well and is more versatile for our type of usage, including touring the shallows. The 2nd place finisher for us is the Portland Pudgy, which comes with it's own sail rig stored aboard, and doubles as a life raft. It's a bit more tippy getting out, but easy to bring aboard and store.

Woodsong · 08-08-2011, 07:38 AM

O the hours I have spent researching dinghys!!
We have a 9' RIB right now. It's ok but it has a couple of small pinhole leaks that for the life of me seem to be beyond my ability to stop leaking.

This is irritating as we keep it on weaver snap davits on the swim platform and now that I have a rotating engine mount, keeping it inflated is even more important.

Long story short....we want a hard dinghy. I may just bite the bullet and buy a brand new livingston. We toyed with getting an aluminum jon boat but then I have to figure out how to keep it from scratching the hull, etc. I just need to pony up and buy a new livingston and be done with it.

sunchaser · 08-08-2011, 08:19 AM

Woodsong

I've seen some lovely Al dinghies* with a rubber rubrail around the top to protect the FRP mother ship.* In the PNW there is a strong cottage industry building*welded Al small versatile craft of all manner, I'm not sure if that exists in the SE.

Will a 9' Livingston carry the same weight as a*V hard bottom RIB - say 4 full size adults plus a cooler or two?

2bucks · 08-08-2011, 09:24 AM

My 8 foot Livingston that I bought for my daughter in 1979 still is in good shape and works well on my buddy's boat. My 10' Livingston that was bought in 1980 for my current boat is starting to develop a crack along the forward edge where the Weaver Snap Davit is attached. I suppose I'll have to put some reinforcement along there.

Longevity of Livingston is definitely a strong point, yet almost every dingy dock I go to, I'm the only Livingston and generally it's 15 or more to one, inflatables of all kinds vs. hard dingy.

Having said that, I think I want a fiberglass bottomed inflatable for the stability and carrying capacity. There would have to be alcohol or an emergency involved before I put 4 grown men and a cooler in my Livingston. IIRC the 11' AB Navigo is rated for 5 people (4 real people) and 25 HP.

markpierce · 08-08-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

nomadwilly wrote:
... The only dinghy that I know of that is excellent is the Trinka 10. ...

I've been eyeing the Trinka 10 and 8 for several months.* ...* I want a dinghy that rows well as I want*to avoid the expense/weight/hazard/hassle of a gasoline outboard.

...*Passed by*a guy rowing a boat in the Carquinez Strait in a head-on meeting several weeks ago.* First I didn't think he noticed me, but then noted a front-view mirror mounted on the rowboat.