How big is your dinghy?

M

markcook

New Member
Jan 22, 2010
4
Washington
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2000
Engines
454 Horizons
I have a 2000 Sundancer 340 and I am trying to find out the perfect sized dinghy for my boat as well as outboard motor and davit system. I hear bigger is always better. I know I want the biggest dinghy that will fit on the transom so I think the largest would be a 10 footer? How about weight? Horse power and davit system? What are the 340 guys putting on their transom?

Thanks
Mark
2000 340 Sundancer
 
I have a 9.5ft dinghy with a 9.8HP 4 stroke motor. The davit system is the Nautley DinghyRamp which I really like. I don't think I would go much bigger on the dinghy.
Remember you have to pull the dinghy up onto the swim platform so you want to keep the weight down. I have a few pics in my album on CSR, just click on B-Fitting and view the pics.


Link to Dinghyramp
http://www.dinghyramp.com/dinghyram...p-content/uploads/2008/04/dinghyramp_hd_1.jpg
 
B-Fitting said:
...Remember you have to pull the dinghy up onto the swim platform so you want to keep the weight down. I have a few pics in my album on CSR, just click on B-Fitting and view the pics.
Click to expand...


Any ideas what your total weight is? :thumbsup:
 
Pseudomind said:
Any ideas what your total weight is? :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

My total weight today is 195lbs which I have a special technique to get the dink up. When I had the 6 hp motor no problem which was around 150 lbs total. The extra weight of the motor in the stern of the dink makes it much harder to retrieve. I have the new model 340 so the swim platform is high of the water.
 
That is a rude and personal question.......9-6 with yamaha 8 hp 2 stroke (to keep weight down)..........The Hurley system would work great on your boat
 
Last edited:
I was told by our local Zodiac dealer when we were getting ours that the length of the dinghy should not exceed the width of the transom. That way when the dinghy is on the davits it will be tucked in behind the transom and none of it will be out in the slip stream when the boat is moving.

Henry
 
agree.....my beam is 14 and the dink is 10...i also off set the dink to starboard to allow for easy access through my port transom door
 
I agree as well. My beam is 12ft, swim platform is roughly 11ft and the dink is 9.5ft. I too offset my dink to the starboard side to allow access.
 
Bad picture, but you can see how I offest arms to starboard by 6" off center.....
 
Last edited:
9.5 foot dinghy with 4hp outboard. I use the Nautley system as well.
 
I have the 10'2" version by Mercury that is referred to the other Scott. I have a 6hp engine - which is great for 1 person, not so great with 2 adults - I may get tabs to help get the boat on plane with 2. If doing it over I may have gone down to the 9' model.
 
Ok, Thanks Guys, great answers. I am looking to get a rib which is heavier and I want to plain with at least two people what is the minimum horse power needed? Also, I want to still be able to get it up (these questions sound so sexual) on the transom, so I am debating about weight vs power vs lenghth vs type to find the perfect dink. Also, I don't see any of you East coaster Sea Ray guys using a weaver davit system, The ones that flip up which are common in the NW what's up with that?
 
I've got an 11 ft RIB that used to have a 15 horse 2 stroke... Heavy, but I was able to get it on the extended platform with the Hurley Davits... I didn't take it on trips, and limited taking the dinghy along to local anchorages only.

I have a 300DA, so it's not ideal for bringing it with us, but we use the dinghy alot for tubing and skiing the kids...

I'm in the market for a 25 horse, and I am not sure if I will be able to get it on the platform by myself. Good thing I also just started the p90x workout program! :)

Truthfully, I'm no longer worried about bringing the dinghy on long trips, as my kids have gotten older and don't need me to entertain them constantly. We can just use the dinghy at anchorages right by the marina.
 
I use the weavers and love 'em - I keep the motor on a stcroix bracket (weaver makes one too) real easy to install motor with dinghy "clipped" to platform - without the weaver it gets real interesting! - as far as the dink is concerned I just picked up a 9' walker bay RIB - Its my 4th different dinghy in 4 seasons - I started with a used 8'6" zodiac w/wood floor - too small, I then got a smokin deal on a 10'6" AB RIB - Great dinghy but to heavy and long for my boat (10'6" beam) I then went to a 9' mercury airdeck - too wet!, hopefully this new dink is "just right" - You may laugh, but I made money or broke even on each change - a lot cheaper than trading the boat every year.
 
sfergson727 said:
I put tabs on my Mercury, and it made a heck of a difference. I was using a Johnson 6hp also, and with tabs I was able to plane with 4 people onboard (2 were children, admittedly). The ability to get on plane was nice, but the most added benefit was the stability! The dinghy was rock solid with the tabs, made a world of difference.

quote]

Those look cool, Scott. I've got the 9.5 Baltik Airdeck and am getting the Tohatsu 6hp. Until you pointed out these tabs I was going to get the ones from WM which fold up, but look smaller:

7780182.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Hey two peas, just what is your avatar picture suppose to be?

You have a larger image?
 
i use to have the weavers on my 41 dancer.......only problem is visibility when backing down.......otherwise i liked them.....nothing is perfect so find what suits your boats swim platforms needs, your tenders needs and your needs.....i like having my tender horizontal, but that is me...
 
Here is the avatar original (thread hijack complete...):

honey_rider_ursula_andress_10.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,202
Messages
1,428,429
Members
61,107
Latest member
Hoffa509
Back
Top