Dinghy

[agallant80]

What are the thoughts on having a Dinghy on a small cruiser (25 feet). One side says it is a waste but the other side says it will be worth wile to have one incase I go some place that has a Dinghy only dock and for safety, but then again I will be on the ICW and Chessapeak bay?

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Dinghy

If you're concerned about the safety of your boat, then put the effort in to make it safe and don't rely on a dinghy.

How often do you plan to go to places that only have dinghy docks? If the answer is "not often" but you really want to go there, get an inflatable dinghy that you can stow between uses.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Dinghy

The boat is a 2013 with 3.5 hours on it. I am not too worried about the safety of it but I know anything can happen.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Dinghy

Ayuh,.... yer "Cruiser" is a dingy compared to boats that actually use/ have a dingy....

 

[Ned L]

Re: Dinghy

The biggest advantage is being able to pretty much drop an anchor anywhere and get ashore. Other than planning on doing that they are just more of a hastle.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Dinghy

I agree with Bond-o. Too small of a boat for a dinghy. I can't think of a place one would fit without making the swim platform usless, getting in the way constantly, or adding parasitic weight. Unless you named your boat Titanic your lifejackets, flares, and other mandatory emergency supplies will be enough.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Dinghy

Back in the early 70's, I fished on a commercial troller off the coast of Washington. We had a dinghy strapped to the top of the cabin that the captain assured me was required by the CG back then. One day after rigging hooks, we decided to test our "life boat" dinghy. Took about 10 minutes to unlash it and put it in the water (figured we'd probably sink in 5). We were both big guys and when the captain got in, we had about 2" of freeboard left. We laughed so hard I almost wet myself, put the dinghy back on the cabin, lashed it down and started shopping for survival suits
Long way of saying.... don't bother. An inflatable one at the most but do NOT count on anything you could cary to work as a life boat. Truth is, you pretty much own a life boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Dinghy

If you need a dingy it is because you live on your boat and high water makes your slip inaccessible by foot or you choose to anchor and avoid slip fees OR you want the small boat available for fishing or other water activities.