Inflatable Dinghy Floor

[Divecoz]

DANG!! I wonder if I..... could make mine a roll up floor?? I have the blow up keel but that just needs proper positioning of the slates.. Maybe sell my 6HP ( heavy) and buy a 3.5 or 4 HP?? .. I will begin to look into this ..

Been extremely satisfied with the RU-260 and it's rollup plastic slat floor. Inflates in a minute with the foot pump and stores rolled up in the port side v-berth after drying out on the focsle. We have to be able to trailer it so it must store inside the boat and must be reasonably easy to inflate and takedown as primary criteria--comfort and speed are secondary concerns. We aren't trying to plane it--we get as close as possible with the Mac and use the dinghy for the last few hundred yards.

[Sumner]

DANG!! I wonder if I..... could make mine a roll up floor?? I have the blow up keel but that just needs proper positioning of the slates.. Maybe sell my 6HP ( heavy) and buy a 3.5 or 4 HP?? .. I will begin to look into this ..

Our floor is actually 5 pieces , but not roll up. 3 of the pieces are joined on the sides by aluminum channels. The channels are what are hard to get in. You need to put some air in, but not too much. It would be a real pain and maybe impossible for us to put it together on the Mac.

With the tow bar we don't mind towing and since switching to it have had no problems. One thing that is in our favor is we are never on a time schedule, so don't tow and move in heavy wind or sea conditions. If we had to we could tear the dinghy down on the water, but would probably have to go ashore or into shallow water to put it together again. So far that has never happened. One other consideration is that we have an S so don't have to worry about how to tow or transport at higher speeds like you X and M guys do.

If we were buying right now I'd lean towards one of these...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... yErrorView

...for our needs since it has the keel and hard floor. On sale now. If I had an X or M and wanted to tear it down for sure a blowup floor would be what we would get.

On the outboard we have been real happy with the ...



... 3 1/2 HP Tohatsu we bought last year. It is about 40# vs. the 5 HP Nissan's 60#. That is a big enough difference so that now we can put it on and off the dinghy a lot easier than the 5 HP. We don't tow with it on the dinghy. I wish it was lighter, but it is the lightest outboard in a long shaft that I could find. It has plenty of HP and pushes the dinghy as fast as the 5 hp did. I could get up on plan with just me in the dinghy with the 5 HP. The Endeavour came with a 7 HP Yamaha 2 stroke and we will carry...



..both outboards on the Endeavour and use the Yamaha if we want to get some place faster or further away. I'm hoping that it will get both of us up on plane if needed.

I'd recommend the 3 1/2 HP as a good outboard,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Catigale]

Inflatables are almost unrowable imho....especially if they are down a few psi in pressure - the sides will flex and absorb all the rowing energy.

If you are dinghying less than a mile, a 2-3 HP will be fine for 2 in a small dink...if you are going more than this.....????

[Sumner]

Inflatables are almost unrowable imho....especially if they are down a few psi in pressure - the sides will flex and absorb all the rowing energy.

If you are dinghying less than a mile, a 2-3 HP will be fine for 2 in a small dink...if you are going more than this.....????

If I'm going a couple hundred yards I'll use...



...the kayak paddle while sitting on the bow. Past that the outboard is used. Forget rowing one in any kind of wind. The 3 1/2 HP will push the dinghy at reasonable speed, 5 mph or more, for as long as you want. About the same speed that we motor with the Mac.

The big plus is that I've never been in wave conditions that scared me in the inflatable. Now I can't say the same for wind conditions. At times I've kept a line from me to the Mac in high wind going ashore without the outboard since I knew if I was blown past the Mac I would never get back to it. But in those winds the same would of been true for a hard sided dinghy,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Divecoz]

I am looking at a couple thoughts.. Changing the hasp hahahahaaha
#1. Sell The 6 HP and buy a 3 = 4 HP..That 6 at WOT and just me can be scary fast and unstable..its heavy and needs an external fuel tank..
#2. I could Buy a 4x8x3/8" sheet of 5 ply Plywood.. I "think"... I can cut some slats and have my brother sew a floor ( of sorts ) and give that a try..
#3. If #2 works poorly or not at all ? I might have enough left of that 4x8 sheet to make a 4 or 5 piece floor.. The More pieces, the less struggle?
I would have to make my own splines.. Joints(?) I am thinking 3/16' or 1/4" Aluminum Plate.? Sandwiched to allow for the 3/8" plywood to slide in..??
How about other options? Other sheet goods? Fiberglass comes to mind and can be purchased in sheets.. are there other products ??
I have looked to buy replacement Joints Splices Splines.. seems that they are not available..

[Catigale]

My Island packet cruising friend made a floor from non- marine plywood and it lasted one season. Probably would recommend both marine plywood and epoxy plus varnish for this

[Divecoz]

To be honest Cat. I was thinking cheap! even 3 ply.. just to see if it will work at all. Then I agree IF.. either actually work well..? Marine 5 ply is the way to go..
Still even if it works.. Mine ( 9.9' US Boat) seems heavy.. Getting her over the side is no problem.. Getting her back in the boat and on the foredeck may still be an issue..
In all my years ( 60) as a very active physical guy. I have thrown my back out only twice.. Once very recently and in the best shape Ive been in , in years.. I threw it out just doing deep squat cross overs. Not that big of a deal really.. Standing.. you cross your right leg over the left now squat till your butt touches the heel of the right leg and using only your right leg to erect yourself again.. 50 right 50 left..No Big Deal.. tired.. but no big deal..
humm Wife reminded me ( as if she really needed to) That 2 years ago preparing for the Super Senors Mr. Natural Contest.. I tossed my back out and it took weeks just to walk ...days to get in and out of bed and 6 months to be able to return to the gym.. Wife asked? What is she supposed to do, if I hurt myself and what will I do if I do it, while I am alone? More Jerry Sailor Rum? Maybe buy a boat that some ....dont consider a Ghetto Boat and has an Inboard Engine and a real place for a Dink??

[mastreb]

There's this: http://www.woodenwidget.com/fliptail.htm

Buy the plans and build it yourself. Planes over 10knots and folds flat.

[aya16]

Buy the plans and build it yourself. Planes over 10knots and folds flat.

That flip tail is pretty weird, I guess if you sail alone, and you need a single dink, it would be ok, but what do you do if you are at the island, get lucky at the bar, want to take her back to your boat, and.....it wont fit two. Lets see well new babe you can take the shuttle boat, do you have the 5 bucks sweety....

Or she takes one look at the dink and says, "I bet you own a macgregor sailboat"

or she asks " cant you afford anymore than a plastic boat for one person?"

or she falls down on the dinghy dock in full hysterics, and has to activate her life alert, once she See's the dink.

I think at least in the dinghy arena, a mans masculinity is judged by the size of his dink, that's why I tow a 13 Boston whaler to the island.....

[Crikey]

[Divecoz]

Ok you gangsta's.... I cut some slats today.. Hummm 7 isnt the right number I am guessing???? OR I am hopeing a fabric floor adds something, as well.. ??
We've yet to design and sew the 4 layer "floor" / envelope? .. maybe that will help. If Not? I'll be Off to get a half sheet more and then try the 5 panels..??
Yes I am using cheap plywood ... but with no intentions of it ever seeing water.. If either idea works? I will then do this right.. Right now I am only out less than $30..

[Sumner]

.... then try the 5 panels..??..

Ours is 5 and still isn't easy. The hard part is getting the aluminum channels in that 3 of the large sections go into. They are on the sides and keep those sections from buckling. So you put the wood sections in. That is easy. Now you try and squeeze the channels down the sides and capture the bottom sections in the slot on the side of the channels. Not easy.

If you get the slats to work be sure and take pictures and post them.

The above makes the floor very ridge which is good once it is done. I guess what I don't like is being down on my knees trying to pry those channels in as my knees aren't so good anymore. I just need to remember to take my knee pads with us. Once one side is snapped in the other seems to go easier even though now there is less room.

For you guys with the slats, how do they keep them from bending between each slat?

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Divecoz]

Hi Sumner.. On My US Boat the 3 panels use 2 splines ( like plastic I beams??) they connect the 3 panels to give them length.. they run side to side / across the width of the floor..as Joints/connections .. Are you saying yours run down the "gunnel's / tubes.. length-wise versus my width-wise? Yours run down the two outside edges?
*Yes I need to QUIT whining and take the time to set up another account so I too can post pictures..

[Sumner]

... Are you saying yours run down the "gunnel's / tubes.. length-wise versus my width-wise? Yours run down the two outside edges?....

Yep...







It is hard to work that channel down under the 3 pieces all at once with no room between the pieces and the tubes to speak of. Once the one side is in then it keeps the 3 pieces on the same plane so the opposite side goes in a little easier, but now there is even less room. I will say that once it is in place the floor is just like a hard sided dinghy. We have only set it up twice in the last 12 months, this time last fall and then last spring, so it isn't really a big deal I guess.

I need to do it before we go back down since the dinghy has always had a very slow leak. I need to put about 20 pumps in it every 2-3 days with the foot pump. When we set it up we use a cheap 12 volt elect. pump. Hopefully the leak will be enough to show up with some soapy water.

Before this thread started I had myself talked into a high pressure floor, but now I think I'd like to stay with a hard floor when this one needs replacement. Less worries about a puncture. Of course ours is setup at the beginning of the trip and broke down at the end of the trip. If that wasn't the case then the high pressure would be the way to go.

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Divecoz]

Thanks for the pics Sumner.. Your floor panels are Blue? Am I to assume they are a plastic of some sort? Glass fiber reinforced plastic?
My floor is 3 pieces instead of 5.. and I was or am, in hopes that, 5 panels would be easier to wrestle than 3 . My first "Joint" spline ? From the bow is your 2nd joint ( first 1 piece Joint) Then your 3 panels would be divided in half to make just two.. as you can imagine. I have 3 large bulky panels to contend with..
Its a large unit when rolled up.. and then 3 large wood panels None of which fit well / convenient , anywhere on the boat..My bow panel with its access hoe is the smallest..
I may have to wait ,till spring to finish playing with this.. Its getting COLD.. and My heated Garage is NOT your HUGE Workshop! Its right now filled with The Wifes MGB My Road bike and a Buddies Harley .. I have more than enough plywood left from what I see as an ill attempt to use slats to make just the two rear panels into four and see if that works without your Aluminum Channel ....lengthwise stabilizers.. I got 2 early Calls this morning.. One from a buddy who is still working and builds home additions and decks and he will drop off 2 - 6' x 2"x2" 's of Tex -wood.. that can be shaped and routered to work as my longitudinal rails/supports if I so need them..
The other early call was my brother heading over to a Mobile Home Park ( go Figure hahahah) not too far from where I think you store your Endeavour that I would use for a Snow Bird Residence till I can sell my house here outside Chicago..