towing walker bay 8

[sharkbait]

I have a Dyer Dhow that I just finished rebuilding for sale $1800

[Dick Barthel]

sharkbait,

I have the exact same boat which was built in the 50s and was rebuilt in the 70s. I wouldn't leave it at the boatyard and don't want to use it as a tender. Your boat is awesome! Mine needs some work again.

I just checked on the price of a Fatty Knees 8 foot which is top of class and it's $3500 without the sail kit! I'm sure the Dyer is in the same price range new.

Dick

[sharkbait]

Dyer list a new Dhow at $3520 and change depending upon special items.

I love the little boat but I already have a Dyer midget for my boat. The Dhow was just a "keep me busy project" which should show me a little profit; but not a lot. No need to shaft a fellow cruiser.

A few years ago I sold a totally refurbished Weekender for $5000.

[Sea Hunt Video]

A different thread showing photos of dinghies got me to thinking that I need to get serious about purchasing a dinghy.

I definitely need a hard bottom dinghy. Inflatable bottoms are just not stable enough for me. I know there are some inflatables with a hard bottom.

I like the WBs with the stabilization collar but they are expensive. Last year I looked at trying to buy used - no success.

I would be grateful if Dick B., Steve and others would update their above comments on this thread concerning the WB 8 and WB 10; also the Puffin which is VERY expensive but has great website comments. I have also read good reviews about "The Portland Pudgy" as a tender/dinghy.

My sailing area with the dinghy will be Biscayne Bay, the Keys, etc. Nothing offshore.

Thank you.

[Joe Myerson]

Hi Robert,
While the WB 8 is easy to tow, I would definitely not recommend the version without the inflatable collar for you. The boat is very unstable when climbing to or from a larger boat. It works well enough for someone of my small stature, but I've had some close calls.
The WB 10 might be more suitable for you, but towing a 10-footer from a 25D will really slow you down.
Have you looked at prams?
--Joe

[tjr818]

I love the Norwegian style prams.

[Steve Darwin]

Two pieces of advice. One is to put a round turn through the eye on the dinghy before tying the bowline. This really reduces the chafe problem. Advice 1A is to look at the knot now and then to see how it's doing.

Advice two is to have two painters. One long one for towing, and one short one for normal tying up to docks and boats. Much more convenient. Also, you can tie a small anchor to the long one when you go ashore on a rising tide, and tie the two painters together if the tide is rising a lot.

We once bought a long length of the expensive line that had a floating core and a uv and chafe resistant braided exterior. That became two short lengths after it wrapped around our prop. Shorten the line when reversing.

I've followed the local wisdom and have a galvanized, shouldered ring bolt on the bow of my dinghy and motor skiff. The ring takes virtually all the chafe and is large enough to accept several painters, anchor lines, docking lines, etc. The best (or at least the traditional) knot to attach a line to the ring is the anchor bend; for added security, make the bitter end of the anchor bend long enough to tie a bowline into the standing part of the line.

[Dick Barthel]

Sea Hunt - I have added the collar to the WB 8 and frankly for coastal cruising and rowing and towing behind a 25D I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better boat for the money. In my case someone gave me the shell for free and I just had to purchase the ring which I did last winter for about $500. I can now more easily pull it out of the water so I store it out of the water on the dingy dock so no bottom issues.

Incidentially I have the WB10 with the ring which I will be selling. You're a little far away to cut a deal though!

Dick

[Sea Hunt Video]

Dick, Joe and all:

Thanks for the additional information.

Dick, did you have the WB 10 and then "downsize" to the WB 8 If so, can you share "why"

Conn. is a long, long ways away Do you have an asking price Trailer

I am seriously looking at the WB (either 8 or 10) with a flotation collar. From what I have researched it seems the large majority of comments are favorable with respect to rowing, towing behind a small sailboat, climbing aboard from the water, etc. Also, the flotation collar adds significantly to stability and, if punctured, etc., the WB will still float - not an insignificant consideration for someone like me.

For me, it will be either solo or with "The Admiral" for a maximum of 2 adults. I would think the WB 10 would be a little more stable than the WB 8 (longer water line ) . However, that adds considerably to weight and makes it much more difficult to muscle out of the water at a dock, etc.

My search for "gently used" has met with dismal results so far. The search continues.

[NateHanson]

I'm surprised to hear the Puffin referred to a expensive. My impression is that it's priced much lower than most of the other fiberglass dinghies, at about $1000.

I also sold a Walker 8 and switched to a Puffin 8'6" a few years ago. It amazed me that a boat with the same beam and length could carry so much more weight comfortably, and row sooooo much better. Proof that there is art in boat design! We carry our family of four plus dog without a problem, and row against moderate tidal current to get to our mooring. The WB8 simply couldn't get past the current, and it sometimes shipped water over the transom with only 2 adults aboard.

If I were in need of a dinghy, I'd happily buy another Puffin. (And I'll never miss that Walker Bay!)

[Dick Barthel]

I'm surprised to hear the Puffin referred to a expensive. My impression is that it's priced much lower than most of the other fiberglass dinghies, at about $1000.

I also sold a Walker 8 and switched to a Puffin 8'6" a few years ago. It amazed me that a boat with the same beam and length could carry so much more weight comfortably, and row sooooo much better. Proof that there is art in boat design! We carry our family of four plus dog without a problem, and row against moderate tidal current to get to our mooring. The WB8 simply couldn't get past the current, and it sometimes shipped water over the transom with only 2 adults aboard.

If I were in need of a dinghy, I'd happily buy another Puffin. (And I'll never miss that Walker Bay!)

I'll have to keep my eye out for a Puffin as that sounds like a terrific dink. A question on your WB 8 experience - did you have the RID kit? Otherwise I'd agree with you that it is tippy with out it and with an adult in the stern taking on water is a distinct possibility. If you can get a new Puffin for $1,000 that would have to be one of least expensive decent dinks on the market. A new WB8 with the RID kit is certainly more than that.

[Sea Hunt Video]

The September/October issue of Good Old Boat has a very good article on the various issues to consider when buying a dinghy. I am still undecided but leaning towards a WB 8 with a small air-cooled Honda O/B (2.3 hp/30 lbs)

[steveg]

Here are some pictures of a pram I rebuilt over the winter. It is a very nice dingy. Tippy yet quite stable. It works well enough that I will probably attempt a nester when time and budget permit. Total out of pocket was in the neighborhood of five hundred dollars, which included the purchase of the dingy.

The pictures are in the opposite order of what was intended. One is in use, the middle almost finished, and then before work began. It just looks better behind our boats than the plastic walker bay, at least in my opinion. It seems like it would perform better as well.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Dick B., Joe M. and all:

Now that you have completed the 2014 sailing season I would be grateful for any updates or additional comments, observations, etc., concerning the Walker Bay 8. I am leaning heavily toward the Walker Bay RID 275R (which is the Walker Bay 8 with the inflation tube).

They are expensive and I am very mindful of Russell's comments about lack of stability. I am hoping his concerns relate to the Walker Bay without the inflation tube and that it will be more stable with the tube installed. As for expense, it seems like the Walker Bay RID 275R is sort of a "belt and suspenders" dinghy. If the flotation tube deflates, the hull will still float. If the outboard malfunctions, it can be rowed. If someone buys the sail kit it can be sailed - if necessary.

Another consideration for me is transporting the Walker Bay (or other dinghy) to and from the sailing club. I do NOT want to buy a small trailer. I have an old Chevy Tahoe. I saw a video on YouTube of removing a Walker Bay 10 from a station wagon rooftop by two people. If you have had occasion to transport your Walker Bay 8 by car/truck, how easy/difficult is it to put the Walker Bay 8 on the roof Can it be done by one person (short and fat) or does it require two

I have looked extensively over the past year-plus for a "gently used" Walker Bay 8 and have been unsuccessful. I am assuming part of this may be because they are durable and well-liked by most. Thus, no desire to sell.

I will be at the Miami sailboat show next month and will compare "show prices" with current website prices.

Any updated comments, etc., about the Walker Bay 8 (275R) will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Sea Hunt Video]

I do not usually believe in "coinkidinks", a/k/a coincidences. However, today I was at the sailing club doing some work on S/V Bali Ha'i.

To my surprise I observed what looked like a Walker Bay 8 being rowed up one of the mooring channels. I hailed the "captain" and asked about the Walker Bay 8. Technically, it was not his. He was using it while doing some work on a few sailboats. He said he liked it a lot and it was easy to get in and out. Disclaimer: he appeared to be young (25-30) and thin. Me, 40 years ago It did not have the wrap around inflation tube. There was a small (air cooled ) Mercury O/B attached but not being used.

I observed this Walker Bay 8 from close up and from a distance. It is, to my recollection, the first one I have actually seen in the water. All the others have been at boat shows, magazines or websites. What impressed me the most about the Walker Bay 8 was how "nautical" she looked. I know this should not be a criteria for a dinghy but it is a factor to be considered - at least a factor I consider, right or wrong. I saw her away from sailboats and tied up next to two (2) different sailboats. She just looked like she belonged on the water.

I am not sure if the addition of a wrap around inflation tube would add or detract from her "nautical" look.

There is an old saying - "You eat with your eyes first". As a Sicilian, I know when I prepare Chef Roberto's Famous Sicilian Spinach and Meat Lasagna ( world famous ) my guests always see it before they taste it.

For me at least, so too with a dinghy. I want it to be practical, sturdy, safe, etc. But I would also like it to look nice. From what I saw today, a Walker Bay 8 would look very nice trailing behind S/V Bali Ha'i.