Bic Sportyak 245

[Pete]

We are planning to buy a dinghy for our 27. I wanted to get a traditional hard shell such as a Sabot, Trinka or Nesqually but with stability a top priority reluctantly ruled them out. We like the Portland Pudgy but at almost 130 lbs we decided it was too much weight especially when we needed to launch and retrieve from the fairly steep and rocky slope at our house. So we are gravitating towards an air floor inflatable or lightweight RIB.
But today I came across the Bic Sportyak 245. 8 ft length, carries 3 and with its catamaran design, should be very stable. Weight not bad for a solid dinghy - 86 lb. Some interesting pictures on the bicboats.co.uk website. Price compares favorably with most inflatables at $800.

I'd be interested to hear if any of you have experience with one.

Pete

 

[knotflying]

Hi Pete,

We use the Bombard Max Aero with inflatable floor at 7'-11" long. It is 57 pounds all in. Easy to lift. When not in use and deflated I store it under the solar panel on the roof. When in use I lash it to the swim platform. Your choice of Dingy is a personal that depends on what fits your needs and abilities to lift and move. I had a bigger Zodiak and decided to go smaller because it was just over the edge to be able to muscle it around. The Bombard can get a little wet when there is a chop in the water, but everything is a tradeoff.
Good Luck with your quest!

Mike Rizzo

 

[Pete]

Mike,
Appreciate your perspective. I had hoped to get away from the hassle of inflation/deflation, potential for punctures and poor tracking that I remembered from my previous dinghy but that one had a flat floor with wooden slats that didn't fit too well. The inflatable floor simplifies things and reduces weight so I suspect your approach is probably the best for me also, especially if I get a dinghy with an air keel.

I was just intrigued by the Bic since it's the first small solid dinghy I'd seen that is both reasonably light and (almost) as stable as an inflatable. Also cheap.