Low Cost Dinghy

boughtabouy said:
In about 15 minutes, I'm going to West Marine to pick up the 260 and a 3.5 Merc. It's the best deal I've found out there, at $1400 for the package after a 20% discount.

That is the best deal I have seen. Do all WM offer this special??

Yesterday at 5pm I ordered a Aakronboat 8'2" dinghy and Suzuski 2hp motor for about $1600. I think you got a better package with the 3.5 Merc and 260 at $1400. Did this include a boat cover?

Mike
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The Aakronboat dinghy arrived (motor due Monday). Looks like a quality product. Pumped her up and have her sitting on the bow at the moment. I have the Sun Pad option on our 38DA which has the SS rails for the pads down the middle of the bow, the dinghy sits nicely between these rails. I just tied off with 3/8" nylon line for now and went for a ride to check everything out. I'm thinking of using marine flat bungy cords to secure to the rails for easy access...any opions on this approach?
 
Does it obstruct your view at all? We considered this approach on our 340, but our dinghy has really large side tubes and it was block my view somewhat. Oh, and of course, a brand new 380 with a dinghy on the bow? Oh, the humanity.
 
The aakron dinghy is a great product for the money, and Sam the owner is a good guy. I was lucky enough to find a set of used Nautley davits with the rollers on ebay, and it is so easy to put on and take off, and I can leave the 6hp motor attached. I haven't gotten the cover yet, but that should be arriving in the next week. Even on the swim platform, the first time I was out in the ocean when the seas were a little rough, I could see I didn't have it tied down properly and it was shifting and water was filling up inside (another reason for a cover). For the way back, I changed the way I ran the bungees and straps, and it was perfect.

What size motor are you getting, and which size aakron did you get? Did you also get the air floor, or wood floor?

Barry
 
barryg said:
The aakron dinghy is a great product for the money, and Sam the owner is a good guy. I was lucky enough to find a set of used Nautley davits with the rollers on ebay, and it is so easy to put on and take off, and I can leave the 6hp motor attached. I haven't gotten the cover yet, but that should be arriving in the next week. Even on the swim platform, the first time I was out in the ocean when the seas were a little rough, I could see I didn't have it tied down properly and it was shifting and water was filling up inside (another reason for a cover). For the way back, I changed the way I ran the bungees and straps, and it was perfect.

What size motor are you getting, and which size aakron did you get? Did you also get the air floor, or wood floor?

Barry
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Barry,

We got the 8'2" with air floor. Wanted this so it would be a little lighter (it's still 80#s). The motor is a Suzuski 4S 2.5hp that weighs 30#...and weight being an issue for me (old and bad back and must do everything myself).

I'm going to Home Depot to see if I can find some SS thin hooks so I can use the marine bungy cords to attach to the small thin mounts SeaRay uses for the sun decks. This should work as the dinghy sits mostly between the SS rails for the sun deck. I have the dinghy facing aft so any rain water will drain with the natural slope of the bow. Like you I need a cover, Sam needs to have a lower price on the small dinghy covers as they are just poly and not acrylic like the larger covers. Now they are priced similar ($160) which is too expensive for a poly cover IMO. Maye we both can work on him!!

Cheers,

Mike
 
Mike,

I became pretty friendly with Sam..PM me and I'll tell you how to get the cover cheaper..

Barry
 
Hi Mike,

The 20% is due to the boat + motor purchase = 10% off. Also, a 10% first time boat owner discount for the first month. Normally they won't do these together, so you will need to work them. No boat cover, unfortunately.

Kevin
 
Hampton said:
Does it obstruct your view at all? We considered this approach on our 340, but our dinghy has really large side tubes and it was block my view somewhat. Oh, and of course, a brand new 380 with a dinghy on the bow? Oh, the humanity.
Click to expand...

John,

It does obstruct my view but not too bad. I have the dinghy reversed and the stern cones split the cabin hatch. This allows room on both ends of the dinghy, so I attend the anchor, open the hatch unobstructed, and have space between the dinghy bow and boat windshield without having to step on the slanted (slippery) section (smooth) from the windshield to the nonskid surface.

I went to Home Depot for some stainless "S" links that will slide under the SR sun pad SS mounts. I bent these to fit and used 6 marine bungy cords to secure the dinghy. I kept the center keel deflated to allow the dinghy to sit flush with the bow. I will inflate the keel when in use.

Mike
 
I'm exchanging the 260 for a 275 tomorrow. The 260 planes like crap. It seems to collect water in the hull/keel because it's so flexible. The 3.5 provides plenty of power, but the boat just cannot handle it. I understand that the 275 has an inflatable V-hull, which should perform much better. Also has a wood floor. A big plus for my wife. Also, West agreed to give me the 20% on the 275 also. With that, it's only $160 more. It should be well worth the extra few $$$.

Kevin
 
Took out my new Merc - 310 - with a 6HP Tohatsu - Outboard. It sat on the swim platform fine. But - I am going to look at Davit Options this fall. But overall works great. The motor started on the first pull.
 
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skolbe said:
Took out my Merc - 310 - with a 6HP Tohatsu - Outboard. It road on the swim platform fine. But - I am going to look at Davit Options this fall. But overall works great. The motor started on the first pull.
Click to expand...

I feel a dinghy race coming on soon...:grin:
 
I'm glad I exchanged the 260 for a 275 from WM. Night and day difference. It planes so much better, due to the inflatable keel. And, the wood floor feels so much more stable. Definitely worth the $200 price difference. And, the 3.5 4 stroke Merc powers it just fine.

Kevin
 
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