WalkerBay 8 dinghy

[Roach1948]

I am sorry if this has been posted before, but I did search, honest, and came up with stuff on ramblers on coastal paths or bays with seahorses in them!
I don’t have a dinghy at present. I used to have a flubber, but for various reasons it is no longer in my possession. So I am a traditional type of guy, and was attracted to their 8ft dinghy in their range. It has many of the attributes of a wooden tender but without the hassle. I would like to store it in the boatyard dinghy park (pretty unsecure – and flubbers tend to be their first pick), then there is the wheel that is handy, and ofcourse the fact I like to row to the boat. My boat is ¾ mile row – so is this thing better be a good rower especially in a chop? I might put an outboard on it (when I am really can’t row against the tide – is it stable enough for 2hp? Often sail by myself, occasionally I sail with a crew, but in rare circumstances with two crew – could she transport three at a push? The flubber of similar size could. Lastly, how well does this thing tow?
So anybody out there with the pro’s and con’s of a WB8, I will be happy to hear your opinions.

PS, and is that ditty little sail kit worth having?

 

[fireball]

We've got a 10 - so a little larger ...

happy with it - it's light, has a false floor in the stern so bags go there so nothing gets wet if we get any water in ..
Without the RID it's a little tippy - but we've never upended it (despit trying!) .. and we can get 4 adults in at a push.
It takes a 2.5hp on the back that almost planes with just 1 up ...
We don't often row - but when the engine did pack up (you have to put fuel in it!) I had to row the 0.5nm back - it was a bit of work, but doable ...

Towing it is fine - but I wouldn't want to do it too often as it slows the boat down too much!

 

[Skylark]

I have a WB8 and it's lain untouched and unloved for several years. It's a great looking tender but that's the only positive comment I'll make. I found it exceptionally tippy and unstable, it made me nervous to use it. I used a 2.5 hp 2 stroke outboard without problem. I don't recall it being a trouble to tow.

One notable evening leaving the slip for the mooring, my girlfriend (at the time), not a lover of the sea I should add, loved to complain about everything related to boating, moved her weight forward and "wheel barrowed" the nose and almost dived the bow deep into the brine. We both immediately and intuitively shifted our weight to recover, fortunately we did and fortunately she never said a word for the entire evening. (to anyone who knows me, no, the girlfriend is not the current Mrs J ).

Today, I'm very happy to use a blow-up floppy with wooden slatted floor.

 

[TrailerSailer]

I've got a second hand 8' with the collar. Had 2 adults, one golder retreiver and 2 teenagers in it once along with a whole load of kit in it in waterproof bags. Got swamped and it still kept on going with a 2.5hp on it! Just don't ask why!!

It rows well although I'm not the best at rowing. Keeps a course well and the oars are of good quality.

It tows OK. I had it at 7.5kts the other day behind the boat. Not something I normally do as it tends to get left on the mooring and I use a Lodestar on board but if I have the mutt with us the ruggedness of the Walker is much better.

The wheel at the rear is next to useless if you are on your own, but great if there are 2 of you to haul it. On your own I find that it tips over and the tubes scrape along the ground.

Overall it is good. Given the choice I'd go for the 10' and most definately get the collar.

 

[FullCircle]

I have the 8 and I am smitten by it.

I have the performance sail kit, which is grand fun, but most importantly....

...you need the inflatable tubes.

This is what makes it so stable, and together with the fitted buoyancy bag, it aint gonna sink. 4 chambers, and well protected with the strip.

It rows really well, and the Walker Bay oars are well weighted and a good length.
It sails well in light winds, but havent been able to test it properly due to high winds in the last month.
I have carried 3 quite heavy people in it, and I thought it worked very well, certainly better than any other 8 ft dinghies I have had in the past.

The wheel is next to useless on shale or stony beaches, and of course does nothing in mud except clog up.

So, I have added little saddle clips to everything, so it all clips on, including the outboard.

I am having a pair of easily detachable wheels made which will clip into the existing keel aperture for their wheel, and will use a drop nose pin to keep it in.
I am also adding an outboard pad off centre so that I can keep the outboard on when its sailing.

I have now got it on 4 lifting eyes, and it lives on the foredeck. I have taken the inflatable off the boat now, which says something.

Oh, forgot to mention, SWMBO hates dinghies, but feels safe in this one.

They are pricey but I think worth the money (eventually, but I took some convincing).

My best buy of 2011.

 

[Boo2]

(to anyone who knows me, no, the girlfriend is not the current Mrs J ).

Today, I'm very happy to use a blow-up floppy with wooden slatted floor.

But what do you use for a tender ?



Boo2

 

[Otter]

The best tender i've ever had, but without the inflatable tube it would be awful

It sailed well, rowed pretty well and motored just fine. It was light weight, the tube made a great fender and is was good looking. But I had to sell it

Has anyone got a WB10 I can buy please?

 

[prv]

I am having a pair of easily detachable wheels made which will clip into the existing keel aperture for their wheel

There's a couple of what I think are Walker Bays in the toastracks on my pontoon. I see they have a dinky little centreboard slot in the middle. Perhaps a 10" wheel or two could be put on a frame that inserts into the centreboard slot - then it would be supported more or less in the middle and not need lifting while pulling, and could be spun round on the spot in tight spaces.

Pete

 

[mcframe]

I have the 8 and I am smitten by it.
[]
They are pricey but I think worth the money (eventually, but I took some convincing).

My best buy of 2011.

Wot he says - it /almost/ planes with a 3.3 and me in the bow with a 3-foot tube on the O/B tiller:-> Good for 2 adults + 2 kids + as much kit as you can stow.

I think mine once got caught under the boat when we dried out cos the next morning it was still floating (with tubes) but was *completely* full of water...

My NextBoat(tm) will have space for a 10', either on davits or upside-down on the foredeck.

 

[Roach1948]

Walker Bay 8

So basically the story I am getting is that they are tippy (I have heard this before) unless they have the tubes on (which almost cost the price of the boat itself!) - I dont think I can afford boat and tubes, but maybe it is possible to upgrade to the tubes later on - or are these factory fitted?

 

[fireball]

It is possible to add the tubes at a later date ... and yes - they are expensive, and yes I would like some for our WB10 ...
As for being Tippy - well - that's rather dependant on what you're comparing with ...
Compare with a flubber and yes - it is very tippy ...
Compare with a similar sized 8' solid tender and no - it's about the same .. as to be expected with a small lightweight dinghy with low freeboard.

 

[whipper_snapper]

without tubes I would describe the 8 as lethal, not 'a bit tippy'. I have one and I hate it! the only upside is that it is very tough. but with tubes out becomes insanely expensive and still not as good for most purposes as an inflatable. imho!

 

[FullCircle]

without tubes I would describe the 8 as lethal, not 'a bit tippy'. I have one and I hate it! the only upside is that it is very tough. but with tubes out becomes insanely expensive and still not as good for most purposes as an inflatable. imho!

I have had a variety of lethal 8 footers over the years.

The addition of the tubes (Gulp cost!!) was like night and day.
It is IMHO, far superior to anything except a rigid RIB, and sails quite nicely too.

If you hate it that much, please donate it to Roach1948......

 

[Roach1948]

Rowing Stability

Well I too was wondering about the definition of "tippy", as I think few modern sailors have rigid dinghies or row. I have had a fair few rigid dinghies in my time too, and they have ALL been tippier than a flubber. BUT, flubbers don't row at all (and that is what I want the W8 for), and once in the swing and rythmn of rowing, some rigids remain tippy and others stabalise and cut through the water a treat even allowing to feather (Prameke, Nutshell, HumbleBee and Auks are examples) - I wonder if the Walker Bay is one of these?

 

[fireball]

The only tippy bit of our WB10 is when you're getting in and out.

We don't load stuff into the bows - which is where it's narrow so therefore can be quite tippy if you're weighted there.

When alone in the boat I set the motor off and move into the bow section and steer the boat by leaning it one way or the other ...

I don't row it often - but when I have it's been as good as the GRP tender we have at the club

The best thing to do would be to try one - then you can establish if it's too tippy for you ...

 

[whipper_snapper]

The only tippy bit of our WB10 is when you're getting in and out.

Sounds like the 10 is massively more stable than the 8.

When alone in the boat I set the motor off and move into the bow section and steer the boat by leaning it one way or the other

If I tried that on my wb8, I would certainly capsize it.

When alone in the boat I squat in the stern with the bow pointing skywards. The slightest lateral unbalance sends the boat careering off to one one side and threatening a death roll. I have never actually put a gunnel under, but have come heart stoppingly close.


It is great that it is virtually indestructible. We regularly drag it brutally over coral, rock and concrete. On the other hand, if it was an inflatable weighing half as much we would often not need to drag it at all. The biggest downside is that it is useless as a platform for snorkeling, swimming and generally mucking about.


..

 

[fireball]

It possibly also helps that I race dinghies - so pretty used to the boat moving under me!

 

[whipper_snapper]

me too. a laser dead downwind in a massive swell is easy by comparison

 

[Roach1948]

Walker Bay 8

Well I decided to get one. I got a good deal and one thing I like is that it will be left out all year in the dinghy park so and it is indistructable. Next year I will invest in the tube (on my anual trip to the states) but for the moment I will be in possession of a tippy tender soon. I will let you all know how I get on when I take delivery.

 

[NUTMEG]

Too late now but I had one (see video page on blog). Very unstable, chopped it in fir a BIC245, similar price, much better boat with really useful wheels. Now also have a Plastimo 240 inflatable - brilliant.

Be careful in the WB8 and wear LJ!