Rethinking the Dinghy - The "Portland Pudgy"

[Carl Thunberg]

There is no perfect boat or a perfect dinghy. Everything is driven by the context of the individual and their unique sailing conditions. Personally, I've never seen an inflatable flip over. The weight of the floor boards contributes to their stability. Of course, I'm a coastal cruiser and have the luxury of staying home or at anchor in a protected harbor during conditions that might cause an inflatable to flip over. Not everyone has that luxury. It all depends on how far your horizons take you, and how self-sufficient you need to be. Only you can answer that. Have you considered a rail-mounted life raft, in combination with a dinghy of your choice? A lot people do that. You can even rent a life-raft for a specific passage on an as-needed basis.

[Joe Myerson]

FWIW, I saw the very first Portland Pudgy prototype at a Maine Boatbuilders Show many years ago. I even interviewed the designer/builder (I'm not sure when article ran in the now-defunct "Offshore" magazine). The concept seemed wonderful to me: If Callahan had had one of these, he probably would not have drifted for so long, for example. I rejected purchasing one because of the cost and weight--and the fact that I rarely sail too far from land in my 25D.

My current dinghy is an 8-foot Walker Bay. I've owned this rugged little plastic boat since before I bought my 25D. It's extremely light, which I like because it's easy to haul onto my club dock to dump out after it rains, and it tows relatively well. However, the boat is also extremely tippy, especially with a passenger, and it would probably be difficult to climb back into in the event of an accident.

I do not own an outboard, so I have kept away from inflatables, which don't row well. I've also been looking for a more satisfactory dinghy for cruising, one that might be stowed rather than towed. Any suggestions would be appreciated, but as my singlehanded cruises have grown less frequent, I may just stick with my reliable little tippy tender.

--Joe

[MHBsailor]

I wish to clarify what I mean by my philosophy that "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." By "it", I mean critical safety equipment, not carrying every conceivable piece of safety gear or gadget.

With the tragic scenario that I mentioned earlier in this thread, the local gentleman wasn't far from land when he apparently fell overboard in early October and may have lacked a PFD and any method of summoning assistance, as evidenced by his unfortunate demise. Survival time in the water in the New Bedford, MA area at that time of year for most people was probably 15 min or so at those water temps, so being able to summon rescue, get out of the water and shed wet clothes ASAP was critical to survival. And how many of us in the Northeast have sailed into late October or even November, or perhaps gotten an early Spring start, when the water has really cooled down?

I cannot imagine too many worse feelings (other than "Jaws" bearing down on me like in Frenchy's photo) after having fallen off my boat into cold water with no PFD, no means of summoning rescue, and knowing that I'm screwed. That's why having several layers of redundancy is critically important (not relying on any one piece of safety equipment to save the day). Basically one considers the possible failure modes, and has a plan of action to respond to each one.

BTW I've also tried the Walker Bay dinghy and found it to be difficult to row even in relatively calm waters with two people aboard as it was rather crowded and the ends of the oars kept hitting the passenger's knees.

I am currently doing more research on several suggestions such as the "Fatty Knees", "Puffin" and "PeaPod" designs and enjoying learning more about each one. Of course, I'll also look at the Cape Dory 10 . It my come down to which among several acceptable choices that is in excellent condition that becomes available first.

[Carl Thunberg]

The simple reality is, if you fall off your boat when single-handing, you are as good as dead. Even with capable crew, retrieval is extraordinarily difficult. Of all the dinghies, a rubber inflatable is the easiest to board from the water, assuming your boat heads up into irons and comes to a stop and doesn't sail away from you. Rule No. 1. Stay on the boat. Plan all your movements, keep your weight low, install padeyes and jack-lines, wear a harness when conditions warrant it, keep your lifelines taught, and otherwise set up your boat and processes to assure you comply with Rule No. 1, because the chances of self-rescue are not good.

[Steve Laume]

Using a Portland Pudgy for your dinghy and life raft is like trying to use a Swiss Army knife to make PB and jelly sandwiches and carve your thanksgiving turkey. Yes it will work but there are far better tools for each job, Steve.

[Joe Myerson]

BTW I've also tried the Walker Bay dinghy and found it to be difficult to row even in relatively calm waters with two people aboard as it was rather crowded and the ends of the oars kept hitting the passenger's knees.

I agree. I usually sail singlehanded, with a PFD, harness where necessary and handheld or mobile phone (in waterproof case).

Neither my wife nor I are large people, and it is possible to row the Walker Bay with the two of us aboard--but I wouldn't recommend it. The boat works for me, it tows relatively well and I've had it for many years. That said, I'd welcome a better alternative.

--Joe

[John Stone]

BTW I've also tried the Walker Bay dinghy and found it to be difficult to row even in relatively calm waters with two people aboard as it was rather crowded and the ends of the oars kept hitting the passenger's knees.

I agree. I usually sail singlehanded, with a PFD, harness where necessary and handheld or mobile phone (in waterproof case).

Neither my wife nor I are large people, and it is possible to row the Walker Bay with the two of us aboard--but I wouldn't recommend it. The boat works for me, it tows relatively well and I've had it for many years. That said, I'd welcome a better alternative.

--Joe

I’m not trying to be combative. I just have a different opinion. I use a hard dinghy for rowing, sailing, and motoring—we have a 3.5 two stroke we carry when needed, which is seldom—and as a “life raft.” I have rowed Gayle and me for miles, literally, and have had no complaints (getting the oars right and installing foot blocks, however small, are essential). There are definitely alternatives to the Walker Bay—a better dinghy for one.

But, that’s not to say the Walker Bay won’t work. Clearly it does work. It’s just not very good at anything except being relatively inexpensive. Choices. However, if you keep a sharp eye on the lookout you will come across a great rowing dinghies for a song.

True, I have never I had to take to my dinghy as a life raft, and I hope I never do. But, how many people here on the forum have ever lost their boat and were saved by climbing into a life raft when the conditions would have made climbing into a hard dinghy unsurvivable? How many life rafts are being carried on cruising boats but are well beyond their service date? I suspect many if not most.... A good hard dinghy, like a Fatty Knees for example is tough, rows well, sails well, motors well with a 2hp (if you’re so inclined). But if someone wants to carry a life-raft or a hard dinghy or both, that’s a totally personal choice. I make no judgment one way or the other. We all have to figure it out ourselves and live with the choice.

Two books come to mind. Survive the Savage Sea is epic. Six people for 37 days in an inflatable raft and hard dink. The inflatable finally sank and they all survived in a 9’ hard dinghy. Steve Callahan’s survival tale of 76 days in a failing life raft is legendary and can be read in Adrift. Through incredible ingenuity he kept the sinking raft afloat but vowed never to be dependent on an inflatable life raft again.

True, these were major ocean passages and not coastal outings but to me that only lends more value to using a hard dinghy. True, we all rely on GPS EPIRBs so rescue should, in theory, come quickly. Seems to me the Portland Pudgy is a great set up though it appears to incline more towards the life raft capability than the rowing sailing dinghy capability. But that is a matter of personal choice.

Absolutely 100 percent agree that staying on the boat is imperative. But that’s a whole different issue than carrying a “life raft.” I always tell anyone who sails with me on the Far Reach ”Your world ends at the life lines.”

[Walter Hobbs]

Probably said before...

Rule #1 Stay on the boat.

Rule #2 See rule #1.

[MHBsailor]

Great discussion thanks to all of the thoughtful contributions ... it has helped refine my own thoughts on these issues

Since I intend to tow a dinghy for purely utilitarian purposes such as rowing ashore, I might as well get
one that can do double duty as an emergency lifeboat should my CD sink out from under me - unlikely,
yes. I just don't want to be SOL if that were to actually happen to me (just a personal preference ).

Once in the dingy, conditions may be sufficiently challenging to necessitate immediately rescue, so having
the means to summon rescue services several ways seems essential (redundancy again!), along with a suitable lifejacket
should I be thrown from the dinghy (e.g., in a storm). I always carry an emergency strobe on my life jacket in case such
an event continues into the night before rescue.

I am still a decent ocean beach swimmer on fair weather days, but I don't have the ability to tread water for hours or swim
several miles to shore, especially in cold water, so I am only willing to take calculated risks when coastal sailing with a sufficient contingency plan, my thoughts on which are continuing to evolve.

It does sound like a traditional seaworthy dinghy would to be a lot more fun to row than a "Pudgy", but
I will reserve judgment until I can find one to paddle (if I don't find a traditional dinghy that I really like first).

[Paul D.]

Both of those books were written in the '70's. Liferaft design and construction, like roller furling gear, has become much more reliable and focused on purpose since then. I don't believe that using that point between life rafts and a useable hard dinghy is a fair comparison anymore. The life raft has gained popularity because it has been packaged as a simple, 'set it and forget it' option in the worst case scenario. They're not made for dual use like a steerable hard dinghy would be in this situation. And they are designed on the premise that you would have an EPIRB and spend much less time in them.

Good discussion. No right or wrong answers really, just different scenarios that we all wonder about how we would each react within the moment. And want to be prepared best we can so we don't need to flip the EPIRB switch. Because that means we've somehow failed.

Having said that. I have a nesting hard dinghy my brother built that I use every day and love to row. God I'd hate to try to get into that thing stepping up from my boat when the gales of November come early!

[John Stone]

Paul
I agree modern rafts are probably more reliable than in the past. And in a perfect world with plenty of money to burn I might carry both. But....hard dinghies never fail to open.

From the Ocean Cruising Club circa 2018:

https://forum.oceancruisingclub.org/PrintTopic4641.aspx

[tjr818]

I don't think that Cape. Bligh could have made it to Timor in an inflatable I would love to have a Fatty Knees - maybe someday.

[Jim Walsh]

For anyone considering a Fatty Knees http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f15 ... 28787.html here’s one just listed for sale.

[MHBsailor]

Can anyone please identify what this fine looking dinghy might be?

[Tod Mills]

I would love to have a hard dinghy, but even the smallest ones present stowage problems.

With the absence of an inboard engine, I have a nice space for a dinghy under the cockpit...providing it folds or deflates.

Here are some possibilities (along with the Deckster, that may fit on your boat, if not mine):

https://www.woodenwidget.com/fliptailspecs.htm

https://www.woodenwidget.com/origamispecs.htm

https://www.woodenwidget.com/deckster.htm

and in the inflatable department, there are many variations of these kayaks, many of whom seem to be quite stable. YouTuber "The Sailing Frenchman" used an inflatable kayak for his 26' Ecume der Mer.

https://kayakguru.com/best-inflatable-kayak/