Little Dorrit
Well-Known Member
Any views from forumites and which to go for other than the obvious benefits of ease of storage with a RT are there any other benefits over a ST?
Dinghy (again) Roundtail or Solid Transom
- Thread starter Little Dorrit
- Start date
Cspirit
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE are there any other benefits over a ST?[/QUOTE]
No
No
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
Horseshoe EVERY time... No significant storage benefit, as you have to find somewhere to store an Outboard bracket...
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Personal choice depending on how you want to use the dinghy. The functional differences are reasonably clear. Solid transoms are better if you habitually use an outboard, particularly if the boat has some form of keel and inflatable bottom. Some row reasonably, but have less carrying capacity for overall length and are heavier plus more difficult to pack and stow on board. These disadvantages tend to diminish as mother boat size rises and the advantages come into force if you use your dinghy for regular, longer trips ashore.
On the other hand round tails are lighter, pack down easier, are arguably easier to row if you learn the technique, better carrying capacity, but not so good with an outboard. So, if you just want occasional use for shorter distances carrying a slightly bigger payload and don't mind rowing, they deserves consideration - and they are usually cheaper size for size.
FWIIW after 15 years with a solid transom dinghy (mostly in the med) I have just bought a roundtail 3D 2.5m for the reasons stated. Will only get light use, takes up little space in the locker, is half the weight of a solid transom of the same capacity and rows adequately.
So, think through your expected usage and the right choice for you might be easy!
On the other hand round tails are lighter, pack down easier, are arguably easier to row if you learn the technique, better carrying capacity, but not so good with an outboard. So, if you just want occasional use for shorter distances carrying a slightly bigger payload and don't mind rowing, they deserves consideration - and they are usually cheaper size for size.
FWIIW after 15 years with a solid transom dinghy (mostly in the med) I have just bought a roundtail 3D 2.5m for the reasons stated. Will only get light use, takes up little space in the locker, is half the weight of a solid transom of the same capacity and rows adequately.
So, think through your expected usage and the right choice for you might be easy!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I would dearly have like to have had a solid transom for the last fifteen years but none of them with good quality has folded dimensions as small as my Redstart, and my cockpit locker is not large enough to take anything much bigger with all my other junk.
Dealing with a bracket is no problem, but loading an outboard over the stern is potentially disastrous and needs good co-ordination. I prefer to have someone else aboard while doing it, alternatively, I load the bow with something weighty. If your storage allows it, I would go for a transom every time.
Dealing with a bracket is no problem, but loading an outboard over the stern is potentially disastrous and needs good co-ordination. I prefer to have someone else aboard while doing it, alternatively, I load the bow with something weighty. If your storage allows it, I would go for a transom every time.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
The Op has a relatively small boat, so expect stowage will be a problem. The popularity of the redcrest lies with its versatility, and of course long life. I still have my near 40 year old one and would have reverted to that for my new boat if it was not so heavy compared with the 3D.
The hard transom was OK on my 37' as it would just fit upside down on the foredeck and be hoisted aboard with a spare jib halyard. Fine if you are using it regularly (as in the Med) but a pain if you only want it for occasional use.
The hard transom was OK on my 37' as it would just fit upside down on the foredeck and be hoisted aboard with a spare jib halyard. Fine if you are using it regularly (as in the Med) but a pain if you only want it for occasional use.
Cloven
Well-Known Member
A big vote here for a solid transom. The only time I fell in was when we had a smallish roundtail. Returning to the boat in very choppy conditions, I was sitting next to the outboard at the back. When SWMBO stepped off the dinghy onto the boarding ladder, I did not move forward enough and when a wave passed under the bow, the boat flipped over. Fortunately I managed to get hold of both the dinghy painter and the boarding ladder and I was back on board before my auto lifejacket inflated in the cockpit!!
Needless to say, I changed to a larger hard transom dinghy very shortly after.
Needless to say, I changed to a larger hard transom dinghy very shortly after.
PlankWalker
Well-Known Member
The most difficult operation with any inflatable, is not the journey, not the inflation, but the deflation insertion into the bag, and then into the locker.
The round tail wins hands down in the latter operation.
Plank
The round tail wins hands down in the latter operation.
Plank
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
A roundtail has the further advantage that a single passenger can sit comfortably on the centre of the stern (when rowing).
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...
Me too.
pvb
Well-Known Member
I sold my old Avon roundtail when I bought my current boat and wanted to use an outboard. I bought a Zodiac 240 Aero, with a solid transom, and it's brilliant. Rows well, and is great with the Torqeedo. Now, let's talk stowage. An Avon Redcrest stows to 102cm x 46cm x 46cm. My Zodiac 240 Aero stows to 100cm x 50cm x 22cm. So, basically, the same size (or possibly a bit smaller). And I can easily fold up the Zodiac for storage on the drop-down bathing platform on my boat.
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Tranona
Well-Known Member
It is not just the theoretical folded weight that is important, but the ease with which it can be achieved in practice. My experience with solid transom is that it is much more difficult to achieve the theoretical size - not helped by the extra weight, typically 20% more (or nearly double that of a 3D!) and inflexibility of the hard transom. If you do not intend using an outboard a hard transom boat has no real advantage over a roundtail, and many disadvantages.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Fully agree. The old Avons used to have to be shoe-horned into a kitbag-type container. The Zodiac I bought has an open bag which wraps around the folded boat and is secured by straps, much easier to manage.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
If you are tall, like me, rowing is easier if you can put your legs out straight so your knees do not stick up & hit the oars on the out stroke. Hence, for me, my Redcrest has a round tail where my crew- if I have one- can sit. I also like the facility to remove the OB bracket as I usually row rather than bother with the outboard
Little Dorrit
Well-Known Member
I am moving towards a RT version 2.3 M (possibly Excel) and would be interested if this is a common problem with the RT inflatables? Does anyone else have experience that the RT is considerably more unstable than the ST versions? Are there any forumites who can vouch for the quality (or otherwise) of the Excel?
Cloven
Well-Known Member
What I was trying to imply is that weight distribution is far more critical on a small roundtail that a transom dinghy. With the RT, particularly if I had the OB on the back, I had to sit at least midships. With a passenger I could sit further back but had to move forward if they got out. With the transom dinghy I have now, I can sit well back even with the OB as there is still a lot of inherant buoyancy in the tubes aft of the transom.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
We know 2 or 3 people who've been dunked when trying to mount outboards on round tails. Light weight PVC (as opposed to old Avons) flip very easily if weight distribution wrong.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
It is all a matter of understanding the characteristics of your boat. Hard transom has buoyancy aft of the outboard mounting - one of the reasons why they are better for outboard power. It also means that the crew is always further forward than is possible in a round tail. The original roundtail design was never intended for an outboard, but for rowing, so most have less buoyant forward section and if you sit at the back with an outboard, the front end will lift. So an extension tiller is useful or weight forward to keep the balance. The main influence on how stable they are is the diameter of the tubes. Large diameter tubes are obviously more buoyant and keep your rear end further off the water. Like any small boat. though standing on one edge is not a good idea and stepping into the boat is better.
The Excel has been around for some time. Most of the budget brands are made in the same factory in China and they tend to differ mainly in the design and quality of the fittings, rather than the basic structure.
Spyro
Well-Known Member
My seago 260 with a 3.5hp 2 stroke and my 14 stone will plane. My old Avon wouldn't.
Channel Sailor
Well-Known Member
I have an Avon round tail, one of the later ones built. I am happy with it and it will probably last for ever. But wth an outboard on the back it is not as stable as hard transom model. When mounting/demounting the outboard I put some weight in the bow such as a water container or am very very careful. Also you cannot tow it with the engine on because it will flip. When at anchor with its painter tethered to the stern (outboard mounted) it can be flipped by just the wind combined with passing boat wash. I use an old light 2st outboard so with anything heavier it could be more of a problem. Occasional use with an outboard for one person and a few stores, or two persons, the redstart round tail is ok. Rowing with two it is ok. The round tail is good for tying across the stern or strapping down on the deck because it is soft all around. I heave mine up and tie it across the stern inflated, it is my liferaft as well. I would say that a small round tail is ok for a small yacht, but if you have crew and space to store it then a hard transom type would probably be better.
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