sorry, help with selecting the best small dinghy... yawn...

[Firefly625]

I think these sort of posts have been done to death... but not by me, so I thought it is about my turn!

I need to shed weight (OK, well I do, but so does my boat!). I also want to get a dinghy that my daughter can row. Currently I have a stupid situation really.. I like having an auxiliary engine for my single engined Hardy, so have a Suzuki 6hp long shaft OB. To get a dinghy that would take the weight I got a Seago 270 with inflatable floor.. (replaced my seago 240 which wouldn't take the weight... with me standing near the transom water was starting to lap over!).

Trouble is the 6hp OB its a bit of a pain to lug out the cockpit locker sometimes, so I happened to have a little Honda 2hp OB at home which I took to the boat last year & is also in the cockpit locker... so for ease of lugging about I stick that on instead on my 6hp... (yes, this is all on a 26ft boat..!, said I needed to shed some weight!).

My current dinghy, the 270 seago my daughter cannot row. The tubes are too far apart and one of the snap davit pads position makes rowing a bit tricky, especially if you are small. (something I didn't think of at the time of fitting them).

So I want something smaller that my daughter can row. I want something with an inflatable floor, I don't like slatted floors. I do like a inflatable keel or V floor. I would like it to be able to put my 6hp on it... but not a necessity.. just fun. Oh, and I don't want to spend much money.

Have been looking at;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400028354173&category=56422&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

never heard of Sun sport before now. But looks like it ticks most of the boxes...

The other one is a Lodestar 230NSA...

http://www.rochemarine.co.uk/pages/Lodestar-Press.html

Can anyone suggest any others I have missed?

..anyone want to buy a 3 year old Seago 270 with inflatable floor and snap davit pads!??

 

[rafiki_]

The Sun Sport looks very expensive to me. Force 4 will do something similar I think for about half the price.

 

[U4]

I've got a Honwave and am really happy with it. It has an inflatable V floor, is really well constructed and has big tubes so you dont get wet!

http://www.honda.co.uk/marine/inflatables/T24IE2/

 

[Ripster]

The Sunsports are well made - but expensive.

I have been looking for a new Tender too and the lightest, decent one at a reasonable price I reckon is the Excel range. Have a look. www.excel-inflables.co.uk They seem well made (I have looked at a few) and two of my neighbours in the Marina have one each and have had no probs yet (about 2 years old).

Also looked at Honwave - expensive
Tetra-pro - cheap but heavy, not sure on quality but have a movable seat.
Seago - you know these
Wetline blue range - very good - but heavy.

There are many others - worth a look on Ronhale.

 

[Nick_H]

I bought one of these. It's v light, and easyish to store deflated on board as the transom is smaller. Although it says max 5hp it'll be fine with 6, especially as you have extra buoyancy at the transom

http://www.piplers.co.uk/3646/Plastimo-COMPACT-LIGHT-INFLATABLE-DINGHY-P240.html

 

[Firefly625]

Thanks Ripster, got to say that excel 230 seems good, just 28kg... and packed size is small.

Some kind chap has just pm'ed me & offered a honwave 240... its 33kg... and packed size is bigger than my 270 seago...! but I am still tempted, so may go to have a look at that on the weekend.

This forum is good!!

 

[Firefly625]

I bought one of these. It's v light, and easyish to store deflated on board as the transom is smaller. Although it says max 5hp it'll be fine with 6, especially as you have extra buoyancy at the transom

http://www.piplers.co.uk/3646/Plastimo-COMPACT-LIGHT-INFLATABLE-DINGHY-P240.html

never seen one of those!! Dimensions stowed 89 x 52 x 28cms, compares to my current seago which is 115/56/30. Tube diameter 42cms compares to my seago 41cm. Weight 20 .kilo, compares to seago 38kg

Thanks for that Nick_H !

can't wait for the next suggestion, by this rate it will weigh nothing and take a 10hp OB!

 

[Firefly625]

I've got a Honwave and am really happy with it. It has an inflatable V floor, is really well constructed and has big tubes so you dont get wet!

http://www.honda.co.uk/marine/inflatables/T24IE2/

Thanks Aigua.. I know the Honwaves are good. and there is a part of me which says I am supporting the Honda brand by getting one & I can actually get them at a "staff" discount rate...but I had ruled them out as they are not that much lighter or smaller than what I have (shows they are a quality product). Then I get offered a second hand one and I'm very tempted... so we will see!

 

[paultallett]

Hi Firefly,

Another vote for the Excel..... My boys (4 & 7) have no problem with it. It's in the racks at Mercury if you want to take a look?? Quality isn't bad either considering it cost not a lot!!

 

[Firefly625]

Hi Firefly,

Another vote for the Excel..... My boys (4 & 7) have no problem with it. It's in the racks at Mercury if you want to take a look?? Quality isn't bad either considering it cost not a lot!!

Paul, well I'm going to be digging around the racks this weekend as there's a Honwave 240 i'm going to look at!! So will indeed have a look at your excel as well... will be a useful comparison! Many thanks,

James

 

[MapisM]

How critical is the "shed weight" part of your plan?
I'm asking because it seems to me that the requirements for a tender are not the same as those of a small rowing boat for fun.
For the latter, I think that an inflatable kayak like those made by Sevylor would be hard to beat.
You should probably keep the tender, hence not sheding any weight, but the kayak addition would neither hurt space nor weight too much...

 

[Kawasaki]

I think these sort of posts have been done to death... but not by me, so I thought it is about my turn!


YAWN

I need to shed weight I don't like slatted floors. . Oh, and I don't want to spend much money.

YAWN

Have been looking at;

YAWN



Can anyone suggest any others I have missed?
Ywn, that's Welsh the the way!

..anyone want to buy a 3 year old Seago 270 with inflatable floor and snap davit pads!??

YAWN
Snore


Boring

 

[AndieMac]

YAWN
Snore


Boring

You making mischief again Kwacka?!

 

[Firefly625]

YAWN
Snore


Boring

I did apologise before the post, and happy to apologise during, especially for you Kwackas!!

But TBH, i think some of the suggestions are quite interesting, these smaller Dinghys capable of taking a 5hp engine & weighing just 20kg... or is that just me..

 

[paultallett]

Paul, well I'm going to be digging around the racks this weekend as there's a Honwave 240 i'm going to look at!! So will indeed have a look at your excel as well... will be a useful comparison! Many thanks,

James

Have a gander, it will be a little low on air as we haven't had it out since June!! It's 5 years old and has lived outside for the past 3 of those, so will give you a good idea of the quality.

 

[AndieMac]

But TBH, i think some of the suggestions are quite interesting, these smaller Dinghys capable of taking a 5hp engine & weighing just 20kg... or is that just me..

Looking at the price from Nick-H's link, that is better than half the price they retail here for, no wonder you can afford 3 dinghies and multiple outboards!