Most stable tenders/dinghies

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We had a Redcrest 9ft then a Redseal ( 10ft donut) even a Tinker Traveller with sails, but ended up with one of the new high pressure inflatable floored models a Zodiac Fastroller 2.85 which had bigger diameter tubes and was very stable. Now in the USA we have gone to RIBS, we had a West Marine 350 on our mobo but sold it with it, now we have a west Marine 310 RIB in Hypalon ( PVC not good in the tropics), yet to have extensive experience with this but it is stable enough for me, post stroke although as we carry it in davits there are plenty of things to hang on to getting in and out on the boat. We have a 9.9hp 4 stroke mercury outboard which when fully run in should propel it at up to 20kts maybe, but enough to do some extensive look arounds when in the Bahamas, as opposed to just 'getting ashore' trips . My personal choice in UK use where UV is less of a problem would be a Zodiac or Avon with the high pressure inflatable floor and incorporated inflatable keel for directional stability. We Sold our Zodiac 2.85 Fastroller for IIRC around 400 squids so not too expensive if you can find a good one used.
 
Lakesailor said:
Well. This old thread has seen some new life. Pete Peterson is not quite so impartial as we may wish though


Good old Harvey seems to be an integral part of Dinghy Dogs, as well.

If you want to advertise, try paying for the privilege or at least abide by the forum rules. A reciprocal link on your website front page?
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We've had a link to YBW for many years.
 
Recently bought (secondhand) a Brig 2.8 with air floor & inflatable V deck (underwater v profile hull).

Happy so far. It rows very well, no o/b as yet.

Just barely fits inflated (inverted) on the foredeck of my Albin Vega 27..

Does anyone have any advice/tips?

Thanks..
 
Vega1447 said:
Just barely fits inflated (inverted) on the foredeck of my Albin Vega 27..

Does anyone have any advice/tips?

Thanks..
Click to expand...

Yes. Deflate it!
I don't understand why 12v pumps aren't more popular. People say 'only takes ten minutes with a foot pump' which is true but an electric pump takes a fifth of the time, you can do something else at the same time, and you aren't knackered afterwards.
I would rather the minor inconvenience of inflating the dinghy than the danger of squeezing past it to get to the anchor or the foredeck cleat.
 
Mavanier said:
Yes. Deflate it!
I don't understand why 12v pumps aren't more popular. People say 'only takes ten minutes with a foot pump' which is true but an electric pump takes a fifth of the time, you can do something else at the same time, and you aren't knackered afterwards.
I would rather the minor inconvenience of inflating the dinghy than the danger of squeezing past it to get to the anchor or the foredeck cleat.
Click to expand...

No argument there.

But it does make life a lot easier to be able to inflate it flat on the foredeck (right way up).

I doubt if I'll sail with it inverted on deck but nice to know that I can (if shorthanded for example).

BTW I bought a (rechargeable) built-in battery-powered inflator pump from Halfords for €10 - whole ages of the world passed waiting for it to work.

Are pumps powered directly from 12V power any good? Recommendations?

I have the foot pump that came with the dinghy & a stirrup pump. The latter is surprisingly good..
 
On 12v pumps...

I have had three now. An older version of the LVM which lots of people rave about a £12 Coleman one, and a £5 Aldi one.

The Coleman is probably my favourite for the simple reason that it came with a hose, and I can plug it into the dinghy and then go and do something else for a couple of minutes until I hear the pitch of the motor change, telling me it has finished.

The Aldi one is perfectly OK, it possibly achieves a higher pressure over a slightly slower time than the Coleman.

Both of these pumps need a few strokes on a hand pump to top up each tube to get the dinghy properly hard. I always take the hand pump with me in the he dinghy anyway, so I don't see this as much of a hassle. I could maybe squeeze a bit more out of the electric pump but it feels wrong to push it too hard.

The LVM is supremely powerful, and noisy, and power-hungry. I put a cigar lighter plug on the end for convenience, and it just blew the fuse as soon as I used it, ended up hardwiring it in. Unlike the other two, it can pretty much fully inflate the dinghy on its own, although I usually stop short and top up by hand, because the screaming of the pump does my head in.
 
My big old Avon Redshank came with a very substantial foot-pump made from wood and hypalon I think. Each stroke must have pushed in five litres of air. It wasn't hard work and didn't take long.

I know small foot-pumps can be very tiresome, but my good-sized, robust one tended to make noisy little 12v pumps look sadly underpowered.
 
I had a bad experience with an inflatable. When I lost the prop off the motor I found it impossible to row against wind and waves to get back to the boat moored a few hundred yards offshore. As a result I decided I had to have a rigid dinghy that I could row in adverse conditions. I went for a hard chine design with a fairly flat bottom, similar to a Mirror which gives maximum stability and carrying capacity. With a pair of 9 ft oars it rows very well.

BUT

Though it won't tip if I stand off centre there is no way one person could stand on the gunwale without flipping which is routine with an inflatable. Boarding from the water after a mishap or when swimming would be nearly impossible (In extremis I would capsize it, swim in then bale out).

The only dingy I know of that approaches the stability of an inflatable is a Dell Quay Dory but they are very heavy.
 
Lakesailor said:
Well. This old thread has seen some new life. Pete Peterson is not quite so impartial as we may wish though

Southeast Sales
Pete Peterson
Phone: (813) 220-0332
Email: ppeterson@powercatgroup.com

Good old Harvey seems to be an integral part of Dinghy Dogs, as well.

If you want to advertise, try paying for the privilege or at least abide by the forum rules. A reciprocal link on your website front page?
Click to expand...

Have had a link to YBW for years
 
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