How do you unload/Load your Dingy OB?

[Simon]

Can anyone please tell me how you unload/load your dingy OB? And how do you store a Merc 6hp on the Mac?

Thanks

S

[richandlori]

Here's our procedure:
Run the jib line (unused due to roller furler) through the Mast-raising "U" attachment used in raising the mast and tie one end to the dingy transom. The other end goes thourgh the Jib block, back through the Genoa block, and on to the winch. The photos are tough to see the action, but my wife is able to work the winch ( ) and I position the dingy on the foredeck. Works pretty easy.

BUT, after this trip, I went out and bought me a totally inflatable ($40) coleman 5 person raft and that is now our primary dingy. The "real" dingy was just too much of a PITA.

[Catigale]

Whose got photoshop up and running??

Lori needs a balloon saying

"Rich, Youve been to West Marine again, havent you?"

done up real quick....

[Mark Prouty]

[Simon]

Thanks for great photos! Looks like work

Did you use your OB much on your Dingy? Or was to much of a problem getting it on and off?

S

[Mark Prouty]

From my perspective a dinghy motor is a must have. With a little muscle it is not difficult to transfer the motor to/from the transom bracket. I have a 6hp - 4 stroke Tohatsu.

Two circumstance for getting motor on/off dinghy to bracket.

1. Most of the time, I backed the boat to shore. In this situation, I waded to transfer the moter.

2. I had my son hold the dinghy against the Mac. I would then get into the dinghy and muscle the motor to the transom bracket.

http://mprouty.blogspot.com/

Course, I workout.

[Simon]

Now I am starting to get it

Thanks for the replies....... And photos..

S

[Jack O'Brien]

That 6 HP, 4-stroke Tohatsu (Nissan) weighs 63 pounds. Excellent motor, but not to heft off and on if you can't stand on land.

The Coleman inflatable weighs about 20 pounds and is easy to manage when deflated. It can be fitted with a home-made motor mount for a small motor. I have used a 2.5 HP 23-pound Evinrude on mine and an electric trolling motor. Home-made floorboards really help also.

The smaller and lighter the better.

[Catigale]

Ive gotten into British Seagulls for my tender/dinghy...they are 2HP nominal motors and weigh 27 pounds - easy to handle with one hand, so passing down or dangle on lanyard to mount ...easy

Seagulls buzz alot. WHenever I think that they arent too comfy, I think of the Seagull pushing my Uncle Stan up to Sword Beach in 1944 with people shooting at him

[Terry]

I have a 9'9" Titan inflatable, weighs 79# (should have bought a smaller one) also have a 5 HP Honda 4S weighs 60#. I can muscle both of them around seperately, but not together. I put the motor on the dinghy at the dock or on shore and tow them. It is much easier to do this way, and if I leave the motor on the dinghy at my slip I am always tempted to go for a little scoot in the dinghy. I can visit other boats, zip down to the store or comfy stations or just zip out to the big water and check out the conditions. (Can be a bit scary if it's really blowing out there.) I tried carrying the dinghy on deck with the transom butted up to the mast before I aquired the motor but it was a bit cumbersome and blocked my view so now that I have a motor for it I just tow it.

[Simon]

I like the idear of a roll up inflatable, seems this way you can have an 8' dingy (tender) on the Mac.

The main problem next, is the OB.... We need a safe way to load the OB from the Macs transom to the inflatable's transom with out dropping the OB in the water.

Thanks

S

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I went small, simple and cheap for my dinghies! I have two inflatables that I can use with the Mac, they are both Sevylor super caravelles, one is about 8 feet long and can seat 3 people and the other is 11 feet long and can seat 6. They are both very light (~30 and 45 lbs I think) but the 8 footer is much easier to throw around mostly due to its shorter length. I have a motor mount that I can use on either boat. Total dinghy cost was less than $200 for 2 new dinghies/motor mount and I keep them out of the sun when not in use. I have had the 8 footer now for over 8 years and it still hasn't leaked. It even doubles as a pool boat at times.

My motor is the lightest I've ever seen, only 12.5 lbs for a 1.5 HP motor which can push either dinghy around. Cost was about $200 for a brand new motor. Of course, it is a cruise and carry (not made any longer) which is made out of a weed wacker motor, but it runs great (although does spit out a lot of oil). The main thing is that it is so darned light. It fits nicely on a kicker pad attached to the starboard stern pulpit.

I also have a little 9 ft fiberglass sailing dinghy that I could tow if I felt like it, but even that small of a fiberglass boat is too heavy IMO to be hauling off and on the Mac's deck. You need a bigger yacht with stern davits for ultimate luxury.