Inflatable type: pros & cons?

[MoodySabre]

Another + for the Waveco 2.3 with airdeck floor.

Don't be tempted by a Bombard AX2 because they are light and pack small. They are light because the tubes are small and wet bums are the order of the day. It also doesn't have a seat so you have row whilst kneeling :nonchalance:

 

[prv]

Don't be tempted by a Bombard AX2 because they are light and pack small. They are light because the tubes are small and wet bums are the order of the day.

+1 - we once abandoned an attempt to cross from the Fowey moorings to the town pontoon in one, on a fairly calm day, because everything was getting swamped.

The larger AX3 is not bad though, and our current dinghy is an AX4 (not sure they still make them?) which I'm pretty happy with.

Pete

 

[dom]

+1 - we once abandoned an attempt to cross from the Fowey moorings to the town pontoon in one, on a fairly calm day, because everything was getting swamped.

Pete

To be fair, you get equally wet on your 'Magnificent Contraption'

Prob take about 5s to cross the Fowey estuary, mind

 

[prv]

To be fair, you get equally wet on your 'Magnificent Contraption'

Yes, but I don't want to go out for dinner in an ex-Navy drysuit

Pete

 

[Zagato]

Found my 2.8 Rover to be fine for rowing, motoring and just rolled it up and put it in the front locker of my old Crabber 24 ( you do have to be appropriately strong for this however, the blue bag pictured is what it folds into, it is always stored inflated but not under pressure). With my little Drascombe I now inflate it ashore, tow it into Chi Harbour, let the kids play in it then deflate it and lay it across the front of the cabin rolled up when returning. Not sure if you are mean,t to tow a tender through Chi Lock but they let me!





Not pictured but it also has a bright yellow covering over the bow tubes so you can store your bags in the dry. I bought it from a forum member in Scotland, came with original bag, pump, oars, manual, repair kit etc. I also fitted wheels and brackets which fold up or take off for use on shore. Have I mentioned I love my Avon

 

[KellysEye]

Web had an Avon dinghy with inflatable floor and hard transom for the outboard engine. I would be wary of a 2 HP engine if there are two of you in the dinghy ours was a 5HP Mariner.

 

[mogmog2]

Web had an Avon dinghy with inflatable floor and hard transom for the outboard engine. I would be wary of a 2 HP engine if there are two of you in the dinghy ours was a 5HP Mariner.

We used the 2hp in our (oversized avon, presumably a Redseal or some ex SAS special) out to our swinging mooring in Sinah Lake (Langstone harbour) - that was a mile on the first mooring and I don't remember having any problems and more tellingly, neither does my wife! The 2hp is so light and convenient, that being a bit slower seems a price worth paying. And I have the motor already.

 

[Stemar]

We have an Excel 2.3 lightweight job. It's great for humping around, because it is light, and it motors well. But you get wet in a 4" chop and it's next to impossible to row 'cos your knees get in the way of the oars on the return stroke. The towing eyes tore off after a a couple of years, too. I had them replaced by more solid Zodiac ones and they've been fine.

I won't be buying another one.

More generally, an airdeck is a big plus. Water will always find its way into a flubber and the airdeck keeps your feet and your kit out of the puddle.

 

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We used the 2hp in our (oversized avon, presumably a Redseal or some ex SAS special) out to our swinging mooring in Sinah Lake (Langstone harbour) - that was a mile on the first mooring and I don't remember having any problems and more tellingly, neither does my wife! The 2hp is so light and convenient, that being a bit slower seems a price worth paying. And I have the motor already.

Ditto.

 

[Zagato]

Web had an Avon dinghy with inflatable floor and hard transom for the outboard engine. I would be wary of a 2 HP engine if there are two of you in the dinghy ours was a 5HP Mariner.

Standard size for a 750kg 22' Drascombe Coaster is 5 hp, you have PLENTY of reserve power for your tender with a 5hp in a tender Who mentioned using a 2HP? I think 2-3hp is plenty for a tender depending on type, size, load, tide etc. I used a 3.5hp on mine once as I already had it for my rigid tender but preferred to row, I wouldn,t put a 5hp on mine, far to heavy. Avon give max guidelines for engine size, lighter two strokes in those days as well.

 

[prv]

Standard size for a 750kg 22' Drascombe Coaster is 5 hp, you have PLENTY of reserve power for your tender with a 5hp in a tender

You wouldn't be trying to make the Drascombe plane, though

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Standard size for a 750kg 22' Drascombe Coaster is 5 hp, you have PLENTY of reserve power for your tender with a 5hp in a tender Who mentioned using a 2HP? I think 2-3hp is plenty for a tender depending on type, size, load, tide etc. I used a 3.5hp on mine once as I already had it for my rigid tender but preferred to row, I wouldn,t put a 5hp on mine, far to heavy. Avon give max guidelines for engine size, lighter two strokes in those days as well.

Many 2.4-2.6m hard transom are capable of planing with 5hp and one up. If you are living aboard as KellysEye was in the caribbean a larger planing dinghy is a real boon as you have to anchor and the dinghy is your taxi for the mother ship so used for carrying all supplies, water etc from the shore. very different from pottering around Chi harbour!

What sort of dinghy and motor you buy depends on how you intend to use it - that is why there is a such a large variety.

 

[Zagato]

You wouldn't be trying to make the Drascombe plane, though

Pete

LOL no Pete. I remember the first time out in my Drascombe Longboat sailing from the Hamble to Cowes, I was so sea sick and having recovered a bit up the Folly I just wanted to get back as quickly as possible so used the Longboat ( basically a Coaster without the cabin, same hull, simply a stretched Lugger) like a RIB and put the 6HP on pretty much full whack and crashed back over the waves. Poor old boat didn,t like that and leaked from then on, Ahem so it was sold!