Steve C Cronin
N/A
Oh yes; the dreaded "soapdish" or Tabor Yak!
Tender size & recommendation please.
- Thread starter Al.
- Start date
Oh yes; the dreaded "soapdish" or Tabor Yak!
jordanbasset
Well-Known Member
I had a Yam 260 inflatable, bought it second hand so do not know how old it was but it did last 4 years of near constant use before I found I was having to keep blowing it up on a regular basis. Seams were going and decided to buy another cheap dinghy rather than try and fix it (have seen others go down that route and it almost always ends in failure). The second dinghy was going strong when I sold it. I do know that a cheap dinghy will not last forever but for the convenience and ease of handling I was prepared to accept it's limited life. First one worked out at £50 a year, well worth it.
V
Vonasi
Guest
Seems like poor value to me. Our folder is in it's 13th year. Cost 400 GBP (sorry pound key missing on our keyboard!) at a boat jumble so no idea how old it really is. That means that it has cost us 30 GBP a year so far and it is showing no signs of failure. If the fabric in the folding bits ever went then I'd just glass up the seams and convert it into a non folding dinghy. So I anticipate that it has an indefinite life which makes it better value than your second hand inflatable.
You are right that attempting to repair a terminally failing dinghy - one that's going at the seams is pointless. In every marina you'll find at least one poor soul attempting to resurrect a dying example by patching and clamping and then putting patches on patches before finally working out that the whole job is a bit like polishing a turd.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Not everybody can buy a second hand boat. A new example of your dinghy costs over £1100, well over twice the price of a new inflatable. Just to put your costs into perspective, my Avon cost £350 in 1978 and is still going strong with just one patch in the floor.
Ravi
Well-Known Member
Vonasi, I don't think that the OP can seriously consider a solid tender for his Vega.
You could fight your crusade to http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?387597-Fed-up-with-inflatables/page2 where there is a thread on this very subject. I should warn you that the general consensus on there form people who have tried both types of tenders prefer inflatable ones.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
I will see your £30/yr and raise you £10/yr. My Avon cost me £50 five years ago. Happily carries me, SWMBO, a whippet, a Collie/Retriever cross, and most of our gear. I have stopped worrying about the dogs' claws going through it, it just seems to keep on going.
As to trading anecdotes of 'my choice of tender is better than yours because...', here's mine: a friend has a beautiful narrow pram dinghy which rows like a dream. We visited the Shiants together and landed in our respective tenders to go for a walk. When we got back to the boats, the tide had left them stranded 100yds from the shore, which was large boulders, kelp, and rock pools. Would you like to guess whose tender we carried across that to go back to the yachts??
V
Vonasi
Guest
Well the result of that new thread would be an obvious one. As has been mentioned in this thread by others most people have deflatables because they are easy to buy and most people follow the herd. That doesn't make them the best choice it just makes them the most popular choice - there is a difference. Popular isn't always best.
A cause may be just but sometimes it isn't worth fighting if the enemy is large in number. They are wrong, they are the enemy and you'd like to show them the error of their ways but when there is too many of them and they have made up their mind and don't want to be converted it is a pretty pointless fight. That's why I haven't posted on there.
On that note I'm off for a beer or maybe two. I can afford several as I've saved a fortune over the years by not having to buy two or three deflatable dinghies!
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
My Quicksilver cost something like €500 new, eleven years ago. It has been extensively used and is still in good condition. I am replacing it with something smaller for reasons of convenience and will sell it in the spring. I expect to get around €200 for it.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
It is absolutely and utterly a moot point. Because I have a 27ft boat (the same as the OP's!!) and therefore anything other than an inflatable will not work for me. As I told you, I have tried a small hardtail, a larger hardtail, a rigid, and an Avon, and the Avon is the one I actually use.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
What makes you think that? Mine was not new when I bought it. Just making the point that you have a very expensive little boat, and not everybody can (or wants to) buy a used one. Your boat has been on the market for over 20 years during which it has had extensive (and positive) coverage in the yachting press, but clearly not many people see advantages that justify spending over twice as much compared with an inflatable.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
Do you own an Albin Vega or similar sized boat?
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
If an Discus owner wants advice on choosing a tender, I'm sure your input would be extremely useful
Steve C Cronin
N/A
Jesus Christus! Who told your freinds that you can "repair" ANYTHING with Sikaflex. It is a SEALANT (& not that good a one) NOT an adhesive!
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Well put - my point of view exactly.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Well, given that I have had my inflatable for THREE times longer than you have had you collapsible boat (and it cost less), that is a rather odd comment to make!
Perhaps you need to open your eyes a bit and read what others are actually saying, then you might appreciate that many others (as I have said several times) go through the same process as you and come to a different decision. That does not make your decision for you wrong, nor does it imply that they have made the wrong decision for themselves.
I am sure the OP will make a wise choice, but it may not be the same as your choice. Will that make him unwise?
BTW I have never said I don't like your choice, despite what you might think. I have just pointed out one or two things that might explain why others might be reluctant to make the same choice. As it happens I have used, made and sold rigid tenders and inflatables successfully for many years and have heard all the arguments for and against all types of tenders so am quite aware that there is no perfect answer that is the same for every user. However, you cannot ignore the fact that inflatables seem to satisfy the major share of the market.
Ravi
Well-Known Member
You own a Discus? !!!! When I was boat shopping recently, I came very close to buying a Bridge Deck Discus. I liked everything about the boat but couldn't find a decent one in my price range. I have bought a lightweight Med boat for now, but I would love to own a Discus in the future. When I do, who knows, I might even consider a solid tender!
jordanbasset
Well-Known Member
Wow, this has to be one of the longest exits from a thread in forum history
Mrnotming
Well-Known Member
Albin Vega?This thread too some time to read!!! Sorry if I missed anybody's logic!
Guess something small, slatted floor,with good rowlocks.
I was not aware that Zodiac had gone bust?
At least that's an end to the melting rowlock problem on the 2.4's they supplied for citizen use.Expect the military specified ones might have lasted more than 10 minutes rowing time against F5?
I have just sold on a Brig 2.8M airdeck with Mercury 3.3 two-stroke,for the following reasons:
1. Too heavy even when components split up (for my advancing years).
2. Too much hassle to transport out to the Med.
3. Unused because of the weight for many years.
4. Zodiac 2.4 M slatted floor went into a locker on earlier Club Shamrock.
5. Zodiac may be lashed across transom of now vessel without tubes dragging when heeled.Often on deck underway.
6. Despite always being stowed away for lay-up in its bag and in a locker, it always emerges unscathed,some small buttons on the bow are the only bits that have fallen off.
7. To do: is to buy new pin type rowlocks to replace the melting type.It also boasts the same Mercury 3.3 two -stroke s/s engine.
8. I can still in a wobbly fashion, stagger to the dinghy transom, with this weight of engine.
9. I did own a Rana 9' pram dinghy once.It was great, but too heavy, and was lost in a Gale when it snapped its painter,too big to get on the deck of a 26 ft Motor sailer.
Guess something small, slatted floor,with good rowlocks.
I was not aware that Zodiac had gone bust?
At least that's an end to the melting rowlock problem on the 2.4's they supplied for citizen use.Expect the military specified ones might have lasted more than 10 minutes rowing time against F5?
I have just sold on a Brig 2.8M airdeck with Mercury 3.3 two-stroke,for the following reasons:
1. Too heavy even when components split up (for my advancing years).
2. Too much hassle to transport out to the Med.
3. Unused because of the weight for many years.
4. Zodiac 2.4 M slatted floor went into a locker on earlier Club Shamrock.
5. Zodiac may be lashed across transom of now vessel without tubes dragging when heeled.Often on deck underway.
6. Despite always being stowed away for lay-up in its bag and in a locker, it always emerges unscathed,some small buttons on the bow are the only bits that have fallen off.
7. To do: is to buy new pin type rowlocks to replace the melting type.It also boasts the same Mercury 3.3 two -stroke s/s engine.
8. I can still in a wobbly fashion, stagger to the dinghy transom, with this weight of engine.
9. I did own a Rana 9' pram dinghy once.It was great, but too heavy, and was lost in a Gale when it snapped its painter,too big to get on the deck of a 26 ft Motor sailer.
BurnitBlue
Well-Known Member
Yacht designer and builders must take the blame for not taking dinghy storing seriously. Considering the dinghy is an essential part of cruising the fact that the inflatable is available justifies in their mind that there is no problem.
My own Moody 346 has a baby stay (mast to foredeck) which totally prevents the foredeck being used for a dinghy unless it is an inflatable stored deflated. Max of 1 metre 90cm from baby stay to anchor locker, then the foredeck becomes too narrow. Aft of the mast would foul the kicker. Over the aft cabin would be ridiculous. Davits or an inflatable towed or deflated id the only solution. A wind-vane prevents a davit solution.
My, and I repeat my, only option is to build a plywood dinghy with "pontoons" like an inflatable that extend beyond the transom (actually a bit further) so that I can put the transom against the baby stay with the "pontoons" extending by half a meter on either side of the baby stay.
My own Moody 346 has a baby stay (mast to foredeck) which totally prevents the foredeck being used for a dinghy unless it is an inflatable stored deflated. Max of 1 metre 90cm from baby stay to anchor locker, then the foredeck becomes too narrow. Aft of the mast would foul the kicker. Over the aft cabin would be ridiculous. Davits or an inflatable towed or deflated id the only solution. A wind-vane prevents a davit solution.
My, and I repeat my, only option is to build a plywood dinghy with "pontoons" like an inflatable that extend beyond the transom (actually a bit further) so that I can put the transom against the baby stay with the "pontoons" extending by half a meter on either side of the baby stay.
OldBawley
Well-Known Member
The “beauty” in the avatar is indeed 27 feet.
Just like the dingy, the old boat was there when I was ready to go cruising. To small and old was what everyone told me, that old boat would be no good liveaboard cruiser. Most of them did not know I had already lived aboard for 12 years before quitting the job. So I had time and means to rebuild it into exactly what I wanted.
I still have the money to buy a “Proper cruising yacht” on an account.
Growing old a lot faster than I would like, the boat been small gets more convenient.
Our rigid dingy is indeed not fool proof. To start with, I build it a bit narrower than the original Barrow Sailor. That way I could hoist it horizontal under the existing davits / boomkin arrangement.
That means the dingy is very unstable. Only one way to get in dry, that is stepping in the middle. Once I am in, it is still tipsy, To sail it my experience as an windsurfer comes in handy. Just last month I build a new rig ( Lost the old one in nasty weather last summer ) The sail is again a bit bigger so sailing the dingy is … very exiting to say the least.
Yesterday I sailed the dingy all day loading water and diesel ( Jerry cans ) Even that dull job is a joy now.
I never tipped the dingy over, nor did swimbo.
A few times I had someone else trying to get in, they all became instant swimmers.
The”Row my dingy” contest won me some beers over the years. Most just tipped over, the dingy scoops a bit of water and swims again.
I must have some sort of “feeling “ for the little dingy´s stability.
I had been filling a few jerry cans of water on the quay in Procida, Italy.
Some old men ware playing cards next to the tap at just tree yards from where I had my dingy tied to the quay. They had been muttering something in their Procidan tongue, I had answered in Flemish witch always has immediate silence as a result.
I then had to lower myself into the dingy, take the cans on board and row off. The quay was about tree feet above the water, so I had to slide into the dingy tree feet deep and two feet from the wall not to tip the dingy over. I had done it hundreds of times, mostly under the wondering eyes of tourists.
The trick is to sit down on the quay, than lower yourself, hanging on your elbows, position the dingy with one feet and than fall in, meanwhile turning 180degrees to hold on to the quay.
I was young, had done it so often. So I untied the lanyard, kept it in the left hand and then graciously went trough my knees to sit on the quay. Behind me was a pile of fish cases. I bumpt my bum onto these cases, lost control and dived head first into the dingy.
In those days the dingy was wood witch made the “bom” noise even more bomming.
I had dived in head first, was now upside down in the dingy, my right arm under the rowing thwart and my legs pointing to the bow. After my first “Ahrrrhh......” I looked up, right into the eyes of four old guys, mouth open.
Even then, crawling into a normal upright position, I did not tip the dingy.
We have some “ swimming aid spaghetti “ tied inside the dingy to keep it floating if filled, and a rope around the boat as a primitive fender.
Would like to have a “Walker Bay” air chamber to mount onto our working horse, unfortunately to expensive.