Avon redcrest suitable for strong tidal river?

[tom_sail]

As you can probably see from my fully battened thread pay day has arrived

We are thinking about moving our hunter horizon 26 to Conwy this season (currently moored in caernarfon on the trots). we currently own an Avon redcrest to get to our boat, the row it self is about 15-20 metres and zilch tide.

If we plan to move to Conwy we'll need an outboard. I have seen a Honda 5hp outboard on eBay locally. Will this be suitable for a red crest? And how do these inflatables handle with around 5 knots of tide.

Thanks

 

[Tranona]

5hp far too big for a Redcrest. 2 to 3.5 is more than enough. Not the best boat for either rowing or motoring against that sort of tide. If you do that regulsrly then suggest you get a hard stem dinghy around 9ft and a 3.5hp engine. However, not good if you want to take it with you. Alternative is one of the new breed 2.6m inflatables with a hard transom and inflatable keel again with a 3.5hp.

 

[VicS]

Max recommended power for a Redcrest is ( was ) 4 hp. No performance figures in the brochure though

Id think you'd need something that will plane if you have to contend with 5 knot tides

 

[Sadlermike]

I rowed a Redcrest for 10 years in strong tides and winds. Old age and illness required me to fit an outboard (I chose a 2.5hp Yamaha). This unbalanced the dinghy as there was too much weight on the transom. Fitting and removing the engine was frightening in a seaway and the dinghy flipped three times when unoccupied and tied to the yacht or pontoon. I purchased a fin tail dinghy which has overcome these problems.

 

[VicS]

Fitting and removing the engine was frightening in a seaway

Fitted and removed a small Yamaha many times to a Redstart while afloat . Even more frightening!
Essential to have someone holding the bow down or to stick something heavy in there first.

 

[tom_sail]

Thanks for the replies. I thought that would be the case. I have seen a few redcrests being used on the river although only used for the moorings close to shore.

I think I'll struggle to store anything with a hard transom there is a club launch so might just live with that

 

[r_h]

there is a club launch so might just live with that

I use a combination of the local water taxi and a Redcrest - the taxi's great when there's a strong foul tide, but unnecessary with a strong favourable stream, unless there's a risk of it sweeping you past the boat and into open water

 

[Boo2]

I know they're not made any more but has anyone here used a Tinker Tramp with an outboard ? What's that like ?

Boo2

 

[VO5]

I have 4HP Mariner on my Redcrest which is the maximum HP Avon recommends for the Redcrest. It performs better when I have another one or two on board. The 4HP is a bit on the heavy side and makes the bow lift a bit. I think it makes it prone to skidding under certain conditions. It is just a question of finding the optimum place to sit in. But overall its ok. I have devised a webbed harness to go under the engine / tank assembly. To this harness is attached a hauling knotted line which makes it easy to lift aboard while the dinghy is in the water. I have made a sprayhood for the bow because under headwinds with wavelets crew sitting forward would get wet bottoms. I also have a fibreglass thwart aft which makes for some comfort.
The Mariner has a 3 bladed prop. I had this prop repaired as it had some dents when I bought it, nothing serious just not perfect. It is perfect now and I am very happy with the rubber boat, engine and propellor overall..

 

[colhel]

I think I'll struggle to store anything with a hard transom there is a club launch so might just live with that

I've also got a small Plastimo (hard transom) with wooden slatted floor boards, by removing these I can store it in our small aft locker.

 

[Puggy]

Thanks for the replies. I thought that would be the case. I have seen a few redcrests being used on the river although only used for the moorings close to shore.

I think I'll struggle to store anything with a hard transom there is a club launch so might just live with that

I had my boat out on the river at Farnham and I have a 2.6m Avon RIB with a Honda 2.3hp O/B. very capable against the tide with the family on board, but it is the hard hull that really helps the efficiency of the dinghy.

Could you maybe buy a cheap hard dinghy and outboard that you coudl just leave tied to your mooring when you go, and keep your Avon in the cockpit locker for when you are away from home?

 

[tom_sail]

I had my boat out on the river at Farnham and I have a 2.6m Avon RIB with a Honda 2.3hp O/B. very capable against the tide with the family on board, but it is the hard hull that really helps the efficiency of the dinghy.

Could you maybe buy a cheap hard dinghy and outboard that you coudl just leave tied to your mooring when you go, and keep your Avon in the cockpit locker for when you are away from home?

This is what I'm thinking of doing now tbh. I made a ply stitch and glue pram dinghy so may use this but would need the transom reinforcing to take an outboard.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Personally I would not use a flat bottom inflatable in fast tidal waters. You need a V keel bottom inflatable, to ride through the current and above the waves, ideally use a small engine (3.5 hp) .

A flat bottom inflatable dinghy with a 5hp engine will not be able to ride waves, bailing out will be necessary.

Nowadays the V keel inflatable do not cost much at all. If you have a 5 knot current and the wind against it, i suggest that you go for the big tubes too.

 

[Puggy]

I had my boat out on the river at Farnham and I have a 2.6m Avon RIB with a Honda 2.3hp O/B. very capable against the tide with the family on board, but it is the hard hull that really helps the efficiency of the dinghy.

Could you maybe buy a cheap hard dinghy and outboard that you coudl just leave tied to your mooring when you go, and keep your Avon in the cockpit locker for when you are away from home?

Farnham????? That famous yachting centre, Bl@@dy iPad predictive text drives me mad! Meant Fareham

 

[Halo]

I kept my boat on a mooring on the Deganwy side of Conwy for a few seasons- beautfiul place and definately recommended due to better parking and less grokels. My Redcrest was fine for getting from the pontoon. Much better arrangement was when i left a hard tender on the beach tender area and just brought paddles and the little Mariner o/b with me. The tender was one of those plastic box types - very stable and cheap enough not to be a target. I still have the tender and am unlikely to use it again as SWMBO has taken up sailing and likes marinas. PM me if interested in the tender. Good luck.
Martin

 

[salinia]

We kept our boat on a mooring in Conwy Harbour for nigh on 20 years we used a small inflatable and 2.5 hp engine without any problems. We use to launch from the Deganwy slip and park on the road at the top Marine Crecent? In the latter years we had our vehicle vandalised and we did not feel safe parking there. We now have a new crew member (Skipper the working Cocker Spaniel) who demands shore leave at the most inconvenient times so we can now be found in the marina April-September...a change we have adapted to very well

 

[PeterR]

I have a Redcrest that I used to use to get out to my Sonata. I used the Sonata 2 stroke 4Hp Marina on the Redcrest and it was fine provided that when single handed you sat on the centre thwart and steered with an oar. With a board in the bottom I could even get it to plane one up. However, getting the engine onto and off the bigger boat was the problem. With the Sonata you could tie the back of the dingy to the Sonata outboard bracket to stop it tipping when you went to lift the engine. Now I have changed boats that is not possible and I would not dare to transfer my Mariner 4Hp 4 stroke on the water. If I use the dinghy these days I have to row.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I have a larger Redseal dinghy (2.9Mtrs). They are the strongest and long lasting dinghy known no man. BUT, I had a 4 hp outboard, and it was just so dangerous to put on in the water that I got a 2.5 Suzuki 4 stroke. I have mastered getting this on, but it is still a dangerous procedure in any chop or wind. Equally single handed in windy conditions is down right dangerous as the front will flip up if you are seated in the normal steering position. I have an extension so I can sit forward. It is also the wettest dinghy I have ever used!

Good Points: I can lift it on deck by myself (2.9mtrs) it can carry 5 people, it folds up into a very small bundle.

I would get a solid dinghy - a 2.5hp outboard, and keep the Redcrest on board for cruising - for which it is great.

 

[GrahamM376]

If we plan to move to Conwy we'll need an outboard. I have seen a Honda 5hp outboard on eBay locally. Will this be suitable for a red crest? And how do these inflatables handle with around 5 knots of tide.

We originally had a redcrest in Conwy and it proved dangerous out in the main stream. Too little power and it wouldn't stem the tide, too much and the engine twisted under the tube. You would be much safer with a solid transom or even safer in a hard dinghy due to the number of trees and branches on a spring ebb.

 

[aquaplane]

I know they're not made any more but has anyone here used a Tinker Tramp with an outboard ? What's that like ?

Boo2

I've used one with a 2Hp Yam. It worked well. I can't remember it planing with me in but it was quick enough. The rigid floor helped with rowing too.