Sandpiper 8 Dinghy

kwaltersmi · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

I just picked up a little Sandpiper 8 dinghy for $150. I couldn't pass it up for that price.

Does anyone else have one of these? Are they miserable to row? I'm hoping it's at least easier to row than my 8' Quicksilver PVC inflatable.

RandyonR3 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

I bought on of those a few years ago at the boat show. What I was supprised about was its life.. When not un use, I kept it bottom-side-up on the dock... The material borke down in just a few mounths and it fell apart.. I ended up sending it off in the trash can...
The cost wasnt that much but I though it should last more than one season... If you keep it outside, keep it covered.......

AjariBonten · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

What is it made of that would deteriorate that quickly? Cardboard? Your dock isn't close to any leaky nuke plants, is it Randy?

That's just seems bizarre to me.

Fred

kwaltersmi · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

They are made of "ABS Plastic" with a foam core. I'm surprised too, because during the bit of research I did, most sources seemed to list "durable" as an attribute.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

It probably rows better than an inflatable, since it is a rigid dinghy and less energy is lost to the flexing of the boat. The material may not be well UV-stabilized, so covering the dinghy is probably a good and cheap precaution to take.

rperret · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

It probably rows better than an inflatable, since it is a rigid dinghy and less energy is lost to the flexing of the boat. The material may not be well UV-stabilized, so covering the dinghy is probably a good and cheap precaution to take.

Yes, I researched these boats a while back and someone had also mentioned that it lacked good UV stabilization - in fact I recall speaking to someone at the company and they recommended keeping it covered when not in use....

SVDistantStar · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007

Well im glad i spend my money on a used Avon. I was going to buy one of these and was still considering it, but not now.

Ive been thinking of picking up a little fibrelgass dingy thats like the Sandpiper and building a mold from it to make me a damn good dingy. Think i could sell them?

kwaltersmi · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007

Well, if nothing else, my two daughters love the little Sandpiper. They're gonna have a blast on it next summer. We'll walk it down to the river this weekend for a "sea trial".

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007

You might run into some legal problems doing that. The hull may be copyrighted, and making copies of it are going to be copyright infringement. I know of at least one case involving a sailboat where this was the case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVDistantStar

Well im glad i spend my money on a used Avon. I was going to buy one of these and was still considering it, but not now.

Ive been thinking of picking up a little fibrelgass dingy thats like the Sandpiper and building a mold from it to make me a damn good dingy. Think i could sell them?

SVDistantStar · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007

SailingDog,
Yea ive thought about that. I was thinking if i did it, i would change a few things on the hull to make it not 100% like the older one. Eh, its just been a dream of mine for some years to do that.