How do others carry their inflatable dingy's, other than towing? I just purchased a 52 lb Zodiac, and would like the option of not towing it when conditions merit yet I might still want it along.
Of course, it can remain in the bag!
Rick
Lady-in-Red
www.trailersailing.com
Dingy Carrying
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Mark Prouty
- Admiral
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:52 am
- Location: Madison, WI Former MacGregor 26X Owner
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Tom Root
- Captain
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:39 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Annville, PA. s/v-Great White, MacX4787A202,'09 Suzuki DF-50
Mark, I liked that idea also, but what could a nasty stern wave from a following sea do to this system? I am dubiuos, as to what could be damaged in this case. Personally, I have towed my dink with no problems for decades, my preference, but with a bit of care, it can be an easy and better solution IMHO.
We have discussed this before, and most opt for a foredeck inflated location, upside down, and stow a small suicide (No Gears) motor on the bow pulpit....I have been on many boats like this, and don't like it at all! But, to each his own I say!
Many say towing causes too much drag, but I see it as a safety step, if required, and leave my motor attached, and tethered well, along with the fuel tank! I rather have my 10' Avon with the 7 1/2 HP at the ready at all times as a rule, then go through the hassles of deploying it and in some cases, an emergency. Keep a cheepie small paddle type of inflatable aboard, that doesn't occupy too much space, if drag is a concern, is my suggestion!
We have discussed this before, and most opt for a foredeck inflated location, upside down, and stow a small suicide (No Gears) motor on the bow pulpit....I have been on many boats like this, and don't like it at all! But, to each his own I say!
Many say towing causes too much drag, but I see it as a safety step, if required, and leave my motor attached, and tethered well, along with the fuel tank! I rather have my 10' Avon with the 7 1/2 HP at the ready at all times as a rule, then go through the hassles of deploying it and in some cases, an emergency. Keep a cheepie small paddle type of inflatable aboard, that doesn't occupy too much space, if drag is a concern, is my suggestion!
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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:
We carry ours rolled up on the bow. It is stored cross wise just behind the forward hatch up against the front windows. It actually makes a nice seat there. We tie it off on each side to the lifelines. When we want it we just unroll it on the bow with the transom to the mast and inflate it right there. Sounds like your's is a small one like our old one. You should have no problem filling it there or lifting it over the side. I made a lifting harness that uses the jib halyard to help get it over but with the smaller boat it really wasn't necessary.
We don't bother with the storage bag, it just get in the way and is one more thing to lose over the side. Getting the dinghy back into the bag requires close attention to deflating and folding which is tough to do on the bow. We just use the bag at home for storing the boat long term, not on board.
Our new bigger inflatable is 71 lbs and I think I'll end up using the harness more. I am going to use it in conjunction with my whisker pole to hold the halyard away from the mast and make a simple crane of sorts that should make handling the boat easy.
We store our 6hp outboard on a trolling bracket on the starboard transom. It is one of those brackets that can be raised and lowered so the motor can also be a backup for the Mac itself.
I have always just climbed inside the unrolled dinghy on the front deck and inflated it with a foot pump. We just splurged on a special electric air pump. It has an auto shutoff pressure switch that you just set for the PSI you want and it runs till the boat is full. It can handle our new high pressure air floor as it is capable of 11.7 PSI. You want 3-4 PSI in the tubes and 9-11 PSI in an air floor.
That was the one disappointing thing with our new Maxxon dinghy. The supplied foot pump cannot come even close to getting the high pressure needed for the floor. You need a special foot pump that has the third high pressure chamber. They run around $60, so we decided to skip that and just go with the more expensive electric one. With it I think we'll be more willing to deflate it more often rather than tow now that inflating it will be a simple task.
We don't bother with the storage bag, it just get in the way and is one more thing to lose over the side. Getting the dinghy back into the bag requires close attention to deflating and folding which is tough to do on the bow. We just use the bag at home for storing the boat long term, not on board.
Our new bigger inflatable is 71 lbs and I think I'll end up using the harness more. I am going to use it in conjunction with my whisker pole to hold the halyard away from the mast and make a simple crane of sorts that should make handling the boat easy.
We store our 6hp outboard on a trolling bracket on the starboard transom. It is one of those brackets that can be raised and lowered so the motor can also be a backup for the Mac itself.
I have always just climbed inside the unrolled dinghy on the front deck and inflated it with a foot pump. We just splurged on a special electric air pump. It has an auto shutoff pressure switch that you just set for the PSI you want and it runs till the boat is full. It can handle our new high pressure air floor as it is capable of 11.7 PSI. You want 3-4 PSI in the tubes and 9-11 PSI in an air floor.
That was the one disappointing thing with our new Maxxon dinghy. The supplied foot pump cannot come even close to getting the high pressure needed for the floor. You need a special foot pump that has the third high pressure chamber. They run around $60, so we decided to skip that and just go with the more expensive electric one. With it I think we'll be more willing to deflate it more often rather than tow now that inflating it will be a simple task.
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Rich Smith
- Engineer
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:50 am