missin_maine
Recruit
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2016
- Messages
- 5
Hi - finally signed up instead of just lurking. Nice to be here! I did a bunch of searching the forums and have no idea what to get.
I own an unusual property in southern Maine...with multiple acres of fields and a long stretch of coastline. In front of our house are jagged, deadly cliffs, but about a quarter mile away, across some fields, we have steps down the rocks to a small pocket beach. The beach is a bit sandy at high tide, but beneath the water's surface it is pretty rocky. At high tide it's not too hard to hike out to the open ocean across the rocks. At low tide it is annoyingly far across a lot of slippery seaweedy rocks, and I wouldn't bother.
It is facing pretty much open ocean, so there are wildly different conditions. On a calm day you could launch a paddleboard or kayak by yourself (if you're wearing something on your feet to walk across the rocks) no problem. On a rough day it's 10 foot surf and dangerous.
I'd like to explore options for launching an inflatable on calm days, assuming I have at least 1 friend to help.
further notes:
- there's no way to get a trailer down the beach.
- I am ok leaving something out in the elements for the summer, as long as it'll last at least a few summers. I will trade longevity or pay more money (or both) for convenience.
- I have a John Deeere gator and can tow things with it and can throw an engine in the back to drive it around...
I'm pretty price insensitive...if cost isn't really an option, I'm wondering what those of you on the forum think would be an ideal inflatable. I'm also ok beating on something if it gives me at least a few years of good times...I don't want to sound careless or indifferent about money, but I'd rather buy something with knowledge that I can semi-mistreat it for 5 years and have it wear out, versus not use it at all because I have to lug it back to the house every time I use it, to treat it, run freshwater through it, etc., to make it last 10 years or more. Or I need a crew to drag it out so it doesn't touch the rocks.
When I imagine using this thing, I imagine at least 2 grown men (maybe with a couple other people, maybe not), heading down to the beach, dragging something out across the slippery rocks, hopping in, and zipping around to an island or going snorkling or something.
Specifically, here's what I'm thinking:
- Maybe I could just leave something chained up to the stairs at the bottom? And just bring it in labor day through memorial day.
- I believe 2 of us would be strong enough to drag a 250lb or less (say a Futura mk2 + 20hp or less motor) across the rocks. They are covered in seaweed and pretty slippery. They're not sharp, with the exception of some barnacles....but is that going to destroy the boat in 1 day? 1 year? 5 years?
- I don't care about something super sporty and fast - 20hp or less is fine, but I'd like to be able to get 4 or 5 people out to an island or out snorkeling, in the ocean.
- on calms days, is possible to anchor it in the open ocean right out front? (I found some discussion of what anchors to buy on here, but I don't have a clear understanding of how protected an area has to be)
Another possibility if anchoring is a possibility: I launch it with a trailer nearby (~1 mile drive) and leave it anchored out front a lot of the time, and we swim out to it when we want to use it. That's less ideal.
Anyway: I guess my question is: if cost isn't so much a concern, but getting something launchable and fun down there is the goal, something rugged, what would you get? Any suggestions for ideal equipment?
Thanks everyone!
I own an unusual property in southern Maine...with multiple acres of fields and a long stretch of coastline. In front of our house are jagged, deadly cliffs, but about a quarter mile away, across some fields, we have steps down the rocks to a small pocket beach. The beach is a bit sandy at high tide, but beneath the water's surface it is pretty rocky. At high tide it's not too hard to hike out to the open ocean across the rocks. At low tide it is annoyingly far across a lot of slippery seaweedy rocks, and I wouldn't bother.
It is facing pretty much open ocean, so there are wildly different conditions. On a calm day you could launch a paddleboard or kayak by yourself (if you're wearing something on your feet to walk across the rocks) no problem. On a rough day it's 10 foot surf and dangerous.
I'd like to explore options for launching an inflatable on calm days, assuming I have at least 1 friend to help.
further notes:
- there's no way to get a trailer down the beach.
- I am ok leaving something out in the elements for the summer, as long as it'll last at least a few summers. I will trade longevity or pay more money (or both) for convenience.
- I have a John Deeere gator and can tow things with it and can throw an engine in the back to drive it around...
I'm pretty price insensitive...if cost isn't really an option, I'm wondering what those of you on the forum think would be an ideal inflatable. I'm also ok beating on something if it gives me at least a few years of good times...I don't want to sound careless or indifferent about money, but I'd rather buy something with knowledge that I can semi-mistreat it for 5 years and have it wear out, versus not use it at all because I have to lug it back to the house every time I use it, to treat it, run freshwater through it, etc., to make it last 10 years or more. Or I need a crew to drag it out so it doesn't touch the rocks.
When I imagine using this thing, I imagine at least 2 grown men (maybe with a couple other people, maybe not), heading down to the beach, dragging something out across the slippery rocks, hopping in, and zipping around to an island or going snorkling or something.
Specifically, here's what I'm thinking:
- Maybe I could just leave something chained up to the stairs at the bottom? And just bring it in labor day through memorial day.
- I believe 2 of us would be strong enough to drag a 250lb or less (say a Futura mk2 + 20hp or less motor) across the rocks. They are covered in seaweed and pretty slippery. They're not sharp, with the exception of some barnacles....but is that going to destroy the boat in 1 day? 1 year? 5 years?
- I don't care about something super sporty and fast - 20hp or less is fine, but I'd like to be able to get 4 or 5 people out to an island or out snorkeling, in the ocean.
- on calms days, is possible to anchor it in the open ocean right out front? (I found some discussion of what anchors to buy on here, but I don't have a clear understanding of how protected an area has to be)
Another possibility if anchoring is a possibility: I launch it with a trailer nearby (~1 mile drive) and leave it anchored out front a lot of the time, and we swim out to it when we want to use it. That's less ideal.
Anyway: I guess my question is: if cost isn't so much a concern, but getting something launchable and fun down there is the goal, something rugged, what would you get? Any suggestions for ideal equipment?
Thanks everyone!
