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On 17 Aug 2004 22:59:12 -0700, (Rolf) wrote:

I am in the dreaming/planning stage for a multi year cruise starting
in the Carribean and then heading to the South Pacific. The boat will
be a 45 to 50 ft sloop.
I am thinking about the tender/ dinghy.
Right now I think about an inflatable 10 to 12 ft with Hypalon tubes
and a fiberglass hard bottom.

That's a good choice, but be aware that it's the favourite type of
tender to steal. Also consider davits at that size, and consider a
small, even foldable/nesting hard tender with oars for exercise and
light duty. In certain places, you might find rowing 1/2 mile to shore
in something unglamourous is better than ever unlocking the RIB from
the davits.

Here's a potential cost-saver for you: Find a worn out PVC Zodiac RIB,
like the Yachtline 1 310. Offer bottom dollar for the patched, sticky
and blackened horror, especially if it comes with oars and that $200
blue cover. Take it to someone who will "retube" the fibreglass hull
bottom with large size (17") Hypalon tubes in something like yellow,
red or orange...and have your boat's name and number professionally
stencilled on in eight-inch characters.

This way, you've got an easily identifiable, clearly marked, extra
buoyant, UV resistant RIB for probably under $2000, whereas something
completely new would be around $6000. Add a "rub rail" on the
centerline of the hull (for grounding on rough beaches) and you're
set.

As and outboard I am considering a small 3-4 HP 2 stroke lightweight
that is easy to lug around and a 15 to 20 HP 4 stroke for the times I
want to go serious distances and carry serious loads (Jugs of water or
fuel). Yamaha seems to be the favorite for off shore

Yamaha and Honda are both good, but Suzuki is another option. If you
want to go planing at 22 knots, get a 15 HP, but 20 HP is too heavy
and too much for a 10 foot RIB in my opinion, although it's not
unreasonable for a 12 footer.

Now, if you are thinking that a 20 hp O/B on a tender lashed to the
main boat's side or hung on a motor mount aft will make an emergency
engine, that's a different argument. I was able to lash my RIB to the
starboard side of my 33 footer when the inboard engine died and used
my 9.9 Honda 4-stroke (1985!) long shaft to push us 15 NM in dead calm
at about 4.2 knots. I used more gas than usual, but it beat floating
in the middle of Lake Ontario or calling for a tow in dead air.

If it's strictly a cargo/passenger tender, a 9.9 four stroke with a
properly pitch prop is perfect fine and weighs these days under 100
lbs. Very economical to run, too. Expect to carry about 1,000 lbs. at
five or six knots or so, tops. Empty the ten foot RIB, add "Doel" fins
to the shaft, and sit forward with a throttle extender and you will
easily plane a RIB to 18 knots or so in calm seas with a 9.9.

Money is an issue, but I want to do the right thing.
I would like to hear comments/ exchange ideas.

You are on the right track, I think, but the most important
consideration will probably be the engine lock G

R.