Recommendations for a dinghy?

dustintodd · Post by **dustintodd** » Mar 2nd, '06, 22:54

I am going to put my CD 25 on a mooring this summer but I have no dinghy. I am looking for a good deal for something sturdy. Any thoughts on the outboard is appreciated also.

- Dustin -

Joe CD MS 300 · Post by **Joe CD MS 300** » Mar 4th, '06, 15:16

There was a recent thread on this. If you do a search you should find more. What are you looking for, hard, RIB, inflatable?

Paul Grecay · Post by **Paul Grecay** » Mar 9th, '06, 06:09

I have spent more money on cheap dinghys than I care to admit. Finally I bought a Walker Bay 8 and it is perfect. Indestructable, light and easy to manage....and best of all, it doesn't leave a mark or gouge if I bump up against the hull. I recommend one. Sometimes I tow it and it does fine.....I also bought the sail kit...which can be fun when anchoring.

Joe Myerson · Post by **Joe Myerson** » Mar 9th, '06, 10:24

I'd second Paul's comments about the Walker Bay 8 (and I said so in the earlier thread). It's inexpensive, lightweight, won't mar your topsides and it tows well.

The only negative that I've found is that this plastic boat won't take antifouling paint (don't try, the solvents will dissolve it)--so if you have to store it in the water, as I do, you'll have to pull it regularly and scrape off all the sea squirts, sea weed and barnacles.

Best of luck,

--Joe

Didereaux · Post by **Didereaux** » Mar 9th, '06, 10:55

The two 'hard' models I am familiar with are 'The Dink' and 'Fatty Knees'.

The fatty knees is top end w/sails, molded lapstrakes and found on Hinckleys heh Used about $2500-3000

The one I own is 'The Dink'. Double hull fiberglass, unsinkable. Weight is slightly over 100#, mfr says less(they LIE!). Tows really well and can handle upto about 5hp engine, load cap around 600#. Length is 9+ft. Very easy to row, and has a small(read very small) skeg/keel that actually helps.

VERY stable. Because it is FG you can bottom paint it and leave in the water; HOWEVER, make or buy a cover, pumping out dingys really sucks after heavy rains! ;)

I have seen these used in the $300-600 range. It wouldn't be much of a job to put on leeboards and add a mast so you could sail it.

As others have mentioned the Walker boats are nice, plus fairly cheap, but as was pointed out they are plastic, not easily repaired at all, and pretty much un-paintable.

g'Luk

Jack & Jo Chamberlain · Post by **Jack & Jo Chamberlain** » Mar 9th, '06, 14:18

Jack & I bought a used Boss Boat when we were in Daytona Beach last January. We were not familiar with them but they are fiberglass dinghies shaped like an inflatable. We haven't tried to put it up on deck yet because we have our 8' Pilot there now, but it should fit. Anyway, the Boss has all the advantages of a hard dinghy with the stability of an inflatable. The bottom is like a rigid inflatable so it rows well and our 2 horse Honda moves it well enough for a sheltered anchorage.

winthrop fisher · Post by **winthrop fisher** » Mar 10th, '06, 07:41

Hi...
you can get a $400 sand piper 8'6" long from boaters world,
they have small boats starting at 8' feet long...
its hard to beat that price for new...
and just put a 3.5 hp on the the back or row or sail...
hows that for you...
winthrop

Len · Post by **Len** » Mar 18th, '06, 15:58

http://www.peluke.com/QT_Dinghy/qt_dinghy.html

Kurt · Post by **Kurt** » Mar 18th, '06, 22:22

I'm partial to the Dyer Dhow...available in either an 8' or 9' model. The sailing models feature a 2 piece mast so the whole rig can be carried inside the boat when in tow. The 9' model is the first fiberglass production boat ever built (circa 1949?) and they're built identically the same way today as back then. They're beamy, stable and sail/row/outboard like a dream.

viejo · Post by **viejo** » Mar 18th, '06, 22:50

FWIW, there's a guy here in Jax that is talking to Andy V. at Robin Hood about getting the rights to build the CD10 in a production mode. If that works out, I'll let ya'll know.

bhartley · Post by **bhartley** » Mar 18th, '06, 23:22

My grandfather bought that first Dyer Dow off the floor at the NY Boat Show. They used it for their tender on their Lawley Weekender "Phoenix" for many, many years. I was always hoping that it would somehow come down to me, but it was long gone by the time I would have had the gumption to ask!

He thought he was very progressive to be buying a fiberglass boat for his beautiful wooden boat!

Steve D · Post by **Steve D** » Mar 19th, '06, 07:40

Here is another one. I just ordered one and I should have it by April. It is a rowing dinghy, not made for sailing, but then most people who have a sailing kit don't use them anyway. To big, bulky and takes up to much space to store inside a boat.

www.gooddogboats.com

Steve

The Cape Dory Board

Recommendations for a dinghy?

Recommendations for a dinghy?

My recomendation

Walker Bay 8

Here are two really good 'hard' ones

Boss Boat

Dyer Dhow

A little Dyer trivia...

Dinghy