Tiny Tenders

I keep looking for something similar, currently have an excellent Achilles 2.3m for normal use but keep a beach toy dinghy on board for occasional use.

Costco sometimes have dinghies which to my mind bridge the gap between "proper" and "toy" reasonably but they are a pain to deal with as you have to be a member and visit to see what they have in stock. I have seen others occasionally, particularly at shop in Keswick but that is not a lot of help and I can't remember the makes.

The angling press/suppliers might be worth a look.
 
used one of these - so far so good

Little Rascal said:
I have towed a dinghy in the past (12ft grp behinnd 22ft Newbridge Navigator) and whilst it was luxury with 4 people aboard, I'm really not so keen to tow when going further a field.

The canoe option is proving more expensive than a normal inflatable, except Sevylor perhaps (any views?)

Do people object to the toy dinghy on safety grounds or just cause it's ridiculous looking? I know they're unrowable in the normal sense - but packed size is attractive!

What's the smallest coventional inflatable available dya think?
Click to expand...

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/2010-video-logs/slaughden-quay/

£30 from ebay

very stable, rowable but hardly ever use it

D
 
I haven't seen them for a while now but the Puffin foldup dinghy was a fair alternative,and virtually folded flat, mmade of ply and canvas, about 6- 7ft long I believe, so no need to tow.

In 1970 or so I had an all closed cell polystyrene Puffin Pioneer,the hull about3" thick with daggerboard and plywood seats,mast and sails. Weighed just about 50lbs plus a set of oars;it also had a wooden pad on the back that would take an outboard. In those days a Johnson or Seagull. You had to be careful with any petrol spillage as it would melt the polystyrene,but to get over this problem a firm called Corrosion Ltd made a water based epoxy which, with glass cloth, formed a well for the aft area and was fuel proof.
The dinghy was about 10ft long with a hull form like the Fairey Duckling wooden tender. Cost £75 then! Was totally unsinkable even when filled with water!

There is a more recent inflatable Puffin that sails and motors well,but costs many tokens.

ianat182
 
I'd have thought you wouldn't go far wrong with a tough as old boots Avon Redstart, always a few going on ebay. Below is my Avon Redcrest (bigger) folded up stowed in front of the mast...

P5240002.JPG
 
I haven't seen them for a while now but the Puffin foldup dinghy was a fair alternative,and virtually folded flat, mmade of ply and canvas, about 6- 7ft long I believe, so no need to tow.
Click to expand...
What one of these? Ive got one. Sails well. Ghastly thing to tow until I added a skeg. Click on the picture below.

 
VicS said:
For a rigid tender then knock up something like that pictured below from a couple of sheets of WBP ply. Small enough to tow behind a 19 footer. Light enough to load onto a roof rack single handed. Just large enough for two people provided they are not both large. Will take a small outboard.

No decent quality inflatables currently available that I can find that are small enough to stow on board. Take your pick from the budget ones available. You won't catch me in a real cheap kid's beach toy

Click to expand...

A very pretty little dinghy. How much does it weigh? I've been thinking about getting a small plastic dinghy, Plastimo perhaps, to store on the foredeck but one like that is much more appealing.
 
JackFrobisher said:
A very pretty little dinghy. How much does it weigh? I've been thinking about getting a small plastic dinghy, Plastimo perhaps, to store on the foredeck but one like that is much more appealing.
Click to expand...

I dont know how much it weighs but I can still pick it up, carry it and load it on to the rook rack single handed.
Its light rather than robust but it has lasted 33 years.
It's about 7'6" long
 
I am also grappling with this question. 22ft LOA 7ft beam

There is clearly no 'perfect' solution.

For me there are two main requirements:

* Getting to shore when in a remote anchorage, I do not anticipate this happening much, but it is bound to happen.

* As a ditch option of last resort, in case of fire or catastrophic sinking.

I have spent quite a lot of time (and storage space) giving my boat positive buoyancy.

My current thinking is to get one of these
http://www.outdoorstuff.eu/departme...or-Seablade-two-Person-Sit-on-Top-ST6659#tab1

And a shorty wetsuit for both crew members, and waterproof bags for clothes.

In very flat water I should be able to get ashore dry.

In very heavy water I think I could propel the thing through breaking waves better than a toy dinghy. I would have less concerns about it breaking than a toy, it would be easier to re-board than one of the 'sit in' inflatable kayaks.

Not ideal, but for me the best compromise I think.
 
Sam, I agree you should be possible to paddle it better than a 'bad' dinghy... All good if you and your crew are comfy in kayaks (I am but not all my crew(s) are). The boat to kayak transfer is what puts me off... (seal launch of the foredeck?!)

I'm now wondering that, if I cant find anything I can stow aboard, then I may as well tow a 'proper' dinghy... something that can take my Yamaha Malta on the back.

Embracing the 'just tow' option may be the way to go - for coastal hops anyway.
 
I don't like the idea of towing personally.

The risks of the line fouling my prop are the biggest worry.

You would also have to be prepared to cut it loose in very heavy weather, just at the point when you may want it as a ditch option of last resort..
 
Little Rascal said:
Just resurrecting this thread to see if anyone has any experience with or opinions on the Navigator II or Navigator III dinghies?

Seem tougher than toys... and are going for around £100-120 inc P+P by the look of it?
Click to expand...

Well the latest Navigator III went for £145 inc postage... seems cheap for a 2.8m roundtail. Providing it's up to standard quality-wise.
 
I've had a Navigator 3 for about a year, but have not used it very much.

It is definitely a big step up in quality from a beach toy, but is not, as you would expect, in anywhere near the same league as my very ancient Tinker Tramp.

The Navigator is fine with the outboard, but does not row well. The first time out, I bent one of the pathetic little oars that it came with. Also, the rowlocks are just a fixed ring that you have to poke the oars through.....makes coming alongside tricky. It's also VERY easy to lose an oar overboard with this arrangement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top