How many sail without a tender ?

The awkwardness of the Avon on foredeck even got me looking at the cheapo supermarket dinghys as a stopgap.

When I had my boat at Hill Head SC - guy there had one and he ignored the giggles and comments from others and used to paddle out to his boat ... unmoor and go sailing. Back on mooring - paddle his cheapo 'toy' dinghy back and smile as he packed it up into back of car ...

I accept that such dinghy is only really useful in closed safe waters and not for crossing large harbour etc.
 
Our dinghy is always deflated and stored up at the bow (unless in use!) but it does help that (a) we have teenage grunt, and (b) there's a life raft if we ever need to get off quickly. We've just been away for two weeks and anchored every night bar one, so there's a lot of inflating/deflating going on. Seago 270 air deck. 400 pumps each time...
 
We pull ours tight up to the transom with the bow 2 feet out of the water up against a fender .

Sailed through some horrible overfalls etc and its never been a problem like that.
 
Always have a solid dinghy on board, but lucky enough to be able to stow it inverted on the foredeck between the mast and fore hatch. Sometimes tow a RIB if the kids want to go to the beach, or adults to a pub!
 
pyrojames said:
Always have a solid dinghy on board, but lucky enough to be able to stow it inverted on the foredeck between the mast and fore hatch. Sometimes tow a RIB if the kids want to go to the beach, or adults to a pub!
Click to expand...


You are very lucky to have that sort of space. As I mentioned in the opening post - this thread is more intended for the smaller yacht where tender becomes a serious matter to sort.
 
Wouldn't go to sea without one! though only use it perhaps once or twice a season, It used to be dificult stowing it on small boats but now its easy and stows rolled up in a cockpit locker.
 
Tinker Tramp lives on the starboard quarter berth on our Centaur. (The cushion, reversed, on the port quarter berth makes that more comfortable.)

It is not easy getting the Tramp out and inflated on the foredeck but it rows like a dream and is fun to sail in Newtown Creek. After use I hang it up inflated with a spare halyard till it dries off. If I can't dry it before departure it will fit deflated on the side deck.

If I want it as a liferaft it is stowed deflated on the foredeck with the CO2 cylinders to hand.
 
I tow my inflatable with lines from each forward lifting eye to each quarter of Ladybird. Hauled just short of interfering with the rudder, the dinghy bow is clear of the water and there is very little drag. It's also a lot quieter.
I tow the dinghy when I'm likely to be using the anchor or visitors moorings. Visiting someplace where I can step ashore, no.
 
Daydream believer said:
I did take a deflated dinghy on a long trip south back in 2004, but it just cluttered the foredeck & never got removed from its bag. Since then I have never taken one with me. Cannot see the point ,as I am able to get close enough to the pontoon to step ashore.
Click to expand...
I may be wrong, but aren’t you the person that also never anchors?

Dinghy and anchor go together like bacon and butty. Both of ours have been used countless times this year.

For pontoon only types yes a dinghy is a bit of a luxury (or safety) feature. Though perhaps worth having this year in the UK, where pontoon berths are very scarce in many places.
 
I've dragged out my Soviet 2 man dinghy ... washed it off ... found the oars .... wiped the thwarts ... cleaned the bag ...

Rolled it up and put in the bag with the thwarts.

Size ? Half that of the Avon ... but still reminds me of Wifes holdall she would take on board !!

I could if pushed - stow it deep in the port 1/4 berth but would be an absolute pain in and out !

I need to get a small Coastal Life Raft ... then I would have a clear answer in my head. Carry dinghy if chance of anchoring ... not carry if going marina to marina. The raft would satisfy the offshore safety aspect.

But I notice that there are now few 2 man rafts ... one thing I learnt when had to use a raft in outer Plymouth Sound for training ... NEVER have a raft for more people than you have ... they are VERY unstable without the proper number of people in. I rarely sail offshore with more than 3 incl me .. mostly its myself and one other. So a 2man would be best - even with 3 people.
 
alahol2 said:
We sail a 28ft Stag. We anchor 90+% of the time. We always tow a 9ft Bobbin dinghy behind and it nearly always gets used.
Click to expand...

If thats one of the Pearson compact sailing ones - then I am jealous ! They are superb little dinghys ..

I would love to have one for just on my own in the river ... sails up ... forget about the world.

Its why I keep thinking about maybe picking up a Mirror next time back in UK.
 
Refueler said:
But I notice that there are now few 2 man rafts ... one thing I learnt when had to use a raft in outer Plymouth Sound for training ... NEVER have a raft for more people than you have ... they are VERY unstable without the proper number of people in. I rarely sail offshore with more than 3 incl me .. mostly its myself and one other. So a 2man would be best - even with 3 people.
Click to expand...

That's a very good point. I can remember asking on here a few years ago, if there was such a thing as a one man liferaft for those of us who sail single handed. But i guess a 2 man raft would be more useful in case I had a crew!

edit - Who does make a 2 man liferaft?
 
Jamie Dundee said:
Went there on my motorbike, beautiful spot (y)
Click to expand...

Its finally opened up after a terrible Covid situation. At start of Covid - they had a Basketball Tournament and it was open for anyone to travel there to spectate. Covid struck and a large part of population were affected ....

I have bee waiting to sail there again .. I love the old world feel and the cafes in the main street ....
 
I have always sailed with one, and generally found it to be a rarely used nuisance; but on one particular occasion I really, really needed it, and was glad I hadn't given in to temptation and got rid. An old Bombardier is my chosen brand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top