Inflatable - downsizing from 2.7m to 2.4m? Pros / cons?

[vyv_cox]

one just fits the outboard bracket designed for the dinghy.

Exactly what I did, Avon with its own hang-off-the-back bracket. 3HP outboard. Dropped the painter when anchored in a gale at Porth Dinllaen, as I motored away a gust got under the bow and the whole lot flipped over backwards. Since then I have repeated the manoeuvre countless times with a decent dinghy and never come anywhere near repeating it.

 

[Seajet]

You were in a decent dinghy, you just got it wrong ! Probably if alone by not being far enough forward, facing into a gale it would be prudent to sit as far to the front as poss' with the engine tiller at arm's length...

 

[vyv_cox]

I can do without having to make special arrangements for inadequate design in testing conditions. I have seen it suggested, quite seriously, that a 5 gallon water container, full, should be carried in the bow of these doughnut dinghies to prevent precisely what happened to me. In view of the other inadequacies of this type it seems far better to avoid them altogether.

 

[Seajet]

It is standard seamanship to trim a boat to suit, whatever construction and shape.

It might be said the only ' inadequate doughnut ' in question is someone who tries to motor an unbalanced inflatable into a gale...

 

[vyv_cox]

It might be said the only ' inadequate doughnut ' in question is someone who tries to motor an unbalanced inflatable into a gale...

When you have lost the argument, resort to personal insults.

 

[Tranona]

When you have lost the argument, resort to personal insults.

You should have worked out by now that Seajet is ALWAYS right!

However, it is very easy to avoid your flipping experience by following the Avon instructions and not sitting on the stern of the boat when motoring, but sit forward on the side tube or on the central seat. Not the most convenient place, but you do need to keep the boat flat as there is no buoyancy aft of the engine. Just one of those inevitable compromises as the solid transom boats lose internal volume for a given overall length (as well as being more bulky when packed).

 

[Seajet]

I am right in this case, having used a roundtail dinghy extensively for 34 odd years.

VyvCox admits trying to motor unballasted alone into a gale, then basically insulted me as I had put forward their use.

You Vyv are the one who lost the argument and resorted to insults such as ' inadequate '.

 

[Tranona]

I am right in this case, having used a roundtail dinghy extensively for 34 odd years.

VyvCox admits trying to motor unballasted alone into a gale, then basically insulted me as I had put forward their use.

You Vyv are the one who lost the argument and resorted to insults such as ' inadequate '.

No, you are not necessarily "right"! What Vyv says happened is entirely possible - just avoidable with a bit of care. The lack of buoyancy aft of the weight and thrust of an outboard on an Avon is a fact, as is the tendency for the bow to lift and wind to get underneath so flipping the boat. Weight in the bow section is one way of reducing the likelihood of a flip, as is moving the helm weight forward as recommended by Avon.

As I said solid transoms with buoyancy behind reduces this tendency and also automatically moves the helm weight forward - but at the expense of interior volume, weight and packed size. However a compromise many people accept if they want to use an outboard regularly.

 

[Seajet]

In other words a roundtail is fine if used properly and sensibly, so yes I am right, thankyou !

What amazes me is that Vyv or anyone else should not sense the balance trim required, it is not exactly radical space age seamanship to think a dinghy may require this, especially if hoping to motor one-up into a gale; and the advisability of doing that in any inflatable is questionable.

Failure to comprehend the simplest requirements of any boat and screwing up in the process cannot be called an inadequacy of the design - or the advocation of it.

 

[dunedin]

Thanks guys for the input - very helpful

And please don't turn this thread into a slanging match on round-tail designs - clearly there is care needed with loading and use of all dinghies

 

[vyv_cox]

- clearly there is care needed with loading and use of all dinghies

Absolutely no argument with what you say. When an outboard is invented that doesn't need the operator to start it by going to the stern of the dinghy and crouching over it I may reverse my opinion.

 

[Seajet]

Absolutely no argument with what you say. When an outboard is invented that doesn't need the operator to start it by going to the stern of the dinghy and crouching over it I may reverse my opinion.

Vyv,

please let's not get all heated again, but clearly your bad experience has left a rather overstrong impression.

Obviously, one has to go to ( not leaning over ) an outboard to select fuel on, choke & start throttle & open the air screw, but for pulling the recoil and then steering one will be relatively well forward.

If one considers the plan waterline view of a roundtail v transom type inflatable the roundtail has plenty of buoyancy aft, while the tapered extensions of a transom type only come into effect when considerable weight is applied.

I suspect a lot of any problems encountered may well have been because roundtails tend to be at the small scale of the size range anyway.

For the sake of yourself and anyone else reading this, please do not be put off roundtails, they offer many advantages re stowage and weight - even maintenance of varnished wood too ! - Compared to easily manufactured transom types.

Please note I am not selling any roundtail dinghies ! I just do not wish a false impression to linger with a bit of kit which can be a boon.