Zodiac 270 vs 310 on foredeck

[FishyFabs]

I am looking at buying a Zodiac with air floor to replace my Mariner 4 as it did not survive the last epic trip.

I have yet to decide if I should go with the 270 which has a length of 8 feet 10 in or the 310 with a length of 10 feet 2 in.

I would prefer the larger size 310 but worried that it will not fit on the foredeck. Has anybody managed to store the 10.2 foot Zodiac on a ?

[Chinook]

I have a West Marine high pressure floor inflatable, made by Zodiac. It's about 9 feet in length, so I think it corresponds to the smaller of the two you mention. We use it with our 26X, and we inflate it and tow it most of the time. However, when we are making major open water passages we do deflate it and stow it, rolled up and bagged, on the foredeck. I can clearly say that it's about the biggest inflatable I'd try to deal with. In its bag, not including the seat and oars, it weighs about 65 lbs, which is about the maximum weight I'm interested in lifting and moving around. It fits and lashes down on the foredeck fine, without obstructing forward vision, and still allowing for the forward hatch to open. It's a bit inconvenient to step around when going forward to deploy the anchor or deal with dock lines. I usually launch or retrieve the dinghy while tied up at a dock, but at times I've had to do these things while out on the water. It's awkward to pump it up and launch it from the foredeck, but I can manage. I think trying to do this with a longer, heavier dinghy would pose difficulties. As far as capacity is concerned, it works fine for the two of us, and on occasion and for short distances on smooth water, we've managed to transport 4 adults in it. I mount a 2.5 hp 4 stroke on it, and it moves along just fine. Hope this helps.

[Phil M]

I am looking at buying a Zodiac with air floor to replace my Mariner 4 as it did not survive the last epic trip.

I have yet to decide if I should go with the 270 which has a length of 8 feet 10 in or the 310 with a length of 10 feet 2 in.

I would prefer the larger size 310 but worried that it will not fit on the foredeck. Has anybody managed to store the 10.2 foot Zodiac on a ?

If you plan on deflating the zodiac then it depends how much you can lift. Keeping an inflated zodiac on the foredeck through any kind of wind and waves would provide too many problems while sailing.

[FishyFabs]

Thanks for the responses. I am leaning towards the 310 at this stage. So far, I always have a dock nearby to inflate the dinghy. I use the dinghy to fish with 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children so a larger one is probably best for my needs.

[Jimmyt]

The 26m is right at 10'-2" from mast to anchor roller. I assume you don't mean to put it on the foredeck inflated??

[Herschel]

We use it with our 26X, and we inflate it and tow it most of the time. However, when we are making major open water passages we do deflate it and stow it, rolled up and bagged, on the foredeck.

I only have experience towing a fiberglass dinghy behind my X. Forward/downward slope of first large wake wave. Works fine; but do you tow your inflatable that way or snug it up to the boat? Just a little concerned about how well inflatables' D rings handle being towed for a stretch. Mine is a nice Achilles hypalon. Good quality, but don't want to push it too much.

[Chinook]

This is purely anecdotal, but we towed our 270 inflatable for probably 5000 of the 6000+ miles of our Loop cruise, and they show no indication of stress or potential failure. Only time we didn't have it trailing us was when we were going through the New York and Canadian locks, and on our Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Stream crossings.

[jimmy alonso]

This is a Coastal 8'6" dinghy on my some air has to be let out so it fits between the sanctions.

[Herschel]

This is purely anecdotal, but we towed our 270 inflatable for probably 5000 of the 6000+ miles of our Loop cruise, and they show no indication of stress or potential failure. Only time we didn't have it trailing us was when we were going through the New York and Canadian locks, and on our Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Stream crossings.

Thanks, that is very encouraging. My fiberglass dinghy weighed in at about 200 lbs., so having it on the forward/downward sloping wake wave was critical to keeping the drag down. Is it the same for an inflatable that weighs in at about 65 lbs.? At what strength of wind do you have to worry about the inflatable getting flipped back there?

[Highlander]

I think this is the best mod going for towing & storing a dinghy & really simple to make for a Mac . Another advantage with it is u can raise the dinghy vertigile while slipped
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n56/ ... G_0316.jpg
may do it myself I have all the original pic,s from the guy who done this mod
J

[NiceAft]

I am more interested in detailed images of where and how the dinghy is tied at the transom. Is the “D” ring used at all?

Ray

[Highlander]

ray
Is this what u r askin


J

[NiceAft]

John,

Is that set up normal, or is that something you concocted? I thought there is a way with the bow first.

Second, did you get my e-mail?

Ray

[Chinook]

Inflatable wants to be towed in the same position, as it reduces the drag. Ours tracks just fine, and I've never noticed it threatening to flip. I think if the wind was so strong as to threaten that happening, I wouldn't want to be out in such conditions. We used to use a porta bote as a dinghy, and we did manage to have it swamp twice, due to following seas slopping over the transom. The inflatable handles those conditions much better.

[Highlander]

John,

Is that set up normal, or is that something you concocted? I thought there is a way with the bow first.

Second, did you get my e-mail?

Ray

Ys R
not my mod but u could modify this very easily to tow either way
I just checked my E/M & answered U LOL

J