Inflatable - what size

Cactus Sailing

Cactus Sailing

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2013
Messages
444
Visit site
Sorry me again....

So I need an inflatable dinghy but I'm unsure on size, I was thinking a 240 seago just to take us from the shore about 50m to the boat and maybe for some ferrying to the beach while anchoring but other than that we wouldn't use it much there are two adults and two kids (8&7) don't mind doing two trips either was recently in a 3 person dinghy at 2.6 I think that would be an ideal size.

Smaller would be better so I could try and keep it under the boom while sailing, towing it will just slow me down ;)
 
We've just sold our 2.3M Wetline, it was mostly just for me the misses and dog (labrador). Admittedly our boat is about 3/4 mile from the shore. But it was woefully too small to carry all the provisions for a weekend and us 2, never mind the dog! We had a few dodgy episodes when the there was a some sea running. We've just got a 3.4M aluminium floor jobby which is great and probably too big - in fact we launched from a different spot a couple of miles away last time, which we wouldn't have even considered before. The problem (as you've figured out) is what to do with it when not in use. We're going to tow ours.
I'd get a minimum 2.6M but look at the 3.1M - that would probably be the right size if you want to carry baggage and kids.
 
We had a 2.3 and it was fine when they were that size/ age but they do grow quickly. We got a bigger one when they were 10 and 8 thinking of future proofing it for when we had a couple of teenagers. We don;t need one to get from shore to mooring but do prefer to anchor off / pick up mooring.

We went for a 3.1 Zodiac Fastroller as we wanted the airdeck and managed to pick one up second hand fairly cheaply. It is a touch larger than we need, 2.9 would be fine but there is nothing in it really. Ours is quite light which is important but i would still suggest that at over about 2.4 it's worth ensuring that you have a way of lifting on and off. Davits if required or a halyard.

One thing i would suggest for a larger dinghy is an electric pump, ideally rechargeable as it's a lot more effort blowing up a large dinghy than a 2.3. You can go for the Bravo that will get it the whole way at about £100+ We went for a cheaper pump that gets it 90% of the way but still needs a dozen or so pumps with the manual pump to get the airdeck hard.
 
Which aluminium floor one? been looking for a good one.


MarcJ said:
We've just sold our 2.3M Wetline, it was mostly just for me the misses and dog (labrador). Admittedly our boat is about 3/4 mile from the shore. But it was woefully too small to carry all the provisions for a weekend and us 2, never mind the dog! We had a few dodgy episodes when the there was a some sea running. We've just got a 3.4M aluminium floor jobby which is great and probably too big - in fact we launched from a different spot a couple of miles away last time, which we wouldn't have even considered before. The problem (as you've figured out) is what to do with it when not in use. We're going to tow ours.
I'd get a minimum 2.6M but look at the 3.1M - that would probably be the right size if you want to carry baggage and kids.
Click to expand...
 
We have a n Excel 290 on a Fulmar. When its a long trip its deflated in the cockpit locker and for short trips its often upside down on the foredeck. Size of tubes and depth of V are important if there's any waves, Inflatable keel under the floor boards makes the boat work really well. The bigger the better IMHO having had a 230 flat bottom before this is miles better all round except its heavier.
I found the excel well made and tougher than some of the other cheaper ones, so rate them highly.
 
RichardS said:
We have a 260 which is fine for four adults and some shopping/bags/garbage etc.

A 240 would be fine for 2 adults and 2 children but probably a bit of a squeeze for 4 adults plus some clobber.

Richard
Click to expand...

cheers very helpful, I love it how all the adverts and pictures for these inflatable boats (even though they say 4 adults) show one man in shorts and t-shirt, & no baggage in them on a calm summers day in a millpond marina setting ... where's the reality photos with 4 adults all with bags crossing a choppy boat channel to a pontoon / pile --> that advert would get my money for sure

I think I will go for a 240 in the end just for easy of storage, if I need bigger as the kids grow up I will upgrade so to speak once I can work out a better storage solution whilst sailing, otherwise it would mean leaving the dinghy on the swinging mooring while I go off sailing - during daylight not so much an issue but I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it for a week while I trotted off, unless folk do this??

more about security wise ^^ I would take the outboard off though
 
RichardS said:
We have a 260 which is fine for four adults and some shopping/bags/garbage etc.

A 240 would be fine for 2 adults and 2 children but probably a bit of a squeeze for 4 adults plus some clobber.

Richard
Click to expand...

I should have added that our 260 is an alloy-hulled Highfield Ultra Lightweight so it's light enough to be lifted by one person and easily driven by a small, light 2.5 outboard.

If you want decent size plus easy stowage when inflated then the UL is the way to go .... but it's not cheap. :(

Richard
 
RichardS said:
I should have added that our 260 is an alloy-hulled Highfield Ultra Lightweight so it's light enough to be lifted by one person and easily driven by a small, light 2.5 outboard.

If you want decent size plus easy stowage when inflated then the UL is the way to go .... but it's not cheap. :(

Richard
Click to expand...

yeah great point, the super light weight one i found was 21kg but 2.8m and quite wide to fit under the boom - the one I found is 28kg which I think is manageable; I didn't find a 240 in a light weight version with air deck unfortunately - I do remember charter boats with 2.8-3m dinghies and me and my partner used to man handle them onto deck without too much issues and these were cheapo heavyweight things

im sure there is a compromise with every dinghy, but storage on-board without deflating is my main criteria - if it gets in the way while sailing I will hurl abuse at it everyday and wish I never bought it, I can cope with two 50m trips to the shore :)
 
I have found my Bombard AX3 to be a good compromise.
SWMBO and I can carry it up a beach complete with outboard.
I can carry it on my own without engine.
I can lift it aboard OK. It has lasted well. It goes on the foredeck of my mate's boat.
It carries 3 sensibly, 4 at a push in flat water.


Originally I got it because it fits in the stern locker of an Impala.
You will always want a lighter one tomorrow and a bigger one the next day!
 
I have a waveline 270 airdeck and find it's a great dinghy and would be a good size for what you want but the valise it comes with is badly lacking, I ended up stitching some decent cam buckle straps that go all round it as the original straps were pulling off after 3 uses, it weighs in at about 38-40kg despite what the advertising says and blows up well with an old cheapy airbed leccy pump, just needs about 15 strokes of a footpump to each chamber to finish pressure, very good for the price.
I keep mine stowed below deck and it takes around 10 mins to deploy and 15 mins to repack including outboard, I paid £460 at norfolk marine.
We use for 2 adults + large nervy dog.
 
There's always a dichotomy with dinghies, on the water the bigger the better (within reason), when stored the opposite is true. I've got a 2.3m which is just about big enough for two but the rower's legs get in the way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top