Advice for Dinghie on SD 270

Craigalan

Craigalan

New Member
Sep 15, 2014
428
Great Lakes
Boat Info
2000 Sundancer 270 with all the fixins...
Engines
Merc 7.4, 310 horses
Hello,

any advice on an appropriate dinghy to launch from a 2000 DA 270? This will be used for fishing in fresh water lagoons, beaching, and backwater exploring around lake erie. Probably needs to fit 1-2 adults and 1-2 kids. Something manageable to inflate at sea, or perhaps tie down to the extended swim platform. I would be interested in hearing others experiences with such a venture. Thanks in advance to anyone with 2cents on this.

** the topic says SD, but we are in a Sundancer. That was a typo.
 
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What is your budget? Outboard or paddle? Our first inflatable was a 9 foot glued PVC Zodiac with a rolll-up slat floor. Not bad for $700 but a bear to row. Then bought a propane outboard and that worked out fine. Able to squeeze 4 adults in it once we added the outboard. It was stolen and replaced with a 10 foot Zodiac Wave RIB(wish I would have bought the Mercury but got in a hurry). Still a welded PVC but the difference for twice the price is well worth it over the long run. You can actually row it and the speed with the outboard was nearly twice as fast. It will plane with me and my daughter. Both are a PITA when trying to inflate post leaving the dock. The RIB tows well and you will not notice it back there where the slat floor didn't.
My advice is to go RIB and if its in your budget buy Hypalon not PVC. As far as the propane outboard, the first one was great! the second one we have now has never run right and will be returned to WM soon.
 
Ok, that is some excellent advice. I would probably be comfortable spending around 500-700 dollars here. Ideally, a small O/B engine. I believe our lagoons, which is within a statepark allows only electric motors in the back waters.
 
Shop around and find something with a ridged floor. In the long run you will be glad you did. Watch ebay, sometimes a NIB in the 8 to 10 foot range will pop up just under a thousand dollars. My first motor was a trolling motor bought off of Craigslist for $75.00. Actually more work then an outboard to mount but I understand your dilemma. I tend to use oars a lot more because it's not near the work. The floor simply makes all the difference. Shop and buy the inflatable and worry about a motor later.
 
I tow an 8'6" Saturn PVC we got for $650.00 on sale last year. I enjoy it both rowing and with the 4hp Suzuki 4 stroke. The outboard is a bit heavy, but is great for getting back and forth from the docks or just exploring. won't hold 4 people though.
 
I know its likely out of your range, but I got a new 9.5 ft AB Ventus RIB. It is hypalon and has a double floor, so the interior floor is flat. (A flat floor was my single most important consideration for any RIB I bought.) It easily will hold 2 adults and 2 kids. We use it very much like you describe: fishing, poking around shallow areas, beaching. Plus I also use it for tubing with the kids (15 hp 2-stroke engine helps here). I can get on plane with my self, wife and 1 kid, or myself and both kids. It's a fabulous boat that I would absolutely get again.

For mounting, I have it on the back of my 270 AJ, so perhaps a bit more of a narrow beam than yours. I use a set of removable, extended reach Weaver davits coupled with a 4:1 block and tackle. This lets me tip the boat up with relative ease and lock it in place. It also lets me have ready access to the stern while still having the RIB ready to go. If I had to inflate / deflate all the time I'd never use it. Instead we use it almost every time we go on the boat.

So, I would look for a used RIB if possible. If you absolutely need something to deflate and store look for something with a hard floor. As said before the floor makes all the difference. Previously I had an old Avon with a 3-piece wood floor. It was hard to put in, and did tend to flex underway. The more rigid the floor, the better you'll like it.
 
All good notes. Thanks. I would prob spend up to 1k for both kit and kaboodle, in which that price would include motor...electric MinnKota or something similar. We probably would row quite a bit, and be motoring through protected waters of a state park lagoons which only allows electric. I like the rigid floor concept, that is definitely on the priority list now. Ideally, one with an optional sun bimini top as well might be useful for us. Thanks for all the good tips so far.
 
Hello CSR friends. So, my search has led me to the Zodiac Aero PVC Welded construction, with HP Air Floor. On Defender, they have it in a 9ft and a 7' 7". Anyone have this rig? And, does anyone have any opinions on size of dinghy for a 2000 DA 270 wide beam mother ship?
 
You should check out busters marine they sell mercury boats at great prices
 
Looks like the prices are right in line, if not a few dollars higher than the Zodiac I am considering from Defender. One main point for me is the much lighter weight of the Zodiac (the mercurcy rough 20-30 lbs heavier. Any particular reason why you would urge me towards a Mercury? Both have welded PVC and a 5 year warranty. In addition, I will not be in tropic sun, so Hypalon is not needed.
 
Hypalon is not just about tropical sun. It's a quality, durability, and longevity discussion. If you are going to leave the boat inflated all season long, and want it to last more than a couple of seasons.... Consider hypalon. For light duty, and you store it in your garage for months of the year, PVC can get you by. It will uv sun fade, dry out, etc faster than hypalon. Not not as rugged if you beach on rocky areas. Just things to consider.

all being said, a zodiac air floor from a reputable dealer like defender is a great choice. If you can find a name brand inflatable at your price point, jump at it.
 
We are running a PVC Mercury 310 with the HP airfloor and a 15 Mercury outboard up here on our older 270DA.
Sees rocks, sand etc.. with no problems or wear any different than our previous hypalon mercury.
Being in the Great Lakes sun exposure should not be a problem and you will get many more than just a few seasons.

As far as size, we really like the 310 for use. Kids can tube and kneeboard behind it with the 15 hp outboard.
Your model year beam is a bit narrower so the 270 may be the largest you could go.
 
My next inflatable is going to be a mercury rib. They are about 20 lb lighter than the same boat with a wood floor no worries about shells and sand.
 
Will probably have it stored in bag most of the season, with maybe once-a-week use, if that. If I decide the Zodiac Aero, am I correct in wanting to seek out a Welded seam construction, rather than their glued models?
 
I have a fibreglass floor Mercury 310 Hypalon RIB. Its been great and really cuts the waves nicely with decent deadrise. Its not too heavy. Its "just right" width wise for my 330DA (12 ft beam). Any longer and it would stick out too far I think. Not sure the beam on your 270 but if its 8ft6, you probably want something more like a 280 dinhgy if you don't want it sticking out the side (making docking and rafting difficult with it mounted). I saw that costco on line sells a Zodiac brand at times in the summer that was a decent price, but likely farily low end.
 
Our beam is 9ft 2in. So, I was looking at either a 7ft 10in dinghy or the 8ft 6in dinghy. You are right, I dont want the dinghy ends to hang over the sides. Will probably buy from Defender, when the time comes. Anybody have advice or experiences with choosing a dinghy size for a 27ft boat with a 9ft 2in beam? I would guess 8ft 6in dinghy would be max size for me, and I certainly dont want to buy too small.
 
Buy the biggest you can that isn't wider than the beam at the stern of your boat. Your beam of 9'2" is probably at the waste. You are probably narrower in the back.


8'6" is probably the biggest I would go.
 
Right... I believe the max beam is actually measured somewhere midship, and is not a reference to the width at the stern/transom.
 
Just to recap...2000 270DA. 9ft 2in beam.

After much debate, I will be buying a Zodiac Cadet 260 with HP floor, which is 8ft 6in. I am away from my boat, which is in storage, so I cant measure. If my max beam is 9ft 2in, can I expect my stern width to be at least 8ft 6in?
 
If I remember my 290 was 8' at the stern.

This is a 10' raider RIB on the back of my 290DA. Most people would say there's no way I can put that boat back there. I'm not saying it's ideal and obviously anything you decide to do is at your own risk but it worked for me.

I had an air floor. I sold it and bought a RIB. Much better.

 
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