dinghy for family of 5

I don't know of any dinghies rated for 5 people that would fit on your boat. I think my 10'6" rib is rated for 4. That thing weighs a ton. Could i fit 5 on, yes. but the coasties might not think the same way.
 
"I don't know of any dinghies rated for 5 people that would fit on your boat. I think my 10'6" rib is rated for 4. That thing weighs a ton. Could i fit 5 on, yes. but the coasties might not think the same way.".

Turtle,
I think I will be ok for dinks rated for 3+ for now. My wife and I are about 300lbs combined (Mostly me) and the kids are 65, 40 & 30 so...135 altogether!
 
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tdschafer said:
"I don't know of any dinghies rated for 5 people that would fit on your boat. I think my 10'6" rib is rated for 4. That thing weighs a ton. Could i fit 5 on, yes. but the coasties might not think the same way.".

Turtle,
I think I will be ok for dinks rated for 3+ for now. My wife and I are about 300lbs combined (Mostly me) and the kids are 65, 40 & 30 so...135 altogether!
Click to expand...

I have always been told that people capacity is what you need to go by not weight capacity. Assuming you are under the weight limit. Does anyone know the actual rules on this?
 
Thanks everyone for the infomative responses. I really do appreciate everyone taking the time to post one. After reading all, and re-reading them, I am leaning toward this model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/9-5-INFLATABLE-...925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25604ccd15

I have not heard anything bad about the Baltic line and the weight on this bad boy is only 73 lbs!! That is not too shabby for a boat over 9' long. rated for 4 people and I will try and work a deal!!

We had a Mercury Airdeck 310 on our 330 Dancer. It would handle 5 adults at idle speed and would plane with 2 adults and 2-3 kids with a 9.8 Tohatsu 2 cycle. The davits make it easy to board and mount/remove the engine. Folded up it rode solid at speed with the 24" standoffs. It was a little wider than the swim platform but less than the beam. We never had any problems catching a wave or a dock/piling. The air floor is easy to install/remove and comfortable to sit on however it has more flex at speed than a solid floor.

Bill,
I love your set-up. I think I will do either that or the Naughtley type when under power. Otherwise I will have to toss it on the bow because as Alex stated here on LI we don't generally have piers to walk on between the boats.

I would look at the prices on the auction and them email them directly and let them know I was prepared to pay "x" amount today. They have plenty of inventory, so they don't really care if they move it via eBay or direct. Their distributor is here in SoCal, so I drove to the guys house and picked it up. If you get serious, let me know and I can probably find what it was I paid for mine and give you a ballpark to negotiate from...


MM,
If you could give me more info on this I would appreciate it. I really like this Baltic model. Thanks


Todd

I've had two dinks over the course of the last 7 seasons, both of them Mercury Air Decks. The first was a 270 PVC with a 6hp Mercury 2 stroke. It was fine for the kids while they were young. It would get up on plane with me and 2 of them in it and was very reliable. I tended to take the engine off at the end of the weekend and throw the dink on the bow or clean it and roll it up. As the kids got older they used it less and less. I sold that set up for 75% of what I paid for it after 4 seasons. I took two season off and had no dink the first two years we had the 44 and honestly, I didn't miss it. My wife insisted I get a new last year one so she didn't have to take the "Mosquito lunch" walk to Davis Park. I bought a new, leftover 340 Hypaoln Air Deck from Defender and a new 15 HP 4 Stroke. The 4 stroke was a bad idea. It weighed 125 lbs. and was just too heavy to take on and off the dink regularly and I really didn't want to add davits or a hydraulic platform. Traded the 4 stroke for a 15 HP Yamaha 2 stroke that was a new, leftover 2009 (that was an expensive physics lesson). It weighs 74 lbs. and can be handled easily from the dink to the dock, which I do most every weekend. That way I can do a fresh water flush and the engine fits in my stern locker (something I couldn't do with the 4 stroke). The 340 Hypalon weighs 111 lbs. I know Ron said he couldn't haul his 310 up but my wife and I can get the 340 up and over my bow rails, flip it over and tie it down. It's even easier getting it back in the water. There is a trick to this. We hold the dink by its bow and side ropes, push the dink stern tubes in and out of the water and on the third up swing....voila, up it comes with enough momentum to get it over the bow rail. That's pretty much how we travel with it. I have to be honest though, given a choice, I would prefer a hydraulic platform with a center console rib. Maybe if I move up. For your use, I'd look to buy a used set up and figure out what you like and don't, dispose of it if necessary and get what will really serve your needs. Craigslist will be loaded with used dinks in the next month or two. Good luck.

Brian,
I will start working out now so that I can employ your method of retrieving the dink to my bow!!:grin:
I have been searching craiglist for a couple years now and only actually saw one really good deal for what I wanted. Of course I was too late!! I have seen many small outboards lately and will try to get a used one for the new dink. Of course if something great pops up between now and my boat purchase I will investigate!


Todd, I own but haven't used yet a Seamax, their prices are very reasonable. The have 3 basic designs and three sizes in each depending on the options you want. The product is made in China (I Know China) but is distributed by a Canadian Company. Canada has tougher laws with just about everything except IMMIGRATION! I bought a Suzuki 2.5 four stroke cause it's just 30lb's. and was cheap!!! Their dinks have an extended rear conicle tube which aides in stability and the dink cme with all sorts of extra's like a padded seat and a storage bag that attaches to it etc., etc!

Bugsy,
Thanks for the info. I checked them out and the site I found has them a couple hundred over a comperable model Baltic. Since they are cheaper and have a little history (good) on this site I am leaning that way!


Todd: a few years ago I bought a hypalon Achilles dink. Great boat, 9'4", aluminum roll up floor, inflatable keel. My plan was to take it everywhere by "throwing it up on the bow." WRONG! Too heavy for a single person to handle and get up there. I wound up selling it after the second season b/c it was basically unused.

I was insistant on Hypalon b/c of their better resale value and longer lifespan, but it's just too darn heavy. Go with PVC - and it's likely not worth overspending on a "brand name" like WM or zodiac. Besides, why would anyone want to buy something from the French? The korean versions seem to get good reviews in the several threads I've read on this site and it's predecessor over the years.

Probably mentioned above (I was too lazy to read all the posts) but you won't be able to see where you are going with it on the bow. Wasn't a problem for me, from where I sit at the helm!

Oh yeah - you won't find a small 2 cycle outboard unless you buy used. The people who are responsible for saving us from ourselves banned 2 cycle smaller outboards about 2 years ago. 2 cycle can be stored sideways without problems while 4 cycle needs to be upright to prevent the oil from leaving the reservoir (I think).

Ron,
As I stated to Brian, I will be pumping some iron so I can get this on the bow. My bow may also be closer to the water than the Bridge style boats.
I agree about the French. No love lost there!:smt009
I will be scouring the internet for a used 2 cycle motor as these tend to be lighter than the 4 strokes!!

Thanks again to all for your input!!
 
I just PM'd you the info. Let me know if you have any questions.
 
Todd, I have a West Marine. Made by(Zodiac) with a 2 stroke 8hp Tohatsu boat is very good, but it will only plane with one or two people on it, which is fine for me, as for Davits Alex made his and I also made a set, his are nice mine are different I used weaver quik snap davit (shoes) and fabricated the rest It works great but the arms are heavy so i just bought 1'' starboard yesterday to re-do them its pretty easy to do and alot cheaper. I tried to keep the dink on the bow but it blocks too much of your vision and i dont like to remove the motor .hope this helps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzudi1jAn9c
 
Thanks Joe,
That looks good!!! I may have to tap your expertise when I get to that point!!
 
tdschafer said:
....Now when docking the boat, how do you get the dink off the platform once you are in your the slip? I was thinking you dump it off before docking and tie it off a bow cleat. That's one reason I want to be able to toss it on the bow. I can just toss it in the water from there.
Click to expand...

Todd,

I found a picture in my album that shows exactly how I did it during my LI trip last year. BTW, this picture is from MYC. I dropped the dinghy and tied it of the bow prior backing in to the slip.

102_1123.jpg
 
Alex,
How did you get on & off of the dink?
BTW, How wide is the beam on the 320 & how long is that dink too?? I'm thinking of getting the 9'6" model Baltic. I saw on one of your pics somewhere that you have a Baltic too.
 
Awesome!!! No need to worry about sea conditions either!! I wonder if I could land it on my bow?? That would eliminate the need for the lift!!:smt043
 
tdschafer said:
Alex,
How did you get on & off of the dink?
BTW, How wide is the beam on the 320 & how long is that dink too?? I'm thinking of getting the 9'6" model Baltic. I saw on one of your pics somewhere that you have a Baltic too.
Click to expand...

Todd,

I get on the dinghy while it's tied to the bow and then take it to an empty slip to pickup my crew.

320 has 11'6" beem, but don't let this number fool you as your objective is the platfom width, which is about a foot less. You have to remember that any part of the dinghy that sticks out will be the first contact point when you're docking. So, if your dink will not stick out on the sides, then stern is the only part you'll have to worry about. I have 8.6' Baltik and it's a perfect fit for 320, but as you can see on these pictures the motor's prop sticks out beyond the dinghy width, so I always keep that in mind when docking. I'm pretty sire that 9.6' will stick out beyond your platform dimensions.

100_4027.jpg


Here you can see how the bow is just within the swim platform dimansion on the port side.

100_4028.jpg
 
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Joe, I hope you're kidding. My dink doesn't touch anything when I'm docking, at least I'm trying to prevent it from contacting with any objects.
 
Alex F said:
Todd,

I get on the dinghy while it's tied to the bow and then take it to an empty slip to pickup my crew.

320 has 11'6" beem, but don't let this number fool you as your objective is the platfom width, which is about a foot less. You have to remember that any part of the dinghy that sticks out will be the first contact point when you're docking. So, if your dink will not stick out on the sides, then stern is the only part you'll have to worry about. I have 8.6' Baltik and it's a perfect fit for 320, but as you can see on these pictures the motor's prop sticks out beyond the dinghy width, so I always keep that in mind when docking. I'm pretty sire that 9.6' will stick out beyond your platform dimensions.
Click to expand...

Alex,
My beam is also 11' 6" and Robert used an 8' 6" dink when he had it. I am just concerned about running my family around with that size. Like I stated I prviously I would like to use this to run the family between Watch Hill and davis Park as this is where we spend the majority of our time.
How long do these take to in flate with one of those electric pumps? Just thinking out loud here.
 
Alex, of course i'm kidding, i can dock my boat under most conditons without "touching" anything, the dink actually sticks out far from the platform it makes it easier to judge my entry into the slip.
 
tdschafer said:
Alex,
My beam is also 11' 6" and Robert used an 8' 6" dink when he had it. I am just concerned about running my family around with that size. Like I stated I prviously I would like to use this to run the family between Watch Hill and davis Park as this is where we spend the majority of our time.
How long do these take to in flate with one of those electric pumps? Just thinking out loud here.
Click to expand...

Todd,

No question that your initial idea on how to use the dink for short runs will soon enough be expanded to other way of using it, just like other folks. The more you'll be cruising the more you'll be using the dinghy. We use it almost every time we're on the hook.

Anyway, inflating/deflating the dink on each trip is always an option, but it'll be very old very fast. You'll need to find a place to store the deflatd dink and the motor on board. Some people do it, but with a big family I can see how it'll work for few times and then you'll say forget it. Thus, in my personal opinion it'll be best if you take the advantage of the off season time and think this thru real well. Currently, you have plenty of time to find what works best for you in terms of davits or whatever you decide to use. My point is that if you give up on inflating/deflating option during the season you'll be in the rush to get something done and you know that it'll most likelly just cost you more. But, it's your call man.
 
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