Interesting Dinghy Alternative

[robbarnes1965]

http://www.smartkat.org.uk/

Inflatable cat that doubles as a 4 person dinghy. I like that it looks like it does not seem to produce nearly as much drag as a regular inflatable.

Rob

[RobertB]

I am building a folding tender, the Origami (http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/pro ... /index.htm) - it breaks down to 4 inches thick - should be able to either stow along the lifeline or even behind the side seat cushions.

[kelseydo]

I'm thinking of this http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/kaya ... ouble.html . 60 pounds. Hang it off the side or on deck when towing.

DanO

[mastreb]

I am building a folding tender, the Origami (http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/pro ... /index.htm) - it breaks down to 4 inches thick - should be able to either stow along the lifeline or even behind the side seat cushions.

Hey I'm building one too! My brother has an automated cabinet shop and is doing all the parts for me, so if anybody wants one, let me know as his machines can cut them easily once we've got mine worked out.

[RobertB]

CLC Boats - have built two - picture of my Mill Creek 15 has been on the website for years (see user boats on MC13 - one with wood overlay of eye on bow). The kits are fun to build.

Caution on the 60 pound claim - that is the optimal target and really affected by how much epoxy used (epoxy fillets and all wood coated). Add on hardware also adds up. To keep from hating myself, I never weighed my boats (also built the Chester Yawl and modified the plans to make it a sailboat - helped convince my wife we needed a real sailboat after taking it airborne on coming about).

As far as hanging off the side, would love to see how you do it.

[mdeane]

We have a Sea Eagle Yacht Tender.
http://www.seaeagle.com/gallery/Default ... hotoID=225
They have a full line of inflatable designs.

Marc

[snotnosetommy]

I'm not much of a boat-builder, but am considering the Puddle Duck Racer. http://www.polysail.com/Camp%20Sailboat.htm 3 sheets of 1/4" plywood. Boxy, kind of ugly, but very stable for boarding & unboarding for the admiral. Claims of 70 pounds.
That fold-up sounds pretty good, tho.

[davidbourne]

I own a 12 ft portabote, which I've learned (too late) that it's a bit too big to store on a Mac26.
http://www.porta-bote.com/index.php

One issue that has come up: Can you put any of these boats together on the Macs? Finding a doc or a beach is not always an option.

I love all these links, btw!

-David

[mdeane]

Our Sea Eagle weighs 60 lbs and when deflated can be stored in the V berth or on deck. It can be inflated onboard, however it's not easy.

Marc

[robbarnes1965]

I own a 12 ft portabote, which I've learned (too late) that it's a bit too big to store on a Mac26.
http://www.porta-bote.com/index.php

One issue that has come up: Can you put any of these boats together on the Macs? Finding a doc or a beach is not always an option.

I love all these links, btw!

-David

Looks like you could with the cat. Each "hull" is pretty narrow. Give me an idea for a mod however. Using the cat hulls as outriggers effectively turning the Mac into a trimaran! That would make a lot of admirals happy

Rob

[arknoah]

Looks like you could with the cat. Each "hull" is pretty narrow. Give me an idea for a mod however. Using the cat hulls as outriggers effectively turning the Mac into a trimaran! That would make a lot of admirals happy

Rob

You know, I've actually had that idea before, for stability. I wouldn't screw up my 25 to do it, though. I would look for a project boat and have at it

[mastreb]

If you're looking for amas, you could just use rotomolded kayaks. They'd keep you from heeling and then be useful as tenders when you're at anchor. Heck of a lot cheaper too.

Use a SS lines from the kayak aft to a fitting on the stern, a SS line from the kayak bow to the boat bow eye, and a 3" diameter 10' carbon-fiber tube with a "foot" that goes in the kayak seat and then passes through a fitting at the cabin-top and terminates at a fitting on the mast. So you have three points of tension in an "A" pattern both longitudinally and vertically, with the tube pushing on the kayak to keep the entire assembly under tension against the SS lines. As the boat heels, the carbon fiber tube pushes back against the mast as the ama goes under, which provides resistance to heeling directly at the center of effort, while the SS lines fore and aft keep the ama from moving with respect to the boat.

When you want to pull the kayaks alongside to board, you'd just loose the mast fittings and pull them close using the carbon tube, which would lift right out of the kayak and be stored on deck. Disconnect the SS lines, and they can now be used as tenders.

They'd have no more drag on the boat while sailing than pulling a dinghy behind the boat, and while I wouldn't dump ballast to rely on their anti-heeling properties, any substantial reduction in heel will result in increased speed especially with our planing hulls. If after testing you were comfortable with the strength of the assembly and the buoyancy of the amas, you could dump ballast to really fly.

[kelseydo]

RobertB,
Did you build your CLC boats from kit or plan? I like building things, have done a Glasair experimental and a Zing ultralight so fully understand the amount of effort and finis needed to keep it light. If I do a wood duck double I know it will be a little heavy as I intend to build it sail ready, rudder ready foot rests, and with fittings fore and aft used to attach it to hinged davits on the safety line posts.

mdeane,
I have a sea eagle paddle ski. It is well made, fun, stable and is my standby dingy until I find something better.

DanO

[RobertB]

I built my two boats from kits but both were substantially modified.

To the Chester Yawl, I added an offset centerboard trunk/storage unit/compass mount/mast, sail (my wife sewed the sail from a Sailrite kit), a maststep, and custom designed kick-up rudder.
To the Mill Creek 15 (wish they had kept that one - the fastest of the three models) I elongated the cockpit (forward with the idea I could get a kid or dog in with me - NOT; and backward so I could get a small cooler behind me - this works well), built a custom wooden rudder that pins off and on, and a custom internal bellcrank rudder mechanism. The mast step works well as a fishing rod holder. Also added a padded seat and compass.
Yes, I need a real job where i can actually make money doing real engineering

All said, I considered building from plans but the kits actually seem to cost less. The parts are low cost to cut out (CLC uses a CNC machine) while the wood is expensive (about $100 per sheet). Buying the cut-out parts means you only buy exactly what you need versus buying whole sheets of plywood. The kit prices on epoxy and hardware also are a good value. Note to John at CLC - I would consider a discount on my next purchase for the free advertising.

[Octaman]

We have the Pathfinder inflatable kayak. Does really well for us and can handle up to 170 kg. Designed for two but can take the three – two light adults plus one child if you do not exceed the weight limit.
Very light and easy to store. Can fit on the deck of the Mac 26M inflated – easy to lift out of the water. Deflates quickly if in a hurry. Impressive durable quality. Three chambers.
Inexpensive to buy – great value.

Octaman