Cheap, simple, light weight boat to shore vehicle for cruising. Suggestions?

D

DHV90

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Aug 2013
Messages
325
Visit site
Hello!

So last year when cruising 2 handed over summer we had our 10ft humber inflatable dinghy and a yamaha 4hp 2 stroke. The number of issues relating to this setup outweighed everything else and I desperately want to simplify for this year.

Carrying fuel is a problem as the slightest smell of petrol leaves my girlfriend feeling sick for hours leaving me single handing for a lot of the sailing. The outboard has a separate fuel tank which cant be positioned anywhere to avoid the smell getting out when the boat heels and decanting then refilling every single time we move would be yet another inconvenience ontop of the many we already have with the dinghy!

The outboard is also temperamental and one extra thing to maintain which I could happily do with out. It is also a heavy thing to pass up from a rocking dinghy onto the deck with our fairly significant freeboard. Again, no help from SWMBO here ;) and rigging up and controlling a halyard to hoist would be even more faff, and also difficult to control the lift without the motor clattering the boat.

The dinghy itself takes ages to inflate, weighs a ton and always has to be sat on the foredeck, and Im desperate to have the foredeck clear this year so we can chill and enjoy it rather than treat it as storage.

So basically I want something we can chuck in the water and pull back onboard easily, stow out of the way and row efficiently and easily. I am genuinely considering a pair of these or something similar:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pyranha-M...325491?hash=item43e8d8b6b3:g:66UAAOSwJkJWl4Un

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/retro-dag...073073?hash=item21090266b1:g:~jcAAOSwpRRWmQ7u


We have plenty of space we could strap these and they might just fit through the hatch and go in the aft storage area. The reason we don't do this with the existing dinghy is that it is too heavy and filfthy, difficult to clean and difficult to manhandle effectively. It also doesnt like towing and detached its painter last summer while under tow!

They also seem like a bit of fun for exploring the shore line. We rarely have to carry loads of stuff ashore so carrying isnt an issue. Does anyone have any advice on this or experience they could share? or an alternative safe simple reliable and easy method.

Im just sick of inflating, deflating, launching, retrieving, fixing, rescuing, storing and carrying the inflatable we have got. I know that good inflatables exist but they seem expensive and still not great to row. At least with these I can leave swmbo to fend for herself ;)
 
I use an Avon Redcrest, and row with longer oars than those supplied. I am (just) able to carry the dinghy fully inflated on its edge on the side deck, so it's ready for instant use whenever required. Works for us.
 
I think the main problem you'd have with kayaks is getting into/out of them from your boat! they are very unstable when leaving/entering them if you don't have one foot on terra firma.
Have you thought about an electric pump for your inflatable, and/or a new small inflatable tender?
We've just bought the Sevylor 12v two-stage air pump for ours, very impressive!
Depending on your range, a 12V trolling motor (cheap as chips on ebay) and a battery would solve the hassle problems with a petrol outboard, but the larger units are heavy as is a large leisure battery.
One of our club members is currently experimenting with a 32lb thrust outboard and a motorcycle battery, very light, very portable, very reliable but the range is unknown as yet... (I suspect it will be short!)
I use a 62lb thrust electric outboard on my solid tender, and an 80AH leisure battery. I think the combined weight is probably a little higher than the 2.5hp outboard, but it certainly has plenty of power when punching the tide as well as being hassle-free.
 
The kayaks look fun but as stated very difficult entry and unstable in even small waves>
the electric motors sound like a good idea especially as GF finds the smell of petrol such a problem. possibly 2 small (40AH) would be useful, you could just use one for short trips and on longer trips they would be easier to load?
 
Are you both experienced paddlers? I'm an ex BCU instructor (flat water) and I've scared myself in waves and wash from boats. You'll need to self rescue/X rescue when you are both together. Boarding from a boat's ladder should be OK as you can lower yourself into it, ditto getting out. That boat is a slalom type, sea canoes are more directionally stable
Finally, no way a kayak will fit a forehatch. (sorry.... :o)
 
I suggest a small inflatable with round tail. Get wooden oars for it.

We use a 2.3m with inflatable deck. It is normally carried on edge, inflated on the boarding platform on the transom. Not appropriate for all boats but our Westerly Falcon (33' with a broad transom) is well suited. Out of the way but ready for almost instant use. The round tail and inflatable deck keep the weight down. With decent oars and a bit of practice, it goes easily. I'm neither young nor athletic but we get ashore quickly enough.

I once entertained several experienced kayakers on board. They had considerable difficulty getting back into their kayaks from the boat.

Derek
 
unfortunately budget wont stretch that far!! Ideally would like to spend no more than £200, other wise will have to make do with what I have. So kayaks are out, and there are big money lightweight inflatables. Whats a good middle ground?

Ive seen a tinker tramp just a little over my budget, possible contender?
 
The issue we have is the transom has no boarding platform and is taken up with backstay purchase so little space to store a dinghy there!

Also our hatch to the rear storage is huge so a lot could potentially fit down there, any folding boats around in that sort of budget that are worth looking at?
 
If you could make do with kayaks, why not sell your inflatable and outboard and buy a smaller, lighter inflatable big enough for the two of you.
 
searj said:
Hello!

So last year when cruising 2 handed over summer we had our 10ft humber inflatable dinghy and a yamaha 4hp 2 stroke. The number of issues relating to this setup outweighed everything else and I desperately want to simplify for this year.

Carrying fuel is a problem as the slightest smell of petrol leaves my girlfriend feeling sick for hours leaving me single handing for a lot of the sailing. The outboard has a separate fuel tank which cant be positioned anywhere to avoid the smell getting out when the boat heels and decanting then refilling every single time we move would be yet another inconvenience ontop of the many we already have with the dinghy!

The outboard is also temperamental and one extra thing to maintain which I could happily do with out. It is also a heavy thing to pass up from a rocking dinghy onto the deck with our fairly significant freeboard. Again, no help from SWMBO here ;) and rigging up and controlling a halyard to hoist would be even more faff, and also difficult to control the lift without the motor clattering the boat.

The dinghy itself takes ages to inflate, weighs a ton and always has to be sat on the foredeck, and Im desperate to have the foredeck clear this year so we can chill and enjoy it rather than treat it as storage.

So basically I want something we can chuck in the water and pull back onboard easily, stow out of the way and row efficiently and easily. I am genuinely considering a pair of these or something similar:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pyranha-M...325491?hash=item43e8d8b6b3:g:66UAAOSwJkJWl4Un

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/retro-dag...073073?hash=item21090266b1:g:~jcAAOSwpRRWmQ7u


We have plenty of space we could strap these and they might just fit through the hatch and go in the aft storage area. The reason we don't do this with the existing dinghy is that it is too heavy and filfthy, difficult to clean and difficult to manhandle effectively. It also doesnt like towing and detached its painter last summer while under tow!

They also seem like a bit of fun for exploring the shore line. We rarely have to carry loads of stuff ashore so carrying isnt an issue. Does anyone have any advice on this or experience they could share? or an alternative safe simple reliable and easy method.

Im just sick of inflating, deflating, launching, retrieving, fixing, rescuing, storing and carrying the inflatable we have got. I know that good inflatables exist but they seem expensive and still not great to row. At least with these I can leave swmbo to fend for herself ;)
Click to expand...

With your £200 budget you are going to have to compromise but you could afford this. I suggest you sell your outboard and fuel tank. Keep your existing inflatable. Store it rolled up on the foredeck to give you more space there. Buy a high spec electric pump (I use a http://www.yachtmailchandlery.com/r...fyCOkqepL69TTfnyYBT5TdhDzzh2GH0Pn0aAl448P8HAQ
Formally Called LVM) with a waterproof 12v socket installed on the foredeck, launch and recover to foredeck with halyard and winch, buy some longer oars and some wheels for the inflatable transom to help with the weight when going ashore. You then just need to accept the limited rowability of an inflatable. You will retain the excellent stability/safety of your large inflatable.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I would look for a smaller inflatable, like my AX3, and try to plan to be in rowing distance of shore.
Any time you want it off the foredeck, just tow it.
There are quite a lot of places you can get close enough to row.
Other places, the water taxi does the job, if you are spending a lot on the water taxi, you are lucky, because you are using your boat a lot.
Longer oars is a good call.
 
Hi

Best investment I ever made was a LVM 12V pump for the inflatable, (does the job on our 2.40 inflatable and floor in less than 5 mins)

For the engine the sugested types are great and use a 45Ahr car battery to give you circa 30 mins range (make a box with lifting handles).


Good luck

Should all be within a £200 budget.
 
I think OP will have to try various options to find a solution to his dilema. Unfortunately variable distances to travel with variable water conditions will make it difficult to come up with a fits all solution. My suggestion is that if you can not use petrol that rowing will be your best bet. This will dictate a hard or folding dinghy that rows easily. But then OP will have to resolve the stowage problems. I have used a Sabot hull in plywood successfully being fairly light to pull on board. There are various dinghy designs around that could be used for a build it yourself. Here in Oz aluminium dinghies are popular the smallest being designed for rowing. (as opposed to larger ones designed to plane with a motor.) Small sailing dinghies have the best underwater shape for easy rowing but with good stability. Try googling "folding dinghies" good luck olewill
 
We had four seasons cruising on a 27ft boat and carried two dogs everywhere, who needed put ashore at least twice daily. Limited stowage space, no desire to slow our sailing by towing the dink everywhere, but dozens of inflations/deflations in every cruise.

We evolved a solution after much trial and error and it has proven simple, fast, and fairly effort free.
Avon Redcrest and good (6ft) oars. Electric pump! as others have noted. Use a spare uphaul or halyard to hoist the deflated dinghy by one of the side ropes, until it is dangling just clear of the side deck, beside the mast. Inflate. The guardwires will stop it from spinning around in the wind. Push it forward until it clears the shrouds, it will then clear the guardwires and you can let it drop back against the hull. Lower into water. Jump in, and clip the halyard end to the rail for later.
Recovery is basically the reverse.
This worked well despite our lack of a flat area in which to actually lay the dinghy out. The hardest bit was rolling it up, because of this limitation.

On our new boat it's all much easier because of the space.

On pumps- LVM is good but is very noisy and needs a dedicated high current socket to plug into. My favourite is a £12 Coleman one which can be plugged in and then left switched on whilst you get on with something else for a minute. The cheaper pumps do need a little manual top-up as they aren't as high pressure as the LVM.
 
For 2 people a Redcrest or Redstart would be perfect and could be bought well within budget. Sell both the old inflatable and the outboard and just row. Don't wast your money on those cheap electric motors. Redcrest type dinghies have been the tender of choice for nearly 50 years and apart from solid transom for those who want to use an outboard have never been really bettered.
 
Tranona said:
For 2 people a Redcrest or Redstart would be perfect and could be bought well within budget. Sell both the old inflatable and the outboard and just row. Don't wast your money on those cheap electric motors. Redcrest type dinghies have been the tender of choice for nearly 50 years and apart from solid transom for those who want to use an outboard have never been really bettered.
Click to expand...

Or alternatively, Achilles LT2 or LT4. They are also tough hypalon, roundtail inflatables that row reasonably well with the right (long) oars. They will typically have long lives and might be found second hand.
I have had an LT2 for over 30 years, it is even smaller and lighter than the Redstart, but works for two people who are not too heavy.
Inflating it means circa 230 strokes by foot pump – about as many seconds. It's not hard work. Because of the low weight it is easily handled on board. To launch, I place it over the guard wires and let it slide down. To retrieve, just do the opposite. I store it on the coach roof with the foldable floorboards in place, which means that the whole operation of inflating and launching takes little more than 5 minutes. Because of this, it is not overwhelming to make this a more or less daily routine while cruising – I don't like to tow, unless in sheltered waters.
In fact I like this dinghy so much that I bought a new one a couple of years ago. It will see me out.
The old one (1983) is a bit worn, but still functional. It's not for sale.

LT2.jpg
 
Last edited:
You dont say where your cruising ground is.
If you are in the med then I would say the absence of an out board is not a problem. If you are in for example in my cruising ground of N Wales, I would only consider not fitting the outboard if going out on slack water - when the tides running at 5 knots its virtually impossible to row against it and would be so 2 up - I know it nearly killed me, three times, once from being washed out to sea and once from the near heart attack at the effort involved, and once from overheating because the tide was that strong i dare not pause to take all of my heavy weather gear off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top