Dinghy recommendations for C28

[steven_ickman]

Hi everyone... We take delivery of our new C28 this Friday and are super excited! I've started looking at dinghy options and thought I'd get some input.

Definitely wanting an inflatable and leaning towards a solid floor because I'm a bigger guy at 260 lbs. Mainly need to cart my wife and I to shore and back. My biggest concern is that the C28 only has an 8.5' beam. I've been looking at a Zodiac Cadet 260 S online and was at West Marine today and the guy was showing me their PSB-275 with wood floors. West Marine has a sale on that boat right now and at $800 its an incredible price (versus $1500 for the Cadet.) The price isn't that important but a sale is a sale.

My concern with the PSB-275 is that it's 1' longer then my boat is wide. The guy at West Marine said that's a valid concern and I'd need to be careful when docking. He did say that some people compensate for the width difference with bigger fenders but thought I'd get input from the community before I buy anything. Should I just look for an 8.5' tender and if so what are some brands/models worth considering?

I have other questions around mounting options but thought I'd start with picking my boats boat first 🙂 Was just looking at Weaver Davits and they look pretty nifty 🙂

-steve

 

[pleeson]

I presume you don't put price first when making major lasting decisions like buying a boat? Hence the C 28 I imagine. I don't think you want anything longer than 8.5 feet because of the docking issue. Maybe with a Davit it could swing over the dock but there is always the piling issue. You've found a great price but we sure love our rigid hull aluminum inflatable. If you plan on deflating it for transport or storage I can see going with the removable floor but not otherwise unless you are down to just your lunch money. Just opinion... If you get a rigid hull, the mounts on the swim deck that it tips up on (if not Davit) need to be raised by several inches or your lower tube will catch the wake thanks to the bow high attitude of this otherwise great boat. Enjoy your shopping.

 

[Barry Cohen]

The beam on YOLO is also 8.5 feet.

We have the Mercury Air Deck 240. The air deck provides good stability and deflates when you need to. The overall length is 7'3". We use the Weaver Davitt system. I am 235 and my son is over 200. We have no problems cruising along with the Mercury 6HP motor.

Take a look: gallery2.php?g2_itemId=35843

 

[steven_ickman]

Thanks for the input. I'm researching RIB's now and definitely thinking I should stick with an 8.5' boat or less. My marina offers free dinghy storage so the ability to fold it up for storage is less of an issue. Given that I'm in the PNW with lots of rocks I'm thinking that the added durability of a rigid hull may be worth the added cost/weight.

-steve

 

[wthron]

Take a close look at the Hurley Davit..allows good view aft and motor always on Dinghy helps with back issues. Looks to be easier to launch and retrieve as well. Obstructed view with the Weaver Davits is annoying.

Good Luck, Wayne

 

[steven_ickman]

Thanks for the link Wayne... That does look like a nice system. So many choices 🙂

-steve

 

[Cruzerboy]

Two possible drawbacks to Hurley: loss of use of swim platform when dinghy is aboard and conflict with propane locker.

 

[Captain Nice]

cardinalboats.com has a 2-person inflatable that's 7'-6'' long & 80lbs.

 

[Cruzerboy]

It has been suggested that those of us in the Northwest get aluminum-hulled dinghies because our beaches tend to be rocky which is hard on fiberglass. The folks in the Southeast, with their sandy beaches, can get by with fiberglass. We've ordered an AB aluminum bottom.