Want to buy a dinghy for my 450DA need advice

[SAC850]

We want to buy a dinghy for our boat but not quite sure which direction to go so I'm looking for opinions.

We have semi young children (2) and a dog and while we don't get out very often due to various reasons when we do the dog (mini-schnauzer) has proven on his own we need to be mobile as he simply wont do his business on the boat.

I don't want to go overboard cost wise with this as we definitely don't get to overnight as much as we like but the need is there. I was first thinking of going with an all around inflatable so I could stow when we don't need (we do a lot of day trips) so the swim platform is clear and I don't have to deal with it at the slip. The problem of course is the engine do I really want to deal with removing it and stowing on boat. For that matter do I want to constantly be breaking down the inflatable dinghy at the end of the day. There is also PVC vs. Hypalon I was leaning towards Hypalon for example the Achilles 310

On the flip side I live near the marina and there is a boat ramp I could get a Rigid Hull model and simply buy a trailer and stow at the house when not in use.

To be honest I'm starting to lean towards the Rigid Hull model and buying a trailer for it. I'm thinking there will be a significant ride improvement with the rigid hull vs. inflatable. Any recommendations for a Rigid Hull model? I was looking at the defender models strictly from a cost standpoint, defender 300?

What davit system would be a good fit for my swim platform 97' 450DA? Hurley H20 Davit?

Thank you

 

[fwebster]

Ive had a 450 in NW Florida for almost 20 years. Here is what works best for us.

I hate anything on the swim platform that impedes walking about or is a toe-stubber. That lets me out on any platform mounted davit system. If you do not use your boat as a platform for playing in the water, anchoring at a beach, etc., maybe this isn't a big deal for you. I've had a roll up inflatable with a slat floor and used it once before selling it. It was a killer for my dogs. If their toes or foot slips off a slat and you step on th e next slat, then you pinch the crap out of the dogs foot. We settled on a dinghy that was large enough for us and the dogs, bout small enough to fit flat on the swim platform. The 450 has a 4 ft wide platform and a Zodiac Hard Air floor inflatable is short enough to ride on the platform and even on long trips, it can be laid on the platform and secured with lines/straps. We use a 2hp Honda air cooled outboard. The dinghy is no speed deamon but it gets us t othe beach, the dogs to the sand and to restaurants in the Destin Harbor. Best of all, the Zodiac weighs 56 lbs and can be rolled up and stored under your guest room bed. THe Honda weighs 26 lbs and slides easily under the after bench seat. THe entire thing is light enough to handle easily and to store.

MAybe that will give you a different insight into things.

 

[Bob a Buoy]

I use the weaver davit system and it works great, haven't heard anything bad about the Hurley system, I think it comes down to space. I dry stack so vertical storage is my only option. I bought a cheap 9' pvc aluminun floor inflatable off eBay, think I paid around $450 for that and around $750 for my 2.5 Suzuki four stroke. I have zero complaints with the set up. We don't make long runs so the smell size works for three or four of us.

 

[SAC850]

Thank you for the insight, do you think that size Zodiac would be big enough for four people? and a dog? I don't imagine us having to go very far so perhaps I'm overthinking the weight capacity and person limitations.

We do use the swim platform all the time the reason I liked the Hurley one is it appears the toe stubbing potential is minimal.

 

[fwebster]

My dinghy is a Zodiac 310 Fastroller. It has a 4 person capacity….is 9.5 ft long and 4'-11" wide. At 70 lbs, 2 of us can easily load and unload it off the swim platform at the dock. I carry it laying flat on the swim platform tied down with lines from the center handle to cleats on either side. Launching in the water is a matter of taking the lines off the cleats and pitching it off the platform. I don't need a davit of any kind so my platform stays clear except when the dinghy is in place.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Here is my set up the P.O. put on.... 11' rib w/ 15hp 4 stroke Merc. It is launch or recovered in a few minutes by 1 person. Frank would not like it because I have stubbed my toes a few times.

 

[k9medic]

Get the biggest dinghy you can with the largest motor. It will save you money in the long run! LOL We went through three dinghies and four motors before we found what worked best for us.

Our current setup is a West Marine 310 RIB that we bought on sale for less than $1500. Originally we had a 10hp 4 stroke on it but it struggled to plane with my, my wife and our two kids. It now has a 15hp two stroke that has no issues. We can also fit the golden retriever and dachshund in the boat. A few months ago I had myself, my mother in law, my oldest son and all of their crap for an overnight on the boat. We had about 700lbs in there and we still managed 7kts.

It hangs on davits and is a breeze to launch and recover. We can literally be in the water and headed to the beach in less than 2 minutes with it. With the dinghy down, the davits double as a hammock hanger.

 

[SAC850]

Bigger is better is how I ended up with the 450 in the first place! Funny you should mention the West Marine 310 RIB just got an add today they are on sale for $1500 but it says max HP is 10 guess its a weight thing 2 strokes weigh less I take it.

 

[Magic34]

We went all out with the dinghy, 12' ab inflatable. Lights, stereo, ski pole, 40 HP yamaha... It's really a second boat that fits on our 44 DA. I have a 12 y/o and 9 y/o and we are on the dinghy as much as the DA. When we're at anchor, I put the kids on the tube and town them around for a bit. We get a ton of use from it. So not only does it get us to the beach, but it allows the kids to have some fun with water sports.

Whatever you get, the best part will be the $15 fill up.

 

[k9medic]

Bigger is better is how I ended up with the 450 in the first place! Funny you should mention the West Marine 310 RIB just got an add today they are on sale for $1500 but it says max HP is 10 guess its a weight thing 2 strokes weigh less I take it.

That's odd. Mine is rated for 15HP. It's the PVC version but I figure for $1500 if it wears out after 5 years (under warranty) it was worth it.


Here is the one I bought - http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...e=&network=g&gclid=CK__2eGX4swCFcYdgQod238BVw