A previous post about CD30 dinghy davits by Don Metznik on 5/24 raises the issue about a proper dinghy for the Cape Dory 30. This is something I have been pondering for a long time. I have tried an Avon Redcrest, but did not like trying to put it together on deck and having to tote around an outboard engine and gasoline. A dinghy that will fit in the 7 feet between the traveler and the mast on my 1983 model is a little on the small side. I am currently considering an 11 ft. nesting dinghy that stows in less than 6 feet. This would be towed most of the time, but could be stowed when necessary, rows easily, and can also be sailed. No motor needed, unlike inflatables.
What is your experience? What do you think? Has anyone had a nesting dinghy before? What is the proper dinghy for a Cape Dory 30? Thanks in advance.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes
GreatCells@aol.com
CD30 Dinghys
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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John R.
Re: CD30 Dinghys
Carl,Carl Jones wrote: A previous post about CD30 dinghy davits by Don Metznik on 5/24 raises the issue about a proper dinghy for the Cape Dory 30. This is something I have been pondering for a long time. I have tried an Avon Redcrest, but did not like trying to put it together on deck and having to tote around an outboard engine and gasoline. A dinghy that will fit in the 7 feet between the traveler and the mast on my 1983 model is a little on the small side. I am currently considering an 11 ft. nesting dinghy that stows in less than 6 feet. This would be towed most of the time, but could be stowed when necessary, rows easily, and can also be sailed. No motor needed, unlike inflatables.
What is your experience? What do you think? Has anyone had a nesting dinghy before? What is the proper dinghy for a Cape Dory 30? Thanks in advance.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes
I have a Metzeler inflatable with the inflatable floor which is a great feature in my opinion and I also have a 7' FRP sailing dink. Both are great in their own way, but neither is the answer for a multitude of reasons.
The nesting dink idea is an interesting one. Having never owned or used one I assume it would be fairly easy to set one up for use, correct me if I'm wrong. How large are the sections? How much do they weigh? How is it assembled for use? What are they constructed? What about blocking visibility if stored on deck?
If you can furnish more info on the concept and practicality I'd be interested in reading more about them. I don't know if there is a "proper" dinghy for the CD30. I suppose it comes down to what each crew is comfortable with. One thing is a fact, the CD30 and any smaller CD are difficult boats to equip with a dinghy. I think it all comes down to the narrow beam and fine ends, especially the stern. Narrow deck space and small lockers the result. Not a fun situation to deal with especially for serious cruising except for the benefits of sea kindliness as a result of those same characteristics.
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Carl Jones
Re: CD30 Dinghys
John,John R. wrote:Carl,Carl Jones wrote: A previous post about CD30 dinghy davits by Don Metznik on 5/24 raises the issue about a proper dinghy for the Cape Dory 30. This is something I have been pondering for a long time. I have tried an Avon Redcrest, but did not like trying to put it together on deck and having to tote around an outboard engine and gasoline. A dinghy that will fit in the 7 feet between the traveler and the mast on my 1983 model is a little on the small side. I am currently considering an 11 ft. nesting dinghy that stows in less than 6 feet. This would be towed most of the time, but could be stowed when necessary, rows easily, and can also be sailed. No motor needed, unlike inflatables.
What is your experience? What do you think? Has anyone had a nesting dinghy before? What is the proper dinghy for a Cape Dory 30? Thanks in advance.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes
I have a Metzeler inflatable with the inflatable floor which is a great feature in my opinion and I also have a 7' FRP sailing dink. Both are great in their own way, but neither is the answer for a multitude of reasons.
The nesting dink idea is an interesting one. Having never owned or used one I assume it would be fairly easy to set one up for use, correct me if I'm wrong. How large are the sections? How much do they weigh? How is it assembled for use? What are they constructed? What about blocking visibility if stored on deck?
If you can furnish more info on the concept and practicality I'd be interested in reading more about them. I don't know if there is a "proper" dinghy for the CD30. I suppose it comes down to what each crew is comfortable with. One thing is a fact, the CD30 and any smaller CD are difficult boats to equip with a dinghy. I think it all comes down to the narrow beam and fine ends, especially the stern. Narrow deck space and small lockers the result. Not a fun situation to deal with especially for serious cruising except for the benefits of sea kindliness as a result of those same characteristics.
The nesting dinghy I'm referring to can be found at Boat Plans On Line at www.bateau.com. It is called the Nesting Dinghy 11 (FB11) and is under Small Boat Plans. It is 10'6" LOA, 4'2" Beam, and weights 70 lbs. It breaks down in two pieces, held together by the removable center seat and bolts with wing nuts. I don't know how much it would block vision, but since the two parts nest inside each other, collectively they shouldn't be much higher than one alone. The construction method is stitch and glue plywood.
I am looking for other plans and if anyone knows of any I'd appreciate you letting me know. I remember seeing some in Wooden Boat a long time ago, but they're not there now.
The "proper dinghy" is very subjective, and I am hoping to get input from others so we can all benefit from their experience.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes
GreatCells@aol.com
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Olli Wendelin
Re: CD30 Dinghys
Carl,
I have two dinghys for my CD30.
One is a 8 ft 6 in fiberglass dinghy. It fits on the cabin top (CD30 Ketch), rows and motors well, is pretty indestructible, tows well, and I can manhandle it out of the water onto the cabin top if needed. Weight is about 90 lbs. Downside is low freeboard and capacity (395 lbs). With the wife, me, two standard poodles, 3HP motor, etc., we weigh in at ~500 lbs. About 100 lbs overweight, but thats how we hit the beach.
This year I bought a used 8 ft RIB inflatable. At 950 lbs capacity it carries the load great. It tows well, motors well and rows pretty good. Lifespan is limited (~ 10 years). Weight is ~ 175 lbs. I haven't tried it on the cabin top yet. I'm sure it will fit on the foredeck, making jib handling and anchoring difficult. I tow it everywhere, including offshore. For a rough offshore passage I would lash it to the foredeck.
Your needs and preferences will dictate the best dinghy for you. The only sure thing is that a 30 ft boat is too small for a great dinghy.
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
I have two dinghys for my CD30.
One is a 8 ft 6 in fiberglass dinghy. It fits on the cabin top (CD30 Ketch), rows and motors well, is pretty indestructible, tows well, and I can manhandle it out of the water onto the cabin top if needed. Weight is about 90 lbs. Downside is low freeboard and capacity (395 lbs). With the wife, me, two standard poodles, 3HP motor, etc., we weigh in at ~500 lbs. About 100 lbs overweight, but thats how we hit the beach.
This year I bought a used 8 ft RIB inflatable. At 950 lbs capacity it carries the load great. It tows well, motors well and rows pretty good. Lifespan is limited (~ 10 years). Weight is ~ 175 lbs. I haven't tried it on the cabin top yet. I'm sure it will fit on the foredeck, making jib handling and anchoring difficult. I tow it everywhere, including offshore. For a rough offshore passage I would lash it to the foredeck.
Your needs and preferences will dictate the best dinghy for you. The only sure thing is that a 30 ft boat is too small for a great dinghy.
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
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Larry DeMers
Re: CD30 Dinghys
For the first 10 years, we used a D4 Nesting Dinghy, that was constructed to specificly fit the area under the mast, from the traveler to about a foot shy of the mast base. This precluded the use of a boom vang of course..and this is a serious drawback.
Two years ago, we switched to an Avon Roll-Away. It has an aluminum floor that is a series of strips of lite metal interconnected with tough buterate (sp??) hinges. This puppy rolls up into a small -ish ball that we stow on deck in a low wood cradle, over the companionway hatch storm hood. We cover this whole thing with a sunbrella/elastic cover, reinforced with 2in. webbing, that terminate at the wood box.
We made a little lifting harness that we throw around two tube ends, and at the bow lifting handle, then crank the harness up with the main halyard, and lift the dinghy over the water, and then down.
The Avon pump is a very high volumn pump, compared to a few other cheaper inflatables I have owned (Zed, Zodiak and a Sevlor). It takes us about 10 minutes of pumping and maybe 5 minutes to get the thing launched.
Now, with the nesting dinghy, we *always* towed her, sacrificing 1kt at least, but the trade was a great rowing boat, that had 7-10' of carry per stroke, and had high freeboard to bot. It almost planes off with a 2hp outboard, and carried 2 and gear/motor/gas easily and dryly.
The reason that we towed her was the extreme difficulty of assembling the boat on deck, matching up the interfacing bolt holes, and aligning the frames. It was an hours job, and we both decided to go read a book instead of going ashore! Heh..so this rig was unsafe for us. There is a great little dinghy..also a Pram design as ours is (still have her) called the "Cameleon". The guy two boats down from us has built two now. The first was an experiemental boat made from cheaper woods. The second is a high quality, bright finish boat that he uses to impress the local boat builders flock. This boat was designed and plans sold by Bruce Bingham of Seattle Washington I believe. He is living in Bermuda now, and the Liveaboard Listservers archieve will have his address and phone number in it from a discussion perhaps 1 year ago.
The Chameleon is a beautiful 9.5 ft. pram, that is comfortable being rowed with 7'6" oars, or sailing at planing speed with a lanteen rig and centerboard (part of the seat assembly). It is a stitch and glue project, and the plans are full size I believe.
One thing you do not want to do is make a Superior crossing towing an inflatable..you are liable to get it thrown at you from astern while running down big ones. I have seen it happen with inflatables several times..or they end up getting blown clear of the water, still attached to the boat, and twirling like a damn propellor!..rotating the painter, making it shorter and shorter until it literally ends up in your lap, adding another sea story to your repetoire'.
Now not all seas are like this and some are far wilder sometimes. Point is, if you venture out with your 30 as we do, that dinghy has one place it ought to be..on deck, in the safest location you can afford it. Afterall, our dinghy is also our lifeboat, (and yes, the inflatable can be inflated while in the water..just takes forever and you build great biceps)so it needs to be high above casual waves boarding. We have had wave tops blow all the way across the boat, from bow, over the dodger and into my face and chest, not spray..cold blue wavetops that the bow chopped off while broad reaching ... so, this does happen occasionally.
An idea: A strong canvas bag, with leather attachment points at the four corners would hold a dinghy well. Run webbing to the cabin top handholds, a couple hardpoints, like the main sheet's pad that we tie the sheets bitter end to, and another hardpoint on the port side, perhaps one to the mast base even. Keep the package's max height 6 in. below the boom. That would work for most coastal cruising situations I would think.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~
demers@sgi.com
Two years ago, we switched to an Avon Roll-Away. It has an aluminum floor that is a series of strips of lite metal interconnected with tough buterate (sp??) hinges. This puppy rolls up into a small -ish ball that we stow on deck in a low wood cradle, over the companionway hatch storm hood. We cover this whole thing with a sunbrella/elastic cover, reinforced with 2in. webbing, that terminate at the wood box.
We made a little lifting harness that we throw around two tube ends, and at the bow lifting handle, then crank the harness up with the main halyard, and lift the dinghy over the water, and then down.
The Avon pump is a very high volumn pump, compared to a few other cheaper inflatables I have owned (Zed, Zodiak and a Sevlor). It takes us about 10 minutes of pumping and maybe 5 minutes to get the thing launched.
Now, with the nesting dinghy, we *always* towed her, sacrificing 1kt at least, but the trade was a great rowing boat, that had 7-10' of carry per stroke, and had high freeboard to bot. It almost planes off with a 2hp outboard, and carried 2 and gear/motor/gas easily and dryly.
The reason that we towed her was the extreme difficulty of assembling the boat on deck, matching up the interfacing bolt holes, and aligning the frames. It was an hours job, and we both decided to go read a book instead of going ashore! Heh..so this rig was unsafe for us. There is a great little dinghy..also a Pram design as ours is (still have her) called the "Cameleon". The guy two boats down from us has built two now. The first was an experiemental boat made from cheaper woods. The second is a high quality, bright finish boat that he uses to impress the local boat builders flock. This boat was designed and plans sold by Bruce Bingham of Seattle Washington I believe. He is living in Bermuda now, and the Liveaboard Listservers archieve will have his address and phone number in it from a discussion perhaps 1 year ago.
The Chameleon is a beautiful 9.5 ft. pram, that is comfortable being rowed with 7'6" oars, or sailing at planing speed with a lanteen rig and centerboard (part of the seat assembly). It is a stitch and glue project, and the plans are full size I believe.
One thing you do not want to do is make a Superior crossing towing an inflatable..you are liable to get it thrown at you from astern while running down big ones. I have seen it happen with inflatables several times..or they end up getting blown clear of the water, still attached to the boat, and twirling like a damn propellor!..rotating the painter, making it shorter and shorter until it literally ends up in your lap, adding another sea story to your repetoire'.
Now not all seas are like this and some are far wilder sometimes. Point is, if you venture out with your 30 as we do, that dinghy has one place it ought to be..on deck, in the safest location you can afford it. Afterall, our dinghy is also our lifeboat, (and yes, the inflatable can be inflated while in the water..just takes forever and you build great biceps)so it needs to be high above casual waves boarding. We have had wave tops blow all the way across the boat, from bow, over the dodger and into my face and chest, not spray..cold blue wavetops that the bow chopped off while broad reaching ... so, this does happen occasionally.
An idea: A strong canvas bag, with leather attachment points at the four corners would hold a dinghy well. Run webbing to the cabin top handholds, a couple hardpoints, like the main sheet's pad that we tie the sheets bitter end to, and another hardpoint on the port side, perhaps one to the mast base even. Keep the package's max height 6 in. below the boom. That would work for most coastal cruising situations I would think.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~
Carl Jones wrote: A previous post about CD30 dinghy davits by Don Metznik on 5/24 raises the issue about a proper dinghy for the Cape Dory 30. This is something I have been pondering for a long time. I have tried an Avon Redcrest, but did not like trying to put it together on deck and having to tote around an outboard engine and gasoline. A dinghy that will fit in the 7 feet between the traveler and the mast on my 1983 model is a little on the small side. I am currently considering an 11 ft. nesting dinghy that stows in less than 6 feet. This would be towed most of the time, but could be stowed when necessary, rows easily, and can also be sailed. No motor needed, unlike inflatables.
What is your experience? What do you think? Has anyone had a nesting dinghy before? What is the proper dinghy for a Cape Dory 30? Thanks in advance.
Carl Jones
Spanish Eyes
demers@sgi.com