Walker Bay 8 or 10?

Stellina

Stellina

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Mar 2006
Messages
128
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Visit site
I'm thinking of buying one of these to replace a knackered inflatable and to give the kids something to sail when they are a bit bigger. The question is, is the 8 foot with the inflatable big enough/safe for 2 adults and 2 small kids in tender mode with an outboard? It would be at the 180kg limit for loading.
 
I've got a 10. You need to be a limbo dancer to get under the boom when going about. No probs for young kids though. It sails remarkably well.

Best of all it rows beautifully with just oneself aboard. It really is a pleasure with the hull shape and efficient oars. You could happily go on for miles!

I have a 2.3hp motor which if aligned correctly and locked, allows the 'helmsman' to face forward while sitting in the centre thwart and steer by shifting weight sideways.
 
I have a 10 with 2 adults 1 child and all gear it is just right. Makes a good steady platform for unloading into boat.

Teredo - I do the balancing thing as well tough I tend to lean forward to steer. Good fun. Got a bit of plastic waste pipe that makes a good tiller extension as well.
 
We have a 10 (no inflatable collar) and we can just about get all 4 of us plus a weekend's gear in safely. (2 adults + 2 teenagers) I wouldn't like to try it in the 8.

Simon
 
It rows very well with one person in it ... put someone in the stern though and it is quite hard - you need gear in the front to balance it out.

I can get 4 small(ish) adults in - if one is prepared to crouch in the bow ... usual is 3 + lots of kit ... I could do with the collar for the additional stability, but too stingy to pay £700 for it!

The capacity of the 8 is just too little for our requirements ...
 
We carry two inflatables but wanted the convenience and resistance to abrasions offered by a rigid. I have rowed a 10 for two summers. So that’s four months using the walker bay almost every day from anchorages. Multiple daily trips to beach to restaurant etc while cruising and sometimes cursing! It rows at best OK with one and badly with any more. It is pushed off track by waves too readily so struggles going to windward in any sort of breeze with any sort of load. What’s the point of a bigger dingy if you can only transport one person effectively? We regret buying it. Anyone want to buy a cheap but rubbish Walker Bay 10 for sale in Venice!
 
I think i am the only person so far with an 8.
The 8 is fine for 2 people and a dog but is quite a tippy dinghy - much more so than an inflatable. My dad is getting on a bit and we should buy the inflatable sides to improve the stability for him but htey are expensive as mnetioned above.
You'd have a squeeze getting 2 kids and 2 adults in an 8 and those kids will keep on growing, i guess.
I think i'd go for the 10.
 
Maybe trying to do everything is a mistake. Now I'm thinking along the lines of a decent inflatable and an 8 without the collar for fun. I'm unsure if I really have the space for a 10 and would find it too big to handle alone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top