Hello,
I don't know what you guys are talkin' bout'. I was up at Shallow Bay Sucia, San Juan Is in July and found myself rowing my sevylor challenger 400 (costco) in 20 kt wind (gusts over 30). OK, so I have a plywood floor in it which makes a big difference AND I chose a course that kept me out of the middle where the waves were big but I don't think it's impossible to row an inflatable. I have been using this dink since 95 with great results. A sailing buddy has one with an electric motor using a motorcycle battery. He used it for a week to get to shore and back without recharging. Of course you can't go galavanting all around but it worked great for him. You could always charge it up on shore power when you make port every few days.
Would a powered dink be fun? Yeah, sure would. Do I want to store / tow / a heavy dink and outboard.....definitely not. Towing it would relegate me to hull speed which I don't want either.
My $.02
rowing inflatables
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waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
I confess.......
I frequently tow at greater than hull speed......
and the motor hangs on a bracket on the starboard aft railing.
seem to work...
the only time I stuff on deck is when I know I will be going into rough stuff, or over about 2 hours of motor travel. (I have to deflate slightly to ease the seat of the dink out)
I frequently tow at greater than hull speed......
and the motor hangs on a bracket on the starboard aft railing.
seem to work...
the only time I stuff on deck is when I know I will be going into rough stuff, or over about 2 hours of motor travel. (I have to deflate slightly to ease the seat of the dink out)
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Terry
- Admiral
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:35 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada. '03 26M - New Yamaha 70
Now why is it that nobody mentions the FUN FACTOR 
Look you guys, these inflatable dinghies are a real hoot with the right amount of HP on them. I have a Honda 5hp on mine and it gets up to 12mph with my 220lbs plus anchor and other gear. I can only imagine how much faster it would scoot with a lighter person (15mph perhaps) or more HP. Mine is 9'9" and rated for 8hp but I'd sure like to get my hands on one of those 9.8 nissan 2 strokes @ 58# and see how she scoots. Forget about those anemic liitle engines and get the power of FUN.
Look you guys, these inflatable dinghies are a real hoot with the right amount of HP on them. I have a Honda 5hp on mine and it gets up to 12mph with my 220lbs plus anchor and other gear. I can only imagine how much faster it would scoot with a lighter person (15mph perhaps) or more HP. Mine is 9'9" and rated for 8hp but I'd sure like to get my hands on one of those 9.8 nissan 2 strokes @ 58# and see how she scoots. Forget about those anemic liitle engines and get the power of FUN.
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Yes that inflater is awsome. It has a dial to adjust the pressure to inflate the dingy to max recomended pressure. What I realized was that before inflating the boats to what I thought was pretty hard was about half the recommended pressure. The air floor alone needs about 8 pounds or so. When inflated to the right psi the floor is as hard as a piece of plywood.
best engine for the dinks is Scotts 2.5 suz 4 stroke. It has the power to push any dink against swells or wind nicely. Wont plane a dink but moves out fine.
Electric motors may seem like the answer, but I think people are forgetting about the 35 pound battery that needs to go with it. The 2.5 suz is only 29 pounds soaking wet. Will run hours on the small gas tank attached.
All the dinks can be rowed, with very little head wind and short distance I prefer to row to shore or messing around. The out board can be stored on board easy enough and adds a whole new dimension to the dink.
Like golf clubs, fishing poles or my life, Its best to have many diff. dinks for diff times. I have a 6.5, 8.5, and a 9.5 dink. Not counting the snark sail boat I own. (not really recommending this route) devorce also goes along with too many toys. But an all around good choice for a dink would be the baltic on ebay (max 2 adults two kids) in the 8.5 with air floor.
air floor is a must. The boat is light enough to move around by yourself and will carry the 2.5 suz perfect. The 9.5 or bigger boats are heavy and bulky, not saying the 8.5 isnt a hand full. But 9.5 and bigger make sure the little woman doesnt have a bad back cause shes going to have to help you move them around.
Of course if you get a second wife you will need the bigger inflatable and the extra hands will come in handy all around. Second wife might work out but if one konks out it seems the other will not be far behind, so a third wife might be the answer. It least until you get the first two fixed.
best engine for the dinks is Scotts 2.5 suz 4 stroke. It has the power to push any dink against swells or wind nicely. Wont plane a dink but moves out fine.
Electric motors may seem like the answer, but I think people are forgetting about the 35 pound battery that needs to go with it. The 2.5 suz is only 29 pounds soaking wet. Will run hours on the small gas tank attached.
All the dinks can be rowed, with very little head wind and short distance I prefer to row to shore or messing around. The out board can be stored on board easy enough and adds a whole new dimension to the dink.
Like golf clubs, fishing poles or my life, Its best to have many diff. dinks for diff times. I have a 6.5, 8.5, and a 9.5 dink. Not counting the snark sail boat I own. (not really recommending this route) devorce also goes along with too many toys. But an all around good choice for a dink would be the baltic on ebay (max 2 adults two kids) in the 8.5 with air floor.
air floor is a must. The boat is light enough to move around by yourself and will carry the 2.5 suz perfect. The 9.5 or bigger boats are heavy and bulky, not saying the 8.5 isnt a hand full. But 9.5 and bigger make sure the little woman doesnt have a bad back cause shes going to have to help you move them around.
Of course if you get a second wife you will need the bigger inflatable and the extra hands will come in handy all around. Second wife might work out but if one konks out it seems the other will not be far behind, so a third wife might be the answer. It least until you get the first two fixed.
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Frank C
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
BST Inflators at West Marine
hey the reviews suck so buyer beware, mine works great
some day I learn to do a short link
ModEdit: looks like you already have ... thx! ~fc
hey the reviews suck so buyer beware, mine works great
some day I learn to do a short link
ModEdit: looks like you already have ... thx! ~fc