I've decided to sell my current dink ( Zodiak Fast Roller 310) and replace
it with a Avon 310 Lite ( I think). Anyone have one of these? I'm going
from an inland lake to the Atlantic and think a hard bottom would be a
better choice. I will be storing it on the foredeck during passages and the
rest of the time will be towing it (no davits), so I think the lighter model
would be better. Anyone have one of these? Thoughts?? Idea??
Thanks, Jay

just me wrote:
I've decided to sell my current dink ( Zodiak Fast Roller 310) and
replace it with a Avon 310 Lite ( I think) ... I'm going from an inland
lake to the Atlantic ... I will be storing it on the
foredeck during passages and the rest of the time will be towing it ...

I think you must indicate how big the foredeck is, and also what kind of
passages you intend. I have carried an 8 foot [sic] hard boat on the
foredeck of a 28 foot sloop for passages to Bermuda, and I don't think I
would do that again. I will now use a stowable inflatable, and put up with
the compromises.

There is a lot to be said for towing alongshore. For many coastal
passages it's a viable alternative, even though many people don't think so.
The key is how the towing rig is set up, both from a safety, and a strength
point of view.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

"Armond Perretta" wrote in
news
There is a lot to be said for towing alongshore. For many coastal
passages it's a viable alternative, even though many people don't
think so. The key is how the towing rig is set up, both from a safety,
and a strength point of view.


While we're talking about toying a dink, a friend uses a little plastic
bucket on 8' of line out behind his towed dink as a sea anchor to keep the
dink from surfing down those following seas. This keeps the line tight and
the dink a nice safe distance behind his boat, even at sea. Hell, he towed
it to St Thomas just fine!

When he gets there, the bucket stays in the dink for a bailer...(c;