Small boats and dinghy storage

[Neil]

I went to buy a 2.3M inflatable today, but when I saw the size of the box, I thought there was no way it would fill in the locker of a Sadler 25, nor the foredeck with it half inflated. A 1.85m round tail might work, but has less utility. How do you small boat owners manage?

 

[doug748]

I should consider a used Avon. The smaller Redstart, or 9ft Redcrest. The larger model is little extra trouble and much better on the water.

You will find enough room in front, or behind, the mast. They are cheap and tough enough to stuff into your cockpit locker without risking damage.

 

[Searush]

When sailing it rolls up on deck, by the mast, when ashore it goes in the dinghy store - or I take it home. If I need to leave it on board long term, it just goes in the cabin. Never a problem.

 

[VicS]

When sailing it rolls up on deck, by the mast, when ashore it goes in the dinghy store - or I take it home. If I need to leave it on board long term, it just goes in the cabin. Never a problem.

A Redstart or even a Redcrest or other similar sized dinks are no problem in a 31 ft Westerly!

Not so easy to find the storage space in smaller boats.

I used to have a Campari, or was it an Achilles, Hypalon and just marginally better than a beach toy. Sadly no longer serviceable. Never been able to find anything to replace it that is stowable

 

[Corribee Boy]

I have a 2.4 m 3D Tender - they've got smaller tubes and lighter material than most inflatables, so it only weighs about 12kg and is small when deflated. I carry it on my stern locker lid - it'd fit in the locker, if the outboard wasn't in there as well.

I can also inflate it up in the cockpit.

 

[Kelpie]

On the Vega, I generally used my trusty £50 eBay Avon, stowed in front of the mast, plus a £5 Aldi electric pump to inflate it, and the pole uphaul for launch/recovery. Could do the whole thing singlehanded in under five minutes.

Worth noting that the best way to roll up an Avon is to firstly fold the bow over, then the stern, so that It is one third of its original length, then roll up from the side, from rowlock to rowlock. This gives the most compact stowed shape, I found.

 

[pvb]

Worth noting that the best way to roll up an Avon is to firstly fold the bow over, then the stern, so that It is one third of its original length, then roll up from the side, from rowlock to rowlock. This gives the most compact stowed shape, I found.

Good tip! I bought a new Zodiac today, and the first thing I did was unpack it, stage by stage, on the lawn, taking pictures of each step, so I might have half a chance of getting it back as compactly as they do in the factory.

 

[Simso]

I have just bought a 2nd hand Waveline 2.3 round tail because the 2.3 3D tender I was seeking was not available.
It fits reasonably well between the open hatch and mast on my Sadler 26 (rolled up in its bag). I am happy given it only cost me £300, to leave it on deck?
Had it in the forepeak to start with but would rather have room in the boat than treat it as too precious.
Will stay there till someone nicks it or it ages - 2/3 seasons will do?

 

[prv]

Will stay there till someone nicks it or it ages - 2/3 seasons will do?

It's the sun that kills rubber/plastic/fabric stuff, so make up a canvas cover for it and it should last way longer than that.

Pete

 

[Seajet]

I have a Seago 230 round tail air deck dinghy, and am able to fit it under the cockpit of my Anderson 22; mind, it takes up at least as much space as the Zodiac 240 round tail with much bigger tubes that I had before !

 

[Searush]

A Redstart or even a Redcrest or other similar sized dinks are no problem in a 31 ft Westerly!

Not so easy to find the storage space in smaller boats.

I used to have a Campari, or was it an Achilles, Hypalon and just marginally better than a beach toy. Sadly no longer serviceable. Never been able to find anything to replace it that is stowable

It was never any problem on the old W25 either & that's pretty small boat.

 

[Searush]

I have just bought a 2nd hand Waveline 2.3 round tail because the 2.3 3D tender I was seeking was not available.
It fits reasonably well between the open hatch and mast on my Sadler 26 (rolled up in its bag). I am happy given it only cost me £300, to leave it on deck?
Had it in the forepeak to start with but would rather have room in the boat than treat it as too precious.
Will stay there till someone nicks it or it ages - 2/3 seasons will do?

Unless you are a liveaboard leave it on deck until you go home & then, put it in the cabin if marina based, or take home if on a mooring.

 

[rwoofer]

On my 20ft Jeanneau Sun 2000, I have to make do with a Sevylor Kayak. Anything else is just too big.

 

[Seajet]

There is a new breed of lightweight yacht tender inflatable, I forget the make, but they seem both commendably light ( always an issue for both the motherboat and the operator ) and apparently they fold up smaller too.

Naturally tere's a snag, a good £100 more than Seago etc of similar size.

I must say I think the inflatable canoes only suitable for one optimistic and experienced person, there's not much chance of taking any odd bod from the club out in one; for general pottering I'd have either a proper inflatable dinghy folded on deck ( it takes effort but not too tricky to secure a folded boat on the foredeck or under the gooseneck ) or even a beach type inflatable, with a better pump ?

 

[PhillM]

I keep mine on one of the cot beths in the forepeak. Its too big to go on deck which means it only gets used when its the only option. I blow it up on the fordeck and use the jib halyard to help launch and recover. Not perfect but it works and I guess it will last forever due to lack of wear

 

[xeitosaphil]

I had and still have an Avon Redcrest. When I had a Hurley 22 being Hypalon it was tough as old boots so would take some stick. I used to keep it on the quarter berth when on pontoon berth or mooring, and it used to live between the spray hood and kicking strap folded up when on passage, even with a little air in it. Inflating was done in the cockpit until big enough to straddle the guard rails. Only difference now with a bigger boat it lives in the cockpit locker, and is inflated on the fore deck. As said before I also used to use a halyard to recover.

 

[Neil]

Well, I decided that the 2.3 with a transom wasn't going to fly - too big folded around the transom. The 1.85 roundtail seems too small, but maybe the 2.3 roundtail will fold up small enough? The local chandlery haven't one in stock though, so it's hard to tell. I'm waiting to see what their offer is; they have the Wavecrest brand - it looks substantial enough, and they price them competitively.

 

[Neil]

There is a new breed of lightweight yacht tender inflatable, I forget the make, but they seem both commendably light ( always an issue for both the motherboat and the operator ) and apparently they fold up smaller too.

Naturally tere's a snag, a good £100 more than Seago etc of similar size.

I think this is the one? http://3dtenders.co.uk out of stock, anyway

 

[Simso]

I think this is the one? http://3dtenders.co.uk out of stock, anyway

Yes - ordered in Early May from F4 and was told it would be in stock 1st week of June then told mid July - cancelled order and bought cheaper 2nd hand dinghy for this season.
Look very good though.

 

[lustyd]

Well I have a Vivacity 20 and manage fine with the 2.3m WavEco with transom. It fits either in the v berth or on deck, or this weekend I towed it with negligible loss of speed. I can inflate it on the coachroof and throw it in easily enough from there (tied on first!!). I also found I can put it on the coachroof on its side to take through the lock fully inflated which allows me to get around on deck still for tying up while also being able to inflate before I leave and deflate after I return.

I also have an old round tail from 1979 which has no leaks and is in immaculate condition. Unfortunately it's terrifying with a modern engine (to me at least). Of course, a dinghy my age with no leaks which rolls up to half the size of my new dinghy and fits in the boat locker has a certain attraction, but I prefer the new one. One of these days I'll put it in the for sale section if I get around to taking pics