[Hugh Howey]

Hello all, new to the forums. I've done some searching and reading on other people's dinghy decisions, which has just made me even more confused. I would love the impossible: For me to pose my conundrum and every one of you to point out the same obvious choice, so I know I'm doing the right thing.

I need to supply a dinghy for a new 50' catamaran. The dinghy sits on chocks, rather than dangle from a davit, so I can get something up to 650 lbs. I'd be happy with anything from a 10' RIB with a 20hp tiller to a 13' aluminum RIB with a 40hp and console. The latter will mean longer and faster outings and adventures, but maybe a bigger target for thieves?

I plan on living aboard for the next 10 or so years and cruising the world. I've lived aboard before and spent a decade as a yacht captain (mostly on power boats), so I have some boat knowledge but not much cruising-in-foreign-locales knowledge.

Better to go with a lightweight RIB and a smaller motor? Or get the dinghy that will open more opportunities while at anchor? Any advice / opinions welcomed. Thanks in advance!

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

Get the big one. Buy a chain.


Use the damn chain.





Mark

 

[Minnewaska]

I'm a fan of the having the most useful dinghy you can manage. What you can manage is a personal call. If you have a crane to get the dink up on the deck, that open a ton of possibilities.

Then, there are two camps of RIB buyers. The first, consider them disposable and buy the least expensive they can find and replace in 4 or 5 years. The other buy a good brand, so it may last longer and you can source parts, such as replacement tubes.

No dink is going to make it 10 years with needing some help.

 

[capecodda]

Jealous of your arrangement. I've been forced down in size as I've decreased the size of the mother ship. In your situation, I'd go big and fast. Dry fast rides in the family truckster.

 

[ccriders]

Jealous of your arrangement. I've been forced down in size as I've decreased the size of the mother ship. In your situation, I'd go big and fast. Dry fast rides in the family truckster.

Now that is hilarious. A 38 foot Morris in Cape Cod. Oh that I could downsize in such a manner.
John

 

[Group9]

If I had that much room, I'd have 13 foot Boston Whaler with a 40 HP as my dinghy.

 

[capecodda]

Hey CC, our 22 ft Pearson was one of our favorite boats ever. See you got a BIG Pearson 28. Hope you're enjoying it, in our minds smaller is more fun to sail And I'll trade my 3 feet of snow for you're weather. Yea, I'm thinking you've got it pretty good

But this thread was about what size dingy to buy for 50 ft cat with a nice place to keep it. I don't know about you, but find that towing a big dingy behind a 22, 28 or 38 ft boat impacts sailing too much, and there's not a lot of deck space to put it on deck. On the other hand, with a 50 ft cat, no problems, so I'd go big if I had that cat.

 

[Hugh Howey]

Thanks for the replies thus far. Very useful. And a Boston Whaler would be an unreal dinghy.

 

[Minnewaska]

If I had that much room, I'd have 13 foot Boston Whaler with a 40 HP as my dinghy.

Love it. Lot's of memories as a kid, when I would occasionally cross Long Island Sound in one. To be young and stupid.

It did make me think, however, some dinghy docks have limits below 13ft.