Family rowing dinghy

[mickywillis]

Having tried to row one of these (well, a grey one) with 'normal' length oars I can confirm its outboard or nothing. Wicormarine has a fleet of Pioner dinghies of differing designs, these included.

It goes well with my Suzuki 2.2 but certainly isn't a rowing boat. I'd look elsewhere.

Use the oars that came with the Pioner 10, they make a huge difference! Ours rows well as the oars dig in deep and give a good forward motion per stroke. The hull wetted area is fairly minimal (depending on the weight in the dinghy obviously!) so resistance is kept to a minimum. Directional stability is good and the rowing position is great as the thwart is moulded to a good height. The only complaint is that there isn't anything to brace my feet against when rowing but being fairly short a taller person may fair better!

 

[Picniclubber]

Howard Clark, your boat is beautiful! Beyond my “hit it with a hammer” DIY “skills”, as, sadly, are the Fyne boats, which are glorious. One day...

Great tips on length vs speed! Much appreciated. I hadn’t recognised that.

Current boat has 2 rowing positions (have discovered that trying to have husband & I row at same time leads to Harsh Words). I had discounted the usefulness of that, which is a mistake.

Thanks for your advice and tips.

 

[Ruffles]

It's a good time of year to pick up bargain dinghies from yards. Any owners moving on will tend to leave old tenders in the store and they need to be disposed of before the new season.

 

[Gin]

Thanks all! I’ve not seen any reasonable second hand ones come up, wondered if it was just me. The Yak 245 does seem like it would do everything we need for cheaper than the WB10. Hmmm.... dilemma!

I’ve an embarrassingly basic question about a basic boat that I hoped you’d have the patience to answer. I’ve seen lots about tenders but hope this isn’t too much of a repeat.

I currently own a very heavy, leaky 15’ row boat which we use on the gentle river across the road. It now needs a lot of work, and isn’t really what we want anyway. Biggest problems (other than the rotten wood) is the size, weight, and it needs a fair depth to float in.

River has a strong flow, but no waves or wakes. Boat will be generally used by 2 adults and one child. Don’t want to motor, so needs to row well, be lightweight, maintenance free (or close), and reasonably stable (don’t want to frighten child, so should feel safe as well as actually being safe).

Boat will be left tied to a tree for the summer, hauled up the top of the bank the rest of the time, (so needs to be reasonably light, to relaunch by myself), no realistic risk of theft.

From what I’ve read, the WB8 is rated for two relatively light adults (150kg, per the spec sheets) and becomes wobbly and unpredictable if overloaded. So that’s out. The WB 10..? We’d be well within weight limits, so would’ve thought the inflatable collars are unnecessary, and it does look like it would row well. I like the idea of adding the sail kit “one day” but thats no more a factor than “glossy marketing”!

Bic 245 seems like it would fit the bill, but I’d need some convincing to get past the miserable ugliness. Same for the “funyak” boats and the “plastimo” boats ( which apparently don’t row well..?).

Manufacturers like Highland boats, Heyland Marine, etc all seem way more expensive. However I’m keen to buy the right thing once.

Would anyone like to help me decide?

 

[Keith 66]

The 11ft Heyland Trout is another good one, many were sold to boating lakes & come up on ebay & gumtree occasionaly, being all grp they are durable & can take a bashing. Unlike many others these actually row well, I bought one for £30 fifteen years ago & my son & i stuck a lugail on her & daggerboard case, she rows & sails very well.

 

[gordmac]

Plastimo Dinghy PRS 245 | eBay

I have a slightly bigger Plastimo, certainly stable but very little freeboard, less space than you might imagine and not great to row.