frank kenny
New Member
- Sep 22, 2008
- 3
Hi Everyone. My Spouse and I have been owners of a '93 Searay 33' Sundancer (the KNOT-ON-CALL) for 10 years and active boaters (power & sail) for over 40 years. In addition to cruising Georgian Bay, where I currently keep my boat, I've cruised/bareboated around the world. Two best spots? Great Barrier Reef/Whitsunday Islands in Oz and Desolation Sound/Princess Louisa Inlet area in British Columbia. There are few things that even come close to cruising and PLI may well be the most beautiful cruising spot on earth.
BUT...... as the Neil Young song goes, "I'm growin' old :huh:" and hauling my dinghy up and down the transom, not to mention trying to mount a heavy outboard, is getting to be a real chore. So I'm looking for solutions!!!! If anyone has some suggestions I'd love to hear them.
I currently have a 11' Zodiac RIB inflatable and a Honda 8hp 4-stroke. I'm not married to either and happy to change for something better. I've seen reference to systems being installed on the transom so that dinghys can be brought up horizontally, with the outboard staying put. It would seem that even a Seadoo could be put there. Anyone have any experience with these? Any recommendations? Can the transom handle the weight? Does it require a transom extension, or reinforcement? If the transom is extended, does it affect the functioning of the legs? I'd hate to have a nice system set up and then find I'd lost half my power or can't get up on a plane.
Well that's my issue. Otherwise the Sundancer has done exceptionally well, in both salt and fresh water, and still looks like new. Had a modified canvas system put on last year - it was like adding another stateroom - amazing.
Well, I had better go scour past forum posts. Glad to have found this site!!! Cheers.
Frank
BUT...... as the Neil Young song goes, "I'm growin' old :huh:" and hauling my dinghy up and down the transom, not to mention trying to mount a heavy outboard, is getting to be a real chore. So I'm looking for solutions!!!! If anyone has some suggestions I'd love to hear them.
I currently have a 11' Zodiac RIB inflatable and a Honda 8hp 4-stroke. I'm not married to either and happy to change for something better. I've seen reference to systems being installed on the transom so that dinghys can be brought up horizontally, with the outboard staying put. It would seem that even a Seadoo could be put there. Anyone have any experience with these? Any recommendations? Can the transom handle the weight? Does it require a transom extension, or reinforcement? If the transom is extended, does it affect the functioning of the legs? I'd hate to have a nice system set up and then find I'd lost half my power or can't get up on a plane.
Well that's my issue. Otherwise the Sundancer has done exceptionally well, in both salt and fresh water, and still looks like new. Had a modified canvas system put on last year - it was like adding another stateroom - amazing.
Well, I had better go scour past forum posts. Glad to have found this site!!! Cheers.
Frank
