What qualities would you look for in an inflatable dinghy?

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kyle14x7

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Hello everyone,
After having some gripes about what is currently on the market for inflatable dinghys I've decided I would try and make one of my own design. However, I could use a bit of input from other users of these types of dinghys. It would be a great help if I could get your input on this 5 question survey, and possibly comment on some additional input. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Kyle.

Survey; https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KLQQQKT
 
Pretty crap survey I'm afraid :)

I'd like to be able to carry four people - but if I tick your "4-6" box it looks like I want some vast battleship that I won't be able to stow on board.

I don't give a damn about the colour.

Length per se is not important to me, it'll be driven by the other features.

I have to store it deflated in a locker, for which you offer no option.

I can at least put features - price - quality in that order, but you have no idea what features I want so it doesn't really help :p



So, what do I want in a dinghy? The two critical requirements are that:

  • It gets three or ideally four people to the pub in shore-going clothes without wet bums or feet, across a harbour that isn't rough per se but might have a few wind ripples
  • It folds up small enough to fit in my limited locker space.

Obviously these two are in direct tension with each other, so the trick is finding the right balance. On the third dinghy now (one too big, one too small) and I think I have about the best compromise available with a conventional dinghy. Rearranging some boat systems in order to enlarge the locker has also helped, but there's only so much that can be done with our layout.

A dinghy of novel design which offered improved wet-bum protection for the same or smaller packing size would get my attention. I have visions of abnormally large tube diameters, or stacked tubes like a liferaft, or some kind of internal restraints so that the tubes inflate into an oval shape - all to lift the seat of your pants higher above the waves. Or possibly some kind of non-inflating "skirt" or wave deflector on the top of the tubes, merged into a bow dodger like you used to see on divers' inflatables in the 80s.

Another packing problem I have is the unavoidable length of the bundle, caused by the rigid transom. This only just fits diagonally across my locker. If I could fold the dinghy into a squarer shape rather than a long one, it would fit better. I'm aware of one design that has a narrow transom to clamp the motor to, and inflatable bits either side. Or of course there's the old round-tail design, but that's seemingly only available in the smallest sizes now. Presumably because it has trouble supporting heavy 4-stroke engines, though I'm clinging onto my finger-light 2-stroke for as long as possible.

Pete
 
Its a rubbish survey
I would like a dinghy to carry 100 passengers but the problems of carrying , moving on land towing on boat etce etc meant I have compromised on 1-3
Could not give a toss what colour it is but no option for that
feet are on the ned of my legs dinghies are measured in meters
No option to keep it in garage inflated
What exactly are fearures on a dinghy, if you are making one prely for yourself not many if any of these questions are relevant
 
nickd said:
Its a rubbish survey
I would like a dinghy to carry 100 passengers but the problems of carrying , moving on land towing on boat etce etc meant I have compromised on 1-3
Could not give a toss what colour it is but no option for that
feet are on the ned of my legs dinghies are measured in meters
No option to keep it in garage inflated
What exactly are fearures on a dinghy, if you are making one prely for yourself not many if any of these questions are relevant
Click to expand...

Stop pussy footin', say what you mean;).
 
You would be better simply asking what people want in a dingy than having a survey, at least until you have something to work on. Having an uninformed survey to start with simply restricts people to what YOU think they might want in a dingy. I suggest you simply start by conversing on here and build on it from there.
 
TQA said:
Big tube, Hypalon type fabric Rib with upsweep at bow. Color is irrelevant but grey is good NOT BLACK.

Must have a storage compartment that can take anchor etc.

AB 9ft VS RIB ticks the above. We have one. Will plane comfortably with three and shopping on 18hp.
Click to expand...
No no.. must be in metalic grey fleck, 2.3m PVC weigh 15kg sit 5 and do 20knt
 
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