Towing a rigid tender

[NormanS]

JD and Serin. Perhaps I should explain that we do a lot of hill-walking, and wandering about in the rain, from our boat, so we often land in some out of the way places, and may be ashore for some hours. Sometimes, depending on the shore, we can anchor the dinghy off or tie it off, but often it's best to carry it up above the HW mark. For this the rubber dinghy is unbeatable. I normally row, even fair distances, and only use the outboard for longer distance expeditions.
But we all have our own preferencies, and I respect yours.

 

[JumbleDuck]

JD and Serin. Perhaps I should explain that we do a lot of hill-walking, and wandering about in the rain, from our boat, so we often land in some out of the way places, and may be ashore for some hours. Sometimes, depending on the shore, we can anchor the dinghy off or tie it off, but often it's best to carry it up above the HW mark. For this the rubber dinghy is unbeatable.

I see what you mean. I fitted my pram with god carrying handles front and back so with two people it's pretty easy to carry up a beach or foreshore. I agree that a lightweight inflatable would be even easier.

 

[Serin]

JD and Serin. Perhaps I should explain that we do a lot of hill-walking, and wandering about in the rain,

In your part of the world I would probably do the same (rain and all) But in mine it usually isn't possible to get ashore except near high water and my apres sail recreations are mainly water borne. Exploring quiet little creeks that wind deep into the countryside; discovering ancient quays where barges loaded hay for the horses of London and smacks unloaded starfish straight to the farms for fertilizer; visiting the seal families hauled out on the mudbanks; drifting through the marshes amongst flocks of feeding waders and wildfowl.........

And, lest anyone gets the wrong idea, that mud is a blessing to us in many different ways. After a lifetime of sailing all over Europe and parts of America, I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, to echo your words with some much in use in our family - each tae their ane, as the auld wife said when she kissed the coo!

 

[Seajet]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Both issues are easily avoided. Speaking as a user of both solid and inflatable tenders, depending on what kind of sailing I'm doing, I would really miss the many and varies pleasures of the barrow boat, especially when used for sailing, rowing and sculling. Those pleasures are more easily come by if you sail in areas with sheltered anchorages and interesting small scale topography that invites exploration beyond where the mother ship can go. That's when the rigid tender can really add to the enjoyment.

The west coast of Scotland is just such an area.

Edited to add: Getting to and from the boat - inflatable is fine (although there is some advantage in not having the hassle of inflating the thing, fitting the outboard etc.) For more leisurely pottering and to add some little boat joys to the enterprise, then a rigid dinghy has much more to offer. Horses for courses.

Hmmm,

think we'll have to agree to disagree re using an inflatable to and from the mooring.

Inflatables don't like lots of U/V 24/7 in a tender pen and are easily stolen ( one near us was padlocked to the mooring so they just cut off the fabric lug ) and they don't like abrasion even on smooth concrete slips.

If taking it to and fro in the car each time it's a lot of space used up, and on the return trip a nasty wet thing to stow.

From my experience an inflatable on board and a rigid for the mooring - so the crucial check before taking up a mooring is ' does it have a secure tender pen and car parking ? ' - is the way I like it, but with the inflatable stowed not towed.

 

[Serin]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Hmmm,

think we'll have to agree to disagree re using an inflatable to and from the mooring.

Inflatables don't like lots of U/V 24/7 in a tender pen and are easily stolen ( one near us was padlocked to the mooring so they just cut off the fabric lug ) and they don't like abrasion even on smooth concrete slips.

As it happens I agree with you. I dislike our inflatable and only take it on longer passages or when we expect to be alongside rather than anchored. It's stowed on board, but I use it very rarely. But I'm always happy to step down into the footboat (as tenders were known to the smacksmen) whose only sin is to slow us down a bit.