Good deal on a Dinghy?
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
- Admiral
- Posts: 2459
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:41 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Bellevue, Wa '96 26x, Tohatsu 90 TLDI and Plug In Hybrid Electric drive
- Contact:
I find the Dinghy alone takes off 1 knot of speed, add the motor and that goes up to 2 knots plus. No way around this with a normal sized dinghy.
There is no way you are going to stow the dinghy on board inflated with the motor attached. The motor is going to have to be removed to store the dinghy on board. The only possible other solution is the Dinghy Tow one.
Storing the dinghy inflated on the bow is certainly possible but it will block visibility forward as any reasonable sized one (8'+) will end up with the transom up at the mast base. If you don't want to sail you could setup a inverted cartop type solution above your bimini. I'm actually doing a similar thing for our two inflatable double kayaks when we are in mastless expedition mode.
I would not tow my dinghy at speeds faster than 10-12 knots. It's OK at these speeds as long as you fiddle with the tow line to get it in a good place at a good attitude on the wake. We to using a long ski rope (connected to a webbing bridle) so we can get it in the right pace. You can actually reduce the drag a lot if you get it just right on the downhill surfing area of the wake. Even so plan on getting water in it from spray. Anything faster and you might as well count on flipping it every now and then. That's why you never see faster powerboats (slow trawlers only) towing dinghy's. They always have a way to get it out of the water so they can go fast.
There is no magic bullet that makes a Mac any different, 20 knots is 20 knots. If you are going fast plan on putting the motor on a transom bracket and the rolled deflated dinghy on the bow.
NiceAft
There is a simple solution to your fears about transfering the motor to the Mac. I simply tie a safety line from the motor to the aft pulpit. Then if something goes wrong with the transfer the motor can't go to the bottom. I keep this line tied to the pulpit when the motor is stored on the bracket in case the clamps come loose and to reduce any bouncing. The same line get's tied to an eye in the dinghy transom as a backup when the motor is on the dinghy.
There is no way you are going to stow the dinghy on board inflated with the motor attached. The motor is going to have to be removed to store the dinghy on board. The only possible other solution is the Dinghy Tow one.
Storing the dinghy inflated on the bow is certainly possible but it will block visibility forward as any reasonable sized one (8'+) will end up with the transom up at the mast base. If you don't want to sail you could setup a inverted cartop type solution above your bimini. I'm actually doing a similar thing for our two inflatable double kayaks when we are in mastless expedition mode.
I would not tow my dinghy at speeds faster than 10-12 knots. It's OK at these speeds as long as you fiddle with the tow line to get it in a good place at a good attitude on the wake. We to using a long ski rope (connected to a webbing bridle) so we can get it in the right pace. You can actually reduce the drag a lot if you get it just right on the downhill surfing area of the wake. Even so plan on getting water in it from spray. Anything faster and you might as well count on flipping it every now and then. That's why you never see faster powerboats (slow trawlers only) towing dinghy's. They always have a way to get it out of the water so they can go fast.
There is no magic bullet that makes a Mac any different, 20 knots is 20 knots. If you are going fast plan on putting the motor on a transom bracket and the rolled deflated dinghy on the bow.
NiceAft
There is a simple solution to your fears about transfering the motor to the Mac. I simply tie a safety line from the motor to the aft pulpit. Then if something goes wrong with the transfer the motor can't go to the bottom. I keep this line tied to the pulpit when the motor is stored on the bracket in case the clamps come loose and to reduce any bouncing. The same line get's tied to an eye in the dinghy transom as a backup when the motor is on the dinghy.
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Billy
- First Officer
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:50 pm
- Location: Dunn NC 2001-26X140 "XX"(DoubleCross)
Remember, never say never.That's why you never see faster powerboats (slow trawlers only) towing dinghy's. They always have a way to get it out of the water so they can go fast.
Don't know if you want to call a 26 footer (+/-) with twins a dinghy, but it was being towed across the Bahama Bank--and passed our Macs like we were sitting still. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
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Skip Matthies
- Deckhand
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:33 pm
- Location: 1999 26X . . . . . CA and AZ
Admiral Beene,
There is an other alternative that I did not see listed in the discussion. We have used a porta bote as our dingy for several years. We have stowed it on the deck folded and have put it in the cabin for trailering.
My wife and I routinely put it together on the foredeck and slide it into the water to launch while dealing with slight ocean swells on the far side of Catalina.
They row quite nicely and I have enjoyed that. They also have sail kits for them now. We have the 10' model and put a 6hp 4 stroke on it. It will carry three adults and gear with the 6. I never tried 4.
On outings with a club we cruise with, the porta bote has been very popular. When we go to the beach for a bar b Que there are no tables. Bote acts as our picnic table. Something the blow ups don't do.
Didn't mean to confuse the issue for you. Sometimes we have too many choices. I'm sure you will make the best one for you.
Mcskipper
There is an other alternative that I did not see listed in the discussion. We have used a porta bote as our dingy for several years. We have stowed it on the deck folded and have put it in the cabin for trailering.
My wife and I routinely put it together on the foredeck and slide it into the water to launch while dealing with slight ocean swells on the far side of Catalina.
They row quite nicely and I have enjoyed that. They also have sail kits for them now. We have the 10' model and put a 6hp 4 stroke on it. It will carry three adults and gear with the 6. I never tried 4.
On outings with a club we cruise with, the porta bote has been very popular. When we go to the beach for a bar b Que there are no tables. Bote acts as our picnic table. Something the blow ups don't do.
Didn't mean to confuse the issue for you. Sometimes we have too many choices. I'm sure you will make the best one for you.
Mcskipper
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Catigale
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10421
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:59 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
I was out with Rich on 'Third Day' once and his motor pooped out just as we came back for the night. Next morning, we went to Fatcats for breakfast on shore - problem being Third Day was best part of a mile out in the mooring field. I rowed the two of us in - when Rich offered to take the oars, I reminded him he was going to have row this TWICE more
I hope it was easier without me on board
Inflatables dissipate a lot of your rowing energy into flex of the boat - even good ones like the one we were on. The cheap low end ones (like my Sevy 250SX row even worse)
I hope it was easier without me on board
Inflatables dissipate a lot of your rowing energy into flex of the boat - even good ones like the one we were on. The cheap low end ones (like my Sevy 250SX row even worse)
So Geoff, did you get it 
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beene
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2546
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:31 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Ontario Canada, '07 26M, Merc 75 4s PEGASUS
THIS STORE has them all the time.
HERE is another one.
I have not purchased one yet, as the Bank Manager... aka... Admiral... has not yet agreed to it's usefulness. She would rather spend the money on stern rail seats.
Either way, I might be swimming to shore whichever I buy.
G
HERE is another one.
I have not purchased one yet, as the Bank Manager... aka... Admiral... has not yet agreed to it's usefulness. She would rather spend the money on stern rail seats.
Either way, I might be swimming to shore whichever I buy.
G