The 'D' Word

[joanne2]

The \'D\' Word

So I learn from an earlier posting by my husband that we are off to look round chandlerys at the weekend, this can only mean one thing - he has decided which Dinghy he wants to buy - but what will it be:

Wetline
Zodiac
Avon
Quicksilver
Bombard
XM

I can't remeber anymore because I lost interest after going through all the pros and cons of the above. All I know is that it has to be one with an inflatable floor which will take two adults and two children and be about 2.6/2.8.

Which would you recommend and why just so I can sound to Nick that I know what I am talking about?


Thanks
Joanne

 

[DepSol]

Re: The \'D\' Word

I am not going through all that again!!

Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[Bejasus]

Re: The \'D\' Word

This is becoming more like 'War of the Roses' with every passing post............lol

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/h00>http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/h00</A>

 

[ccscott49]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Avon, made out of hypalon, still, best of the bunch, NOT zodiac. Just say things like, "I don't like the pvc ones, they aren't as hard wearing as hypalon, the avon 2.8 rib, seems a very good buy", which it is. also the puff up floor one.

 

[Guest]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Got a Quicksilver 270 Airdeck, FWIW. Carries two adults and two kids, plus enough stuff for a day on the beach. With a Yamaha 8hp 2 stroke, it's fast enough to pull the kids on a small inflatable sled thing

 

[jfm]

Re: The \'D\' Word

It's only a dinghy! Just buy the very first one you see in the very first shop you go to. Go on, do, it will be fine

 

[jimg]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Blimey! Some of us buy, use and sell boats faster than this!

 

[BarryH]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Bombard made by Zodiac, well thats what it says in the handbook that came with ours, bit cheaper too. Avon been in the game years as have zodiac. Avons probably a bit dearer than the others, Wetline do a good'un for not much dosh as do Compass. All said and done, I lay money on it that the thing gets used once or twice a year! We've had one ages and I can count on one hand the amount of times I've actually used it from the boat. The kids inflate it and take me to the pub more than I have. They still expect me to fill the outboard tank though and it came with a perfectly good set of oars!

I hope I read your post correctly. 'D' word as in dingy and not Divorce!

 

[hlb]

Re: The \'D\' Word

But will also rip the davits off the back of all but a super tanker, so stick to 4HP outboard.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Guest]

Re: The \'D\' Word

The Yam weighs 27kg, which is manageable to take on and off. The tender sits on Weaver snapdavits. I'm investigating the Weaver Lever, as well. More to the point, with the 8hp, it goes like stink, and is outrageous fun for a tender. Which shouldn't be overlooked with kids.

 

[hlb]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Could not be doing with taking outboard on and off. The amout of times we use the dinghy, it would be like a brides nighty!!

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Forbsie]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Has Nick been talking to Learner?

IS Nick Learner?

Joanne, just give him his pocket money and tell him to go and buy it himself or I can do you a nice deal on a folding dinghy. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/forbsie?&page=1>My Project</A>

 

[DIW]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Just bought a Wetline 230RT from Marine Super Store at Port Solent very good value and packs up nice and tidy in its own little bag!
Capt

 

[burgundyben]

Re: The \'D\' Word

That would be my approach too. Glad to see someone else just gets on with it.

"Who was he?"

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: The \'D\' Word

I agree with hlb. The overriding factor is weight whether you store the dinghy on davits or blow it up every time. You will very quickly get fed up with hauling a 8hp or 10hp o/board out of your lazarette; a 4hp is plenty for pottering around and powerful enough to make a 2.8m dinghy plane with a couple of light persons on board. I would also suggest that you get a 4 stroke o/board rather than 2 stroke because it saves all that faffing around with oil when you fill the tank and stops the dinghy floor becoming a big oily mess which the kids then walk into the saloon
An inflatable floor dinghy is preferable to one with a slatted floor because its much easier to put together. But if you're going to store the dinghy on proper davits, I think you need to be looking at a RIB type dinghy with a hard floor which gives much more rigid fixing points for the davit wires
Personally, I've had good experience with a 3.0m Valiant dinghy and 4hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard. Big enough for a family of 4 plus dog but light enough to haul up a beach

 

[c_j]

Re: The \'D\' Word

We have used an Avon 2.8 airdeck with 5 HP yam for last couple of years and it has been great. We are changing it this year for a jet rib but from what I have seen and heard I think the Avon is worth the extra.
If you want to buy mine PM me.

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

www.stone.uk.com

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Re: The \'D\' Word

We use an Avon 280 rib with a 10HP Mariner on the back. The outobard sits on a bracket and acts as an auxilliary, the rest dangles from davits.

The rib/engine combination is a hooligan's package, 20 knots one up and 18 with two adults, but will potter along happily with two adults and two children (no, I've never tried to get the thing to plane 4 up).

Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[c_j]

Re: The \'D\' Word

Can you pull a child wakeboarder with that setup?

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

www.stone.uk.com

 

[Guest]

Re: The \'D\' Word

doubt it, Chris. You saw us trying with an 8hp last year - OK for small kids and inflatables, but no more. Reckon you're going to need at least 25hp for boarding, more for skiing.