Hoping to end up with a 2010 R25SC. We are looking at an inflatable dingy stowable in the “coffin” berth under the port side dinette. Almost always we will run 2 folks ( 320ish Lbs total) But might run 3 folks ( 540-580) occasionally. Thinking I’ll row for now but might grab a propane 5 hp OB later. Any solid recommendations? We won’t use it a huge amount but might tie up at anchorages or mooring buoys half dozen times seasonally. We seek a value solution that won’t compromise safety. Thank you in advance.
Dinghy recommendation?
- Thread starter ciaran
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4umfreak
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Here in the PNW, an inflatable floor dinghy isn't going to last more than a few landings.
It depends what kind of shorelines you'll need to navigate. I guess the boat doesn't have davits on the swimgrid for carrying something that doesn't fold up?
It depends what kind of shorelines you'll need to navigate. I guess the boat doesn't have davits on the swimgrid for carrying something that doesn't fold up?
Good point on the landings. So a rigid floor then. We’re in the North Sound so plenty of gravelly beaches with shells. No davits. A rigid floor might make interior stowage impossible . Thanks for the insight.
JMarshallR25
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I have an inflatable floor zodiac and deal with rocky beaches by having detachable transom wheels for the dinghy. Worth considering.
What a great idea! I’m a newbie so any and all of the experiences of the Tugnut brain trust are priceless
rheimb1
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We’ve been using an inflatable dinghy with an inflatable floor in the San Juans for about 3–5 weeks each summer over the last four years, and it has worked very well for us. We have an Achilles 8-foot dinghy, and I run an EP Paddle electric motor on it. I know inflatable floors get a lot of criticism, but we’ve had absolutely no trouble with ours.
The big thing is how you land it. You don’t want to run it up onto the beach. Like others have mentioned, that’s how people end up damaging or losing the floor. What we do is simple: when we’re about to reach shore, the first person steps out while the boat is still floating, then the second person steps out, and we carry the dinghy up the beach. That keeps it off sharp shells, rocks, and barnacles.
The dinghy weighs about 56 pounds, and we store it on davits on the swim platform. It won’t fit in an 2015 R25SC locker. That may partly be because Achilles builds a pretty solid inflatable,it’s not a thin plastic inflatable. You might be able to store it on the cabin top, but 56 pounds is still a fair bit of weight to lift.
I deliberately chose not to go with a fiberglass bottom because of the added weight. I don’t like putting more weight on the stern of the boat if I can avoid it.
The big thing is how you land it. You don’t want to run it up onto the beach. Like others have mentioned, that’s how people end up damaging or losing the floor. What we do is simple: when we’re about to reach shore, the first person steps out while the boat is still floating, then the second person steps out, and we carry the dinghy up the beach. That keeps it off sharp shells, rocks, and barnacles.
The dinghy weighs about 56 pounds, and we store it on davits on the swim platform. It won’t fit in an 2015 R25SC locker. That may partly be because Achilles builds a pretty solid inflatable,it’s not a thin plastic inflatable. You might be able to store it on the cabin top, but 56 pounds is still a fair bit of weight to lift.
I deliberately chose not to go with a fiberglass bottom because of the added weight. I don’t like putting more weight on the stern of the boat if I can avoid it.
This is what I've been looking for rheimb1. Real experience in the Puget Sound using prudent landing practices.
I suppose the downside to this is in winter; you're pretty much committed to either finding a landing thats free of sharp materials, or you're getting your feet wet at an less than ideal time of year. Can't quite get my head around that tricky bit...
I suppose the downside to this is in winter; you're pretty much committed to either finding a landing thats free of sharp materials, or you're getting your feet wet at an less than ideal time of year. Can't quite get my head around that tricky bit...