Disposable Inflatable Dinky ?

[Freesail99]

I found this last night while looking for something else.


Navigator III 400 Inflatable Boat Set - Wal-Mart

[TrueBlue]

This novelty POS is useful in what way? Seems to redefine the term "tender", probably rip open upon the first beach landing.

[Freesail99]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

This novelty POS is useful in what way? Seems to redefine the term "tender", probably rip open upon the first beach landing.

Why do you think I said Disposable Inflatable ?

[kwaltersmi]

Well, it is relatively cheap and probably stows fairly small, but beyond that I wouldn't think it's worth even the $249 asking price if the intended use is an every day tender for a sailboat. I can tell by looking at it that it won't row worth a darn, which is one of my most important criteria for a tender.

FYI - I picked up a used Sandpiper 8 for $150 last fall. While the Sandpiper isn't exactly a super high-quality dinghy either, it does row excellent and has a hull that can take repeated beachings.

[CLucas]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

This novelty POS is useful in what way? Seems to redefine the term "tender", probably rip open upon the first beach landing.

I suppose it has its place somewhere... I've been looking for an inflatable to banish the kids to when they're bored -- something to tow (w/the kids) behind the boat in light winds (don't think this is up to the task).

I like the nifty anchor screened onto the bow (very nauty). Key features from the description...

• "Airtight in water" (always a good thing -- what about out of water? Can we assume it's water tight, too?)
• "Highly resistant to... salt water" (also good)
• "Marine plywood coated with Polyurethane (PU) pain coating" I'm assuming they're talking about the optional motor mount here. What is a "pain coating"? Fortunately it's only rated up to 2.5 HP -- not certain how sturdy that mount is... better stick to the 3/4HP and be safe

[/SARCASM] Happy Friday.

[CLucas]

Originally Posted by Freesail99

I found this last night while looking for something else.


Navigator III 400 Inflatable Boat Set - Wal-Mart

All kidding aside... If you're in the market for an inexpensive inflatable, Defender has a great clearance sale on 2007 Silver Marine inflatables. Not familiar with Silver Marine, but they have a 5year warranty -- 4 years longer than WalMart.

Another option worth considering is the WM RU260 rollup @ $799. Made by Zodiac and, despite being a WM product, gets pretty good reviews and isn't a bad price for a non-planing, roll-up. Defender has roll-ups at around $500 (see above)

Chris

[Birdface]

All the handles are extremely weakly bound to the body.

I went this way when I first bought my boat because I was flat broke.

The "dingy" lasted two sails. It broke a seam at the base of one of the handhold, sank, filled with water, and created a big pain in the rear to retrieve, drain, and throw out.

Big waste of plastic, money, and will become a land-fill resident within a half season.

[ChicagoNewport27]

*shrug*

Looks just as Good (or bad) as the SeaEagle 8 I picked up last season, which has been serving me fine. Rows fine, motors okay with a trolling motor. Has survived many beachings.

[sailingdog]

Getting cheap tools and cheap inflatable dinghies are generally unwise investments... You pay for them several times over... when you buy them, when they let you down, when you eventually buy what you should have in the first place.

[CaptKermie]

The Navigator III (disposable Dinghy) is not a Tender nor do I believe it was ever meant to be. It is just another bathtub toy for the kids to play with at the summer cabin on the lake. Many years ago I had a similar toy but it was a two person canoe of the same quality. It lasted the whole summer before getting destroyed, but hey, it cost very little to begin with so big deal, we got got our moneys worth out of it and then some. The toy above is only $250.00, a days wage for some, and it is sold at Wal-Mart that pretty much tells you all you need to know. It is kinda like comparing those aluminum carabiners with "not for climbing" stamped on them to the professional stainless steel ones, the latter being for professional use and the former as a toy imitation.