What's the Best Brand Dingy?

Jack380AC

Member
Jan 28, 2008
877
West Chester, PA / North East, MD
Boat Info
2000 380 Aft Cabin
Engines
Twin 454 Mag MPI Horizon MerCruiser
My dingy is dead! And no, not even Viagra will help :grin:

So what is the best brand to look for in a Dingy?

Also, what are your thoughts on fiberglass vs. inflatable bottom?

We have a dog and anchor out all the time so we use our dingy a lot. We also like to just go for rides in it. We have a 5 HP 2 stroke.

Thoughts?
 
So why not buy another one like the one that died? Are you looking to go bigger to a Whaler type or still remain inflatable? Zodiak, Avon, Achilles, Baltik are all good based on the price that you pay. Do you need hypalon or will PVC do? I guess with the 5 hp you could power a range of sizes with it for puttering around the bay and trips to and from shore.
 
Won't ever buy one like the one I got because the repair companies (both of them) said this vintage of QuickSilver was not a good boat. They fail all the time. Mine is leterally disintegrating. Even if they are better now, not taking a chance.

I'm not sure I know what the tangible (value to me) difference is between hypalon vs. PVC other than one costs more. I would be interested in memers views on it. I'm on a budget but believe in spending to get a better product.

Target size is 4 passenger (aprox 10 ft)
 
Don't buy the mercury, they are garbage as you've experienced. I have a caribe and it's a 2005. It's showing it's age, but seems to be holding up. Some of the handles have let go, but the tubes seem to be built well. Its a rib and can take shell beaches much much better than the soft bottom dinks. Don't have experience with others.
 
I currently have a Achilles Hypalon. Hypalon is supposed to be better for UV protection. As most of us know PVC just doesn't last in the sun and living in FL we have a little bit of sun here, plus 12 months of use for boat and dinghy. I also have a HP air floor. I like this model for ME because in the event I need to fold it up to cross back from the Bahamas in 5-6 ft seas, I can do it. If I had a hard floor, I would not be able to fold and store for a rough crossing if I ever need. I also like the soft floor for getting in and out barefoot but it may not be the best for the dogs. These are the reasons I bought this dinghy, just wanted to give you my $.02, I think Achilles is a good brand and I like the dinghy.
 
Hypalon you can resell in 5 years. PVC you'll be junking in 5 years. Two dinks same size, the PVC one will weigh considerably less, which is a huge consideration if you are slinging it around yourself. I sold my 2003 Achilles (this one)
454548.jpg

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|215570|216319|295568&id=1146911

after two seasons b/c it was too damn heavy to get up on the foredeck. I suppose if you're using a davit system it wouldn't matter that much.
 
Good point Ron, I should note that i cannot lift mine to save my life.
 
Mike
Isn't yours a RIB?

I hated asking everyone for help when it came time to take the thing out of the water and as such, it was just too much trouble to take when we travel. Besides, we rarely anchor out when travelling so there was really no need for it. My platform is not really deep enough for davits so it became a burden and a big paperweight on the dock behind the boat.

I'm a big fan of Achilles. They make a fantastic product. But the hypalon dink that size and weight just wasn't right for me.
 
I've got a Hypalon RIB made by Zepplin with a 25hp 2 stroke on it. (It's rated for 30). The boat is a 1997, and is still in great shape.

When I want to travel with it, I put the motor in the cockpit and the dink is on Hurley Davits. (Granted, lugging the 25hp off and on is a pain, but I've gotten pretty good at it. I just think it's too heavy for cruising with it on.)

They are fairly rare, but it's the best riding dinghy I've ever been in, and I have been incredibly impressed with it. We use it to tube/ski the kids around, and the dog can't get enough of it!
 
9.5 Water Tender, with a 5 hp 4 stroke Honda. The boat is near indestructible, won't sink, and is very stable while being very lightweight. The only thing I can't do is roll it up and throw it in the cockpit. But, I don't have to wrestle with a wood slat floor and inflation pump either.

It will plane with one person, but not two. It's a tug, not a speedboat.
 
Our well taken care of Zodiac Cadet turned to crap in 4 years.Several people at our club have had Baltiks for a few years ,they seem to be holding up.
 
I've had a small baltik since 2006 and was pretty satisfied with the package for the money. I just sold it and upgraded to the larger one with 4hp motor.
 
If you get a baltic keep it covered from the sun..
 
Well this was the first weekend I got to us my new to me run-a-bout and would recommend them to anyone.

It's a 10ft Cesar inflatable cat with a 30hp mercury. She runs fast and has a true air entrapment tunnel hull that packs air like a big boat allowing you to travel on top of the wave instead of cutting threw them.

Speed is pretty "unsafe" with a 30hp.. :wow: I originally bought this with the intention of allowing my step son to use it as his "first boat" seeing as he just passed his boater safe course but after I took it out there is now way I'll let him run it with this power.

With my Wife (normal to small size) and me 6'3 230lbs she runs low 30's and with me alone in the mid 30's and I'm sure with his little frame upper 30's would be a reasonable guess.

Negatives are your feet get a little wet while canal cruising seeing as she has a open transom allowing water out at speed as this boat was designed as a surf/race boat.


359moid.jpg
 
That is a sick inflatable. I would think it would go faster with a 30hp. I want one.
 
Well, not knowing any better I bought a Quicksilver Airdeck (Hypalon) 3 years ago.
It's spent it's life fully inflated- and uncovered- baking in the FL sun on a jet ski dock all this time, and I've had no issues with it.
 

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