Round tail or wooden transom?
- Thread starter uxb
- Start date
Sinc
Well-Known Member
We spent ages deciding on a tender and o/b. In the end we bought a hard tail and 4 stroke motor. That was 2 years ago and it's been so difficult to get in and out of the locker (too heavy and square shape when folded) that we've just replaced it with a secondhand Redcrest and 2 stroke.
The oars on the hardtail were pin type and useless - but then everyone is expected to use the o/b to go even 50 yds now.
But I guess it depends on what you want to use it for.
The oars on the hardtail were pin type and useless - but then everyone is expected to use the o/b to go even 50 yds now.
But I guess it depends on what you want to use it for.
uxb
Well-Known Member
I thought about doing that and someone else here suggested I do it - but I'd probably end up making a rite ar5e of it then having to buy another dink anyway...
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
Our new Waveline came with those and they're much better than the pin type.
Tidewaiter2
Well-Known Member
Why not row?
We tend to row most places- like another poster on this thread, we've ended up with an very old Tinker Tramp, which is heavy to lift in and out and hard to stow, but rows and motors like a dream, and an Avon Redcrest (bought new when Welsh built!), which rows like a good un, but tips up with a motor and me, unless firmly moored fore and aft!
The motor bracket does make a good seat for SWMBO(to beat time and wield lash), and a useful 'hard point' for mooring etc.
Got the airdeck for the Avon later, and found rowing improved by getting a length of grey pipe insulation tube, putting it under airdeck from bow to 3/4 way down, makes a small keel like the posh rib tenders.
Original slats were a pita, as i always seemed to step down into a gap!
Def +1 on proper oars and the rubber rowlocks- once had a transom Quicksilver 240 with the pin oars-complete pita trying to row with them out to the mooring.
Oh and agree roundtail best stow-old Redcrest was a 4 person roundtail if that's needed- the older and tattier your tender, the less chance of it walking- and oars only helps too, particularly near closing time.
We tend to row most places- like another poster on this thread, we've ended up with an very old Tinker Tramp, which is heavy to lift in and out and hard to stow, but rows and motors like a dream, and an Avon Redcrest (bought new when Welsh built!), which rows like a good un, but tips up with a motor and me, unless firmly moored fore and aft!
The motor bracket does make a good seat for SWMBO(to beat time and wield lash), and a useful 'hard point' for mooring etc.
Got the airdeck for the Avon later, and found rowing improved by getting a length of grey pipe insulation tube, putting it under airdeck from bow to 3/4 way down, makes a small keel like the posh rib tenders.
Original slats were a pita, as i always seemed to step down into a gap!
Def +1 on proper oars and the rubber rowlocks- once had a transom Quicksilver 240 with the pin oars-complete pita trying to row with them out to the mooring.
Oh and agree roundtail best stow-old Redcrest was a 4 person roundtail if that's needed- the older and tattier your tender, the less chance of it walking- and oars only helps too, particularly near closing time.
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pappaecho
Well-Known Member
Roundtail. It stores so much easier in about half the volume
penfold
Well-Known Member
If you use the proper 2 part adhesive and degrease and abrade properly it's a DIY proposition; I've glued a wayward Avon rowlock back on. After a false start I gaffer taped it in position then laid loosely filled bags of sand over and piled on heavy things. I don't own the dinghy anymore, but the rowlock is still attached 3 years later.
emandvee44
Well-Known Member
Roundtail or transom
I have been agonising over this for some time!
We have an immaculate Avon round tail with a honda 4 stroke, which I have used once in the marina. It is relatively light, and motors and rows well enough. I was brought up with Redstarts and Redcrests and never had a problem with them. However, most boats in the Med. seem to have solid transoms, air floors or slatted floors(heavier) The advice I have had from friends here is to keep it.
Any comments?
Cheers,
Michael.
I have been agonising over this for some time!
We have an immaculate Avon round tail with a honda 4 stroke, which I have used once in the marina. It is relatively light, and motors and rows well enough. I was brought up with Redstarts and Redcrests and never had a problem with them. However, most boats in the Med. seem to have solid transoms, air floors or slatted floors(heavier) The advice I have had from friends here is to keep it.
Any comments?
Cheers,
Michael.
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Tidewaiter2
Well-Known Member
+1, put 2 extra carrying handles on our old Tinker, and recovered the abraded bow canopy seams one warm sunny day.
All the above +, Careful prep, a small heavy cylinder roller(IMRC, from an old stencil duplicator, or wallpaper roller?) to get the bubbles out on the canopy seams.
Then weight/pressure on the parts,with tubes deflated and resting on a flat board surface, and the help of Polymarine in getting the right adhesive for hyperlon made a 5 year lasting job.
Then Patience to let it cure fully-an 'excessive' 24hours in our case.
uxb
Well-Known Member
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
It's personal choice, often influenced by storage space. Living mainly on mooring or anchor, dinghy is our daily transport, usually with shopping & 20L water cans and sometimes bikes. It stays inflated permanently.
Although some people love them, I didn't like our Avon, found it soggy and wet and most people who wind up in the water from dinghies seem to be from flipped round tails - we've seen one guy do it when trying to mount his engine and heard of several others.
Solid transom models are more stable and the more modern ones have larger tubes and inflatable keel so are drier, faster and easier to row. Airdeck models obviously stow smaller than ply floors. Slatted floor ones don't usually have an inflatable keel.
Ask someone if you can have a play with their dinghy (preferably when it's choppy) and judge for yourself.
uxb
Well-Known Member
Got some time to row about in the new Seago 240 this past weekend.
It is light and rolls up reasonably well- might even fit in the cockpit locker.
The bag it came in has worn through after being put in the back of the car and taken out again! It is about as tough as tissue paper. Pathetic.
The pump sounds a bit wheezy and looks cheap (which it was/ is so can't complain) It blows the dink up without any probs and the valves work well.No problems there.
The painter and lines supplied are awful plastic **** and were replaced with decent rope before it went in the water. (money has to be saved somewhere)
The dinghy itself seems to be very well made with no obvious nasty bits, it'll be interesting to see how the varnish on the transom and seat last..
In the water it was a pain to row when loaded with the two of us and a pile of bags and with the boss perched on the transom,I had no where to put my knees. Although awkward I could at least shove the oars outboard clear of my knees and continue to row- not possible with the stupid pin type row locks.
Rowing it on my own was fine although a better-longer- set of oars will make it easier still. Being able to move the position of the seat lets you get comfy and brace you feet against the transom.
So far,so good.
It is light and rolls up reasonably well- might even fit in the cockpit locker.
The bag it came in has worn through after being put in the back of the car and taken out again! It is about as tough as tissue paper. Pathetic.
The pump sounds a bit wheezy and looks cheap (which it was/ is so can't complain) It blows the dink up without any probs and the valves work well.No problems there.
The painter and lines supplied are awful plastic **** and were replaced with decent rope before it went in the water. (money has to be saved somewhere)
The dinghy itself seems to be very well made with no obvious nasty bits, it'll be interesting to see how the varnish on the transom and seat last..
In the water it was a pain to row when loaded with the two of us and a pile of bags and with the boss perched on the transom,I had no where to put my knees. Although awkward I could at least shove the oars outboard clear of my knees and continue to row- not possible with the stupid pin type row locks.
Rowing it on my own was fine although a better-longer- set of oars will make it easier still. Being able to move the position of the seat lets you get comfy and brace you feet against the transom.
So far,so good.