Dinghy tenders

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Sybarite

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One of my pleasures when I reach an anchorage is to potter around in a dinghy. However I would like to have a rigid dinghy with the following characteristics and I wonder if it exists?

Capable of carrying 4 people.
Sails
Centreboard pivoting (I've already broken a CB case when hit by a moving rock)
Capable of being carried on davits behind 35' boat.
Unsinkable
If possible traditional look.
Good rowing charcteristics.
Not too heavy for manhandling on a beach.

On paper the closest I have seen is a Foxer dinghy but I have not seen it in real life.

Any other suggestions please?
 
I have just bought a Walker bay 8
Removeable inflatable tubes (although load and power limits much lower without)
Performance Sail Kit (main only), not really for upwind though
Rudder/Tiller for sailing
Decent Oars and Rowlocks
Injection moulded plastic with good seating
Comes with fitted buoyancy bags
Jockey wheel in rear of hull
Davit ring kit available (fitted to mine)
Solid transom for up to 4hp
Decent size towing eye
70lbs.
Sadly, not pivoting centreboard. (Dont hit stuff!!)

£500 off ebay in good nick (without the inflatable tubes).

They are expensive, but I like the quality.
 
Sybarite said:
(snip)
Capable of carrying 4 people.
Sails
Centreboard pivoting (I've already broken a CB case when hit by a moving rock)Capable of being carried on davits behind 35' boat.
Unsinkable
(snip)
Any other suggestions please?
Click to expand...

Goodness, where are these moving rocks - well, approximately that is, obviously you can't say EXACTLY where they are as the keep wandering around don't they? How far can they travel? And do they jump out at you as you sail nearby?
 
Another essential criterion I should have mentionned :

Stability.

I am not as young or as agile as I used to be and the medics say I have a sleight height problem... I'm about a foot too short.
 
Good one, a Mirror would be hard to beat at any price, and they go cheap. The centreboard seems a bit of a sticking point, may have to forego that bit ?

There was a grp copy called the West Eleven, made in Bowness on Windermere, but they will be rare and may well be heavier.
 
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cadet

I agree with the mirror - I'm still looking for a good fixer upper

maybe you could pick up an old cadet dinghy

or an old cold moulded firefly

I think it has a pivoting board apart from that not far different to the mirror.

What your really talking about for four people is more like an enterprise but thats way too heavy for a 35' yacht
 
There are lots of lovely little rigid sailing tenders out there, but few with centreboards!

Some good info here re hard dinghies for cruising sailors - http://cruisingresources.com/Hard_Dinghies

The 9'6" Snipe from Barrow Boats apparently has a centreboard, and can take 4 adults - http://www.barrowboats.co.uk/barrowboat/snipe96.html

Classic Marine have plans for Puffin - http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/details.asp?Name=Puffin

Here are the Fatty Knees mentioned above - http://www.edeyandduff.com/fatty_spec.html

Nestaway dinghies are nice - http://www.nestawayboats.com/page3.htm

Georgio of this Forum built a PBO Pup - http://georgeisted.blogspot.com/

The Shearwater from Jordan Boats is 12" longer than a Mirror, and probably too big for you, but still a nice dinghy - http://jordanboats.co.uk/JB/IainO_Catalogue/Shearwater.pdf

And finally, this wooden widget doesnt fit any of your remit, but it is a very neat idea - http://www.woodenwidget.com/fitdeck.htm
 
Looked at a Nestaway Pram Dinghy at the London Boat Show, almost got talked into buying one for sticking in the back of the car and going out Loch fishing in - just didn't have the budget or I would have jumped, would have fit perfectly in the back of my HRV and bolted together to make a comfortably sized, watertight fishing tender - beautifully engineered little boats, very innovative!
 
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