seeking advise on a hard dingy

[Minnewaska]

If you need light weight, take a look at the Apex lightweights. They are essentially a single wall rigid v-hull, with no upper flat floor. I was looking at an 11 footer that only weighed a bit over 100 lbs. Another advantage is that you have longer leg room from the sides to the floor, which extends all the way down to the V.

[treilley]

Originally Posted by CapnBilll

There was a dinghy that is also certified as a liferaft, I forget the name, but if I was going to get one that would be it.

Portland Pudgy.

Portland Pudgy safety dinghy, inflatable boat, or fiberglass dinghy?

[baboon]

I use a good quality 9ft rigid glass dingy. The primary advantage is it is great to row, so I never use a motor, although I have one. It is too big and heavy to get on deck so it gets towed, not the best option when the weather kicks up. For you capacity is the problem, mine is rated for 3 people but will sit so low in the water with that much weight that it is at risk of swamping in chop. A rigid dink that could hold 4 and a motor will be much bigger.

I am considering going with an inflatable in the future, probably one of the small achilles since they are hypalon and are very small when deflated, a issue on my 30ft boat with limited storage. It should be easyer to carry up the beach when going ashore which is an issue in my area becuase tidal changes can result in the need to carry a dink 100 or more feet to get above the tide line. Hauling the rigid boat is a real pain, even for two people.

[LinekinBayCD]

Originally Posted by CapnBilll

I would recommend fixing the leak in your inflatable. I haven't added air to mine in 4 years.

There are a few good hard dinghies, but to have the same capacity, and stability, it is going to be bigger and heavier. There was a dinghy that is also certified as a liferaft, I forget the name, but if I was going to get one that would be it.

I think you are referring to thr Portland Pudgy. It is supposed to be very stable for a hard dinghy.

[Cruisingdad]

For 5 people you are looking at over a 10'2 inflateable in many cases. Yuck on a C310.

I have owned many inflateables. The best without hauling it up is the Avon 310, IIRC. THe new ones look awesome but you are looking at 180ish-200lbs just for tender. THis of course is a RIB. If weight is a real issue, I would consider a HPIB but I have had a lot of air issues with mine. Still it is better than the slab floor. A compromise is the Walker Bay Genesis which I own now. Best tender to date for weight and all round. But to appreciate any RIB you need a good engine behind it. See if you can pick up a 2 stroke yamaha or comparable somewhere.

B

[jtsails]

While I was at the Annapolis boat show, I took a good look at the Portaboat and was impressed. There website is Porta-Bote also known as Portabote, Portaboat. Folds to 4 inches(11cm) Flat . Lots of threads about them on this site.
James

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by jtsails

While I was at the Annapolis boat show, I took a good look at the Portaboat and was impressed. There website is Porta-Bote also known as Portabote, Portaboat. Folds to 4 inches(11cm) Flat . Lots of threads about them on this site.
James

Those are pretty clever, however, I don't believe will work for the OP. The model that accommodates 5 people is 14 ft long. I also found the engine specs interesting. Most boats specify a maximum horsepower, but these folks specify a maximum engine weight, which is only 83lbs for the 14 footer and much less for smaller boats. That requirement could underpower the boat with that many people aboard.

[Sn0wman]

We bought the Zodiac Zoom 260 this spring to get back and forth to our boat on a mooring. I don't have much dinghy experience, but I have had no reason to complain. Our wood floor is far more stable than our neighbors roll up slat floor. We have had 4 adults and a child in the boat, and it looked ridiculous, but there was no stability problem. It rows reasonably, haven't gotten a motor for it yet. We generally have to make several trips if taking people out on the boat, or loading up gear for a weekend, but it serves our needs, its light enough my wife or I can move it by ourselves, having two is that much nicer, light enough to put on the coach roof up front if need be.

Cheers

[Cherie320]

Originally Posted by Sn0wman

We bought the Zodiac Zoom 260 this spring to get back and forth to our boat on a mooring. I don't have much dinghy experience, but I have had no reason to complain. Our wood floor is far more stable than our neighbors roll up slat floor. We have had 4 adults and a child in the boat, and it looked ridiculous, but there was no stability problem. It rows reasonably, haven't gotten a motor for it yet. We generally have to make several trips if taking people out on the boat, or loading up gear for a weekend, but it serves our needs, its light enough my wife or I can move it by ourselves, having two is that much nicer, light enough to put on the coach roof up front if need be.

Cheers

Sn0wman - I'm not finding many reviews on the Zoom and was wondering if you would care to comment on the quality of manufacture? Also, how small a package is it when stored? Pat

[smallboatlover]

your really better off with an inflatable safer. You want to be safe when it comes to brining a child. if you pump up the infaltable to the right psi you should be good for the hole season.