Inflating dinghy/tender onboard

S

salgarfi

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Hello All,

I'm a newbie and this is the first time I have posted on any YBW forum, though I have been reading the forums for information for quite a while. But anyway, I'd like to say 'Hi' to everyone, and I hope that I can get many pointers from all of you on the forum!

My better half and I have been doing a fair amount of research for a while now and we would like to get a sail boat in about a year and a half. We have much to learn, and we hope to take some sailing lessons at the earliest opportunity. The boat we hope to eventually get should be something like a Westerly Centaur or a Colvic Sailer (we were thinking of a motor sailer but there are very few with bilge keels) and we might end up with a drying out mooring in the Teifi estuary in Cardigan Bay. However, when looking at the issue of dinghies/tenders, and in relation to inflatables, there is one question to which I cannot find an answer, and that is: where, when you are on your boat, do you actually reinflate your tender? I have seen many videos showing one how to inflate a dinghy in a garage, or in a show room, or on the lawn, but never have I seen a video showing where it's best to inflate a dinghy while onboard. So with those of you with inflatables, where do you do it?

I presume, and this would be our case, the dinghy would have to be able to transport two adults to and from the boat, with food stuffs, clothing etc, and maybe even water containers, fuel containers, and even gas bottles (though all not at the same time). So, again, after you've deflated your dinghy and set sail, and when you arrive back home, where/how do you reinflate the thing.

I hope that someone can enlighten us.

With much thanks,
Sal
 
Welcome to the forum.

I've inflated our dinghy on the trampoline as that's the flattest large area on the boat. I would guess that with a monohull the deck above the saloon in front of the mast would similarly be the largest flat area and many monos seem to keep the dinghy there when underway.

Richard
 
Welcome to the mad house!
I have a tag team contest on the foredeck, with the dinghy on it's side resting against the lifelines there is usually enough space. The weird thing is the leg you are standing on get tired wheras the one doing the work pumping the bellows doesn't.
 
Many people tow their dinghy to avoid re-inflation, depending on expected sea conditions and length of 'voyage'. Or use davits (might work with a Colvic m/s) (you could always use beaching legs). Inflaton across the cockpit, on the foredeck ot under the main boom are the options. On SWMBOs boat (27' Cutlass) we do it on the foredeck, so to speak. :excitement:
 
Hi Sal,

welcome to the forums.

I used to use a foot pump onboard my 22' boat - doing an impression of a demented Morris Dancer - blowing up one end at a time of three-adult dinghies on the foredeck, as the boat becomes rigid I prop that half above the guardrails then when fully inflated drop it over the side to embark from the cockpit; one can also inflate the dinghy in the cockpit using the same procedure.

For a long time I've used a ' High Speed Inflator '; these things take all the footwork out of it and really are quick, but it is essential the clamps are put directly onto the battery as the current draw is high, I've seen people melt their boat wiring by trying them on switch panels.

If going far I take the foot pump in the dinghy though as a Plan B in case of mishaps, these could be simply a bit of sand on a valve cap allowing a slow leak.

I use a ' roundtail ' dinghy - I researched all the budget dinghies to replace my old faithful Zodiac after it bit the dust from decades' use - the Sealine 230 added up to the best buy at the time a couple of years ago - a solid transom dinghy requires a lot more space to stow but the Centaur can stow one down a quarter berth as my friend does on his.

http://www.force4.co.uk/rule-12v-high-speed-dinghy-inflator.html#.WZSc-emQwdU
 
Last edited:
Have you considered a grp dinghy instead of an inflatable? You won't get as wet as in an inflatable, and you leave it on your mooring when you go sailing. And easier to row unless you use a small outboard, which you can store on board on a bracket. You'll need somewhere to store it ashore though. And maybe a small inflatable on board if you need one when sailing - I inflate mine on the foredeck when I need it and on short trips I tow the grp dinghy.
 
I would never use an inflatable as a tender between a boat and her regular mooring, a right pain stowing the thing in the car, especially with it wet and possibly muddy for the return journey home, and the wear and tear will soon take its toll - for that I'd say a grp tender every time, it is however a fine balance finding one safe enough to use in wind and waves while still light enough not to cause a hernia dragging the thing up the slip - and one of the first things to check for any mooring is ' Is there a secure place to leave a rigid tender ? '

Second thing to ask is ' How about secure car parking over a weekend or longer ? '.

I was assuming Sal means an inflatable for getting ashore when he sails to somewhere; in my opinion borne of experience towing a rigid dinghy is a mug's game in offshore waters, can cause a lot of speed reducing drag and vulnerable to becoming swamped, causing lots of potentially dangerous hassle, but just about OK within harbour for short distances.
 
We lay the dinghy across the coachroof to inflate it.
It's a lot easier if you get a longer hose for the pump.
One of the best things about a bigger boat is being able to carry the dinghy inflated on the foredeck. But it's a 3 minute job that gives you a beer thirst....
 
salgarfi said:
Hello All,

I'm a newbie and this is the first time I have posted on any YBW forum, though I have been reading the forums for information for quite a while. But anyway, I'd like to say 'Hi' to everyone, and I hope that I can get many pointers from all of you on the forum!

My better half and I have been doing a fair amount of research for a while now and we would like to get a sail boat in about a year and a half. We have much to learn, and we hope to take some sailing lessons at the earliest opportunity. The boat we hope to eventually get should be something like a Westerly Centaur or a Colvic Sailer (we were thinking of a motor sailer but there are very few with bilge keels) and we might end up with a drying out mooring in the Teifi estuary in Cardigan Bay. However, when looking at the issue of dinghies/tenders, and in relation to inflatables, there is one question to which I cannot find an answer, and that is: where, when you are on your boat, do you actually reinflate your tender? I have seen many videos showing one how to inflate a dinghy in a garage, or in a show room, or on the lawn, but never have I seen a video showing where it's best to inflate a dinghy while onboard. So with those of you with inflatables, where do you do it?

I presume, and this would be our case, the dinghy would have to be able to transport two adults to and from the boat, with food stuffs, clothing etc, and maybe even water containers, fuel containers, and even gas bottles (though all not at the same time). So, again, after you've deflated your dinghy and set sail, and when you arrive back home, where/how do you reinflate the thing.

I hope that someone can enlighten us.

With much thanks,
Sal
Click to expand...

We used to inflate an Avon Redstart ( 2.5m and roundtail) on the cabin top of a 31 ft Westerly Berwick..

It would not have been possible, I don't think, on the foredeck. Much more difficult anyway.

It would have been much more difficult to do on a 26ft boat..

We used a solid 8ft dinghy to get to and from the morning and only inflated the Avon when we needed it
 
This would seem to depend on the size and weight of the tender to be inflated. There is a vast difference in terms of managing to inflate say a small Seago of 2.4 to a large heavier Quicksilver of say circa3m even on a larger vessel. It clearly helps to have a high speed inflator but as been said ideally these need attaching to a battery with clips through the window or a hatch however the lead length of such inflators is short. If you prefer to use an electric inflators then a beefed up socket plug and wiring might assist bur simplest approach is to use some form of power pack or an inflator device with its own battery. When I sailed on a Centaur we used a foot pump to blow up the Avon on the foredeck and hoisted it slightly on main halyard as it blew up to lift bow . Now you might consider buying a lightweight inflatable to make it easier to manoeuvre on small deck. As has been said if a mooring or river pontoon then a cheap GRP dinghy is best for ship to shore transfers on basis there is a dingy park or racking system on shore plus a set of wheels ideally. I am sure it's possible to fit Davits to a Centaur but cost might not suit budget but obviously that would be a solution or look for a yacht with scoop stern where you can hoist up dinghy and sit it on scoop . Many creative solutions to use backstab to hoist with block and tackle out there.
 
By far the easiest place to inflate a dinghy is in the cockpit. In the first place, this is likely to be close to where it is stowed, so less carrying is needed. An average dinghy in an average boat will sit happily across both coamings, and the cockpit seats make convenient places to stand and pump, with the boom or sprayhood to hold on to. The inflated dinghy can be launched over the side or stern according to taste. For deflation, the foredeck is easier. I usually set the dinghy on edge to let it drain and for a wipe down if needed.
 
I got this down to a fine art. 27ft boat, Avon Redcrest tender, £5 Aldi 12v pump.
Lay deflated dinghy out on side deck, mostly forward of shrouds. Clip a halyard into the side rope of the dinghy and haul it up to about chest height. Inflate, use the 12v for 99% of the task and finish with a footpump. I actually prefer those ones where you stand on the bottom bit and pump with your hands. Bellows pumps tend to slide around on the deck a bit.

With the dinghy inflated, sitting on its side, wedged between shrouds and guardrails, and held just off the deck by the halyard, pull it forward to clear the shrouds- it will also swing upwards, and thus clear the guardwires. Drop it back, now on the outside of the guardwires. Lower it down on the halyard.

The trickiest bit is learning how high to pull it up on the halyard, but I got the hang of it after a few goes.
 
Seajet said:
I would never use an inflatable as a tender between a boat and her regular mooring, a right pain stowing the thing in the car, especially with it wet and possibly muddy for the return journey home, and the wear and tear will soon take its toll - for that I'd say a grp tender every time, it is however a fine balance finding one safe enough to use in wind and waves while still light enough not to cause a hernia dragging the thing up the slip - and one of the first things to check for any mooring is ' Is there a secure place to leave a rigid tender ? '

Second thing to ask is ' How about secure car parking over a weekend or longer ? '.

I was assuming Sal means an inflatable for getting ashore when he sails to somewhere; in my opinion borne of experience towing a rigid dinghy is a mug's game in offshore waters, can cause a lot of speed reducing drag and vulnerable to becoming swamped, causing lots of potentially dangerous hassle, but just about OK within harbour for short distances.
Click to expand...

Not everybody has the same circumstances or issues.
I would never use a hard dinghy to go out to the mooring. At low tide I'd have to drag it up and down the shore, and my mooring is only 100yds away so a flubber is perfectly fine. I don't bother deflating it to take home, I just tie it to a tree. Your situation is obviously very different.
 
I bought a cheap rechargeable pump to inflate our 3.1 airdeck. You can spend £150 on a bravo that will do it all automatically. I just spent £40 on a cheapy that put in 90% of the air but won't get the dinghy hard. Finish off with the manual.

The beauty of the rechargeable is that you can use it anywhere, take it home to charge or charge from a cigarette lighter. It draws minimal power when recharging unlike many that are powered from the cigarette lighter so no need to beef up the 12v wiring.
 
We have a similar sized boat, 26' Westerly Griffon, also on a swinging mooring. We have ended up with two tenders, one that we use to and from the mooring, this gets left on the mooring unless we're going to be aware for more than a couple of days. Then we have a pure inflatable which lives on board normally in the locker but if we expect to use it I have it partially unrolled and strapped down just in front of the mast. That's where we inflate it, like the Centaur our boat has a babystay so space is a bit limited but it can be done with the dinghy orientated across the boat while being inflated. Then lift over the guardwires (with painter already made fast) to launch.
 
We use the foredeck, inflate with foot pump, only takes 5 mins for a 2.8m excel, bow at bow of boat and back next to the mast, heave the lot over the guard rails. Put the engine on when the dinghy is in the water, don't forget the oars, a small anchor and a pump just in case!
 
I've always inflated my dinghy on the foredeck - an Avon Redstart on the 22' Seal and up to a 2.7m long one on the Parker 31.
Having been finally weaned off fully inflatable dinghies to a RIB, I either tow that (it does reduce speed by about 8%) or stow it, inverted on the foredeck. There is just enough room to get to chain locker, anchor and windlass with a 2.7m RIB over the forehatch. I lift it on and off with the spinnaker halyard.
Stowage on the foredeck means I'm reduced to only being able to use either 110%, 140% or 150% genoas, the sheeting of the solent or working jib being covered by the stowed dinghy.
 
I'm surprised so many people are able to lay their dinghy flat to inflate it, either on the cockpit or foredeck. I tried this and found that it was impossible to get to either end to reach the valves, without walking through the dinghy, which I didn't think would do the floor any good.
 
If you don't fancy walking through the dinghy, you could always lay it to one side and delicately pass.
Of course you never stand in your inflated dinghy? Or do you?

With the RIB, I inflated it when new 4 years ago, and to keep it up to pressure, put 4-5 strokes of the pump, bi-annually, into each of the 3 chambers.
The solution, with a larger boat, is to have aft davits.
 
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