alant
Well-Known Member
Lot's of these 'sailing' versions on ebay etc.
Do they actually sail, or is this a gimmick?
Do they actually sail, or is this a gimmick?
Tinker Tramp
- Thread starter alant
- Start date
Seajet
...
I have only ever seen the odd one or two sailing, certainly wouldn't buy one as an actual sailing dinghy, it's just a bonus when in port to have this facility with the tender to play with.
I've never understood the idiotically low bow on the Tramp, and yes funnily enough water does go in over it !
I've never understood the idiotically low bow on the Tramp, and yes funnily enough water does go in over it !
Frankie-H
Well-Known Member
Once you have got used to them and rake the mast to the right angle, they sail well and are great fun. At that age, watch for the floor delaminating and coming unglued from the transom and the tubes.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
I have the Traveller and the uprated sail system. Sails well enough to make it enjoyable and twitchy at times. You need to pump everything up as hard as possible to avoid mast sag to loo'ard.
There was good commendatory article in PBO a couple of years ago by Colin ??? Jones who used one all over France while he was a liveaboard on his Colvic Watson 28.
There was good commendatory article in PBO a couple of years ago by Colin ??? Jones who used one all over France while he was a liveaboard on his Colvic Watson 28.
NealB
Well-Known Member
I've had one for years. It's great fun for exploring the upper reaches of creeks, when you're anchored......you need to get your weight forward, particularly to windward.
They row, and motor, much better than any other inflatable I've known.
Seajet...the low bow is so you can get aboard from the water.
neil_s
Well-Known Member
I capsized mine after accidental gybe. It immediately went right over, of course! Surprisingly, it responded to usual dinghy practice and was up and going again in a couple of minutes.
Neil
Neil
Elessar
Well-Known Member
They sail and are great fun.
In a blow they don't heel the bendand just the mast heels which is weird, and they don't point well, don't expect the performance or a rigid dinghy. But for what they are they are fab.
But as a mobo owner it's a delight to get a sailing fix.
Only snag as a dual purpose boat is that they are heavy when folded.
snorkmaiden
Well-Known Member
Tinker dinghy rig
We have only tried ours in light - zero airs. Advice has it that they 'fold up' in stronger winds. I'd agree that motoring and rowing, they absolutely have it. I have a spare sailing rig (no sail) if anyone is interested. Also a very old (but probably OK) liferaft conversion kit. And if you have room to carry the sailing rig - why not?
We have only tried ours in light - zero airs. Advice has it that they 'fold up' in stronger winds. I'd agree that motoring and rowing, they absolutely have it. I have a spare sailing rig (no sail) if anyone is interested. Also a very old (but probably OK) liferaft conversion kit. And if you have room to carry the sailing rig - why not?
Pleiades
Well-Known Member
Little Tinkers
Hi Alant,
article on Little Tinkers here:-
http://www.sailers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=302
Great performance under oars or outboard, heavy dingy in comparison with an Avon Redcrest and with the folding floor they will not pack away into a locker the way an Avon will. The low bow looks odd but under way it rides clear of the waterline if properly trimmed and the fixed spray cover sheds bigger waves.
As regards performance under sail - well as has been said, they do not compare at all with a rigid sailing dingy, but they are great fun to sail and life at an anchorage is greatly enriched if you or the crew can go off for a mini cruise on the blow up yacht.
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
Hi Alant,
article on Little Tinkers here:-
http://www.sailers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=302
Great performance under oars or outboard, heavy dingy in comparison with an Avon Redcrest and with the folding floor they will not pack away into a locker the way an Avon will. The low bow looks odd but under way it rides clear of the waterline if properly trimmed and the fixed spray cover sheds bigger waves.
As regards performance under sail - well as has been said, they do not compare at all with a rigid sailing dingy, but they are great fun to sail and life at an anchorage is greatly enriched if you or the crew can go off for a mini cruise on the blow up yacht.
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I swapped mine for a Walker bay 8 with inflatable tubes. Proper job now I have added a jib to it.
youen
Well-Known Member
tinker
Have one for sale in France because I swap it for a Avon dinghy which was lighter and easier to store in the cockpit locker
Have one for sale in France because I swap it for a Avon dinghy which was lighter and easier to store in the cockpit locker
Modulation
Well-Known Member
I've got one - the super tramp version. People tend to buy them to meet a very specific set of needs. Mine were
a) That I could store it on a narrow balcony in my little holiday house in Portugal (no free yard space)
b) That it is liftable by one person
c) that I could motor it row it or sail it
d) That it could fit into the boot of a smallish car
e) That it could take 4 people under power
After a few months research this turned out to be the only craft which met the above criteria
a) Fully met
b) Just about met - it's bloody heavy
c) Motoring - brilliant with new 4hp Yamaha
Rowing - very good
Sailing - It's just about alright. Fine for broad reaching and downwind. Pretty poor at pointing and I've given up trying to get anything closer than 60deg. Body weight location on the thing makes a huge difference
d) Good
e) Fully met
I've had it 3 years and adapted it in a lot of ways to get over the pointing shortcomings.
Would I buy one again? Probably.
dulcibella
Well-Known Member
Excellent fun under sail, but their greatest feature is their performance when being rowed. They have 6-ft, one-piece wooden oars and are stiff enough to run very well.
