How's your dinghy fit?

[PK]

I'm looking for some opinions about how well the SB-310 dinghy from WM would fit on the bow.  Ideally I'd opt for the SB-275 but we found a good deal on the 310.  I'm a little concerened about the length.  The specs say it's 10'-2", but that includes the tubes past the transom.  I figure we would snug it up to the mast upside down on the bow.  Does this leave you enough room to play with the anchor with the anchor locker open?  Would love to hear from anyone who has a 10'-2" dinghy.  How's it work for you?  Pics would be great if you have them!

[Stu Jackson]

The specs say it's 10'-2", but that includes the tubes past the transom.  I figure we would snug it up to the mast upside down on the bow.  Does this leave you enough room to play with the anchor with the anchor locker open?  Would love to hear from anyone who has a 10'-2" dinghy.  How's it work for you?  Pics would be great if you have them!

We have a Cadet Fastroller 310.  Yes, it works that way on the foredeck.  I anchor a lot and there is room to move around, you just have to pick the side you wanna go on first!    Sorry, no pictures, but it DOES work.  

For pictures, try this:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3631.0.html

If you get an air floor:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,545.0.html

When it comes to dinghies, usually bigger is better, but it depends on where you are planning to use it.  If it's only Angel Island to shore, get a small one.  If you wanna go to the Delta, get a bigger one, 'cuz the little one won't work in the Delta, but the bigger one will work at Angel Island.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : On dink sizing -- the longer the dink the more HP is needed to move it through the water, the heavier it is to lift and the more room it takes up on the fordeck.

I like a 8.5' rib which will carry 4 people and still get up on plane with 2 people.    A few thoughts

[Barry White]

We have a 10'-9" (overall length) Inflatable with high pressure air floor which we carry inverted on the foredeck, transom tight to mast. In this position there is room to walk around port or starboard, and to easily access the anchor locker. I have a three point harness that I made from 1" webbing, that allows me to singlehandedly launch and retrieve over the side. We use a 2.5 hp outboard (weighs 27 lbs), which is easy to handle, and is adequate for tender service. Inflatable weighs just under 100 lbs. The low power for low weight is a tradeoff that works fine for us.

Cheers,
Barry   

[PK]

Thanks for the replies.  Being on a budget, like everyone, we're looking used for our dinghy, so this limits the choices some and makes compromise a must.  People seem to hold on to their RIBs or want a lot of $$ for them.  Our though process went something like this...
1. I WANT a 10' RIB w/ 15 hp.  That cost waaay to much. 
2. A shorter RIB w/ 8-10 HP would be great.  Still too much, really hard to find used.
3. A longer inflatable, preferably hypalon, w/ 10 hp would be good.  We're getting close to the price range.  People seem to hold on to their hypalon rafts for along time, so most of the used ones are 10 years old.
4. A longer used non-hypalon infaltable w/ 8 hp would work.  (This is the price/availability range we find ourselves in)
5. A 9'ish non-hypalon inflatable w/ 4hp, new... that's what we can afford.
It's all about compromise   I'll try to remember to let everyone know where we end up.

[MarkT]

We have an Achillies Hypalon 9'-8" (I think) with air floor and a 5HP outboard.
It is light enough for one person to get it onto the foredeck with the help of a lift from the halyard. With two people it will plane quite easily.

We have been very happy with it though the tradeoff with a air floor is that it is not able to take any abuse. For the weekend sailing with family that we do it is a very good dinghy. If I needed to use the dinghy for hauling stuff back and forth to the boat and for carrying objects that could damage an air floor I'd look at either the RIB or plywood floor.

Mark Tamblyn

[Jim Hardesty]

After much thinking I bought a West Marine 8' roll-up (the cheep one with a slat floor) and a 3 hp motor.  The price was real good, or I wouldn't have bought it.   I either roll it up in the bag that it came in and store it in front of the mast, or tow it.  It only takes me 20 min. to retrieve, roll, bag, and lash it down.  Same with launching.  It works real well for 2 adults.  The thing that it isn't good at is rowing.  It's light and no keel.  So it's not perfect, but it works for me.
Some friends have bought from here.    http://www.boatstogo.com/
I was going to buy one from there but the guy at West Marine gave me a deal.
Jim

[Ron Hill]

Guys : Should have mentioned it earlier, but dink choice and dink outboards fall into the same category as:

Anchors, Engine Oil - synthetic vrs regular, type Battery, Religion and Politics, and ofcourse how you plan on using it, etc, etc, etc .    A few thoughts  

[Stu Jackson]

Maybe "not really..."

See Reply #2 in this discussion:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6336.0.html

It all depends on how you intend to use the dinghy.

Really.

[Les Luzar]

When it comes to dinghies, bigger is always better, that's what the Admiral will say. But if a small one works, it's all good! 

[Brad Young]

We have a WM compact RIB 310,  with a merc 4hp. (someday I may upgrade the carb to 6hp) We sail in the Sea of Cortez and are always anchoring out in remote coves. We use our dinghy as a car to get us to shore and to see other boats.
I had Darbaby on the foredeck but did not like it. It was always in the way, wether it was when we were anchoring (DarBay has a manual windlass) or when I was use the whisker poll. We also carry 5 5gal jugs on the port side.  We put davits on the stern and have loved it. I can also store my extra gas in the dinghy.

[efhughes3]

You migt check out Defender. They have the 2011 Achilles LEX series (Hypalon/CSM) on sale now. I'm going to buy my wife  either the LEX 96 or 88 for her birthday. Probably a Honda 5hp motor to go with it too....I'd hate to see her have to row her new boat. 

[Ralph Masters]

Bigger is always better, our dink.

[efhughes3]

Bigger is always better, our dink.

Haha! 

We do get our share of exotic "rubber boats" around SD.

[Ralph Masters]

That was taken when I was still in the unit back in 97.  I was the OIC of the two boat detachment.

Ralph