The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

I can't reccomend the "Walker Bay" dinghy - they don't seem to do so well in
our sunshine. Build yourself a Dudley Dix "Argie 10" It's quick, cheap and
works well.
"Pete" wrote in message
...
I've been searching for the "perfect" hard dinghy, but so far have come up
empty.
It should:
row well in calm, chop and surf
carry my family + provisions - 500-600lb capacity minimum
be unsinkable - built in floatation or better, an inflateable collar (like
the new Walker Bay's)
fit on the foredeck = 8', requiring a two piece nesting design
function as a lifeboat - I can make/add what I feel is necessary
be equipped (or equippable) with a sailing rig
be durable and repairable - GRP is easier to patch than injection molded
plastic And of course, be affordable - less than $1500 for a used one in
good cond., new around $2000 with sailing rig

Any suggestions?

-Pete

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

Pete wrote:

I've been searching for the "perfect" hard dinghy, but so far have come up
empty.

Same here. That's why I'm going to build my own.


It should:
row well in calm, chop and surf

Shouldn't be a problem but relatively few dinks row well enough that the
owners are willing to forego an expensive motor (which invariably have a lot
of other negatives attached, too).


carry my family + provisions - 500-600lb capacity minimum
be unsinkable

That's a heck of a lot of weight. It's an unrealistic expectation for a 8'
dink IMHO


- built in floatation or better, an inflateable collar (like
the new Walker Bay's)
fit on the foredeck = 8', requiring a two piece nesting design
function as a lifeboat - I can make/add what I feel is necessary
be equipped (or equippable) with a sailing rig

FWIW I have never seen a nesting boat that was worth a durn. The Folbote seems
to be the best answer here, and they don't sail well enough to be worth the
bother IMHO (but then I was raised on zippy racing class dinghies).


be durable and repairable - GRP is easier to patch than injection molded
plastic And of course, be affordable - less than $1500 for a used one in
good cond.,

If you know of a boat to meet the above specs, it should be possible to find
one 2nd hand. However so far you are asking for the very difficult and/or
flat-out impossible.

new around $2000 with sailing rig

Now that's funny!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

Pete wrote:

I've been searching for the "perfect" hard dinghy, but so far have come up
empty.

Same here. That's why I'm going to build my own.


It should:
row well in calm, chop and surf

Shouldn't be a problem but relatively few dinks row well enough that the
owners are willing to forego an expensive motor (which invariably have a lot
of other negatives attached, too).


carry my family + provisions - 500-600lb capacity minimum
be unsinkable

That's a heck of a lot of weight. It's an unrealistic expectation for a 8'
dink IMHO


- built in floatation or better, an inflateable collar (like
the new Walker Bay's)
fit on the foredeck = 8', requiring a two piece nesting design
function as a lifeboat - I can make/add what I feel is necessary
be equipped (or equippable) with a sailing rig

FWIW I have never seen a nesting boat that was worth a durn. The Folbote seems
to be the best answer here, and they don't sail well enough to be worth the
bother IMHO (but then I was raised on zippy racing class dinghies).


be durable and repairable - GRP is easier to patch than injection molded
plastic And of course, be affordable - less than $1500 for a used one in
good cond.,

If you know of a boat to meet the above specs, it should be possible to find
one 2nd hand. However so far you are asking for the very difficult and/or
flat-out impossible.

new around $2000 with sailing rig

Now that's funny!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 12:09:36 -0500, DSK wrote:


FWIW I have never seen a nesting boat that was worth a durn. The Folbote seems
to be the best answer here, and they don't sail well enough to be worth the
bother IMHO (but then I was raised on zippy racing class dinghies).


Doug,

Have you ever evaluated the Niccolls Lite NN10?

http://www.niccollslite.net/page3.html

I'd be interested in your comments on it.

If you haven't looked into the NN10, specifically, can you tell me the
things about the nesting dinghies you were unimpressed with that led
to that conclusion?

I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.

Fair winds,
Al
s/v Persephone

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 12:09:36 -0500, DSK wrote:


FWIW I have never seen a nesting boat that was worth a durn. The Folbote seems
to be the best answer here, and they don't sail well enough to be worth the
bother IMHO (but then I was raised on zippy racing class dinghies).


Doug,

Have you ever evaluated the Niccolls Lite NN10?

http://www.niccollslite.net/page3.html

I'd be interested in your comments on it.

If you haven't looked into the NN10, specifically, can you tell me the
things about the nesting dinghies you were unimpressed with that led
to that conclusion?

I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.

Fair winds,
Al
s/v Persephone

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

"Albert P. Belle Isle" wrote:


Doug,

Have you ever evaluated the Niccolls Lite NN10?

http://www.niccollslite.net/page3.html

I'd be interested in your comments on it.

Never seen one in person. Looks lke it's a nce boat, but it's too heavy for my
personal taste. The boat that I intend to build will weigh far less than either
half of this one.



If you haven't looked into the NN10, specifically, can you tell me the
things about the nesting dinghies you were unimpressed with that led
to that conclusion?

Usually it is a PITA to connect the halves, the connection goes loose in a short
time and then the two halves are always banging together and eventually break at
the connecting link. Also I have a short attention span, I like boats that are
quick to get into action and a nesting dink takes more than twice as long.



I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.

The two things I'd like to try in person with the NN10 is the reserve bouyancy of
the bow sections and it's initial stability.

Looking at the top picture on

http://www.niccollslite.net/page1.html

the bow is awfully low and doesn't look like it has a lot of flare. About
stability, it's true that initial stability & easy rowing (or paddling) are
supposed to be opposites so what you lose in stability you gain in 'rowability,' or
at least that's the theory. I have a pet theory that with CAD design, it should be
possible to tweak the midsections for better stability and keep good rowing
characteristics in a short boat. When I get my own boat finished (unfortunately
it's on a back burner right now) we'll see. My main objection to most rowing dinks
is that they are 'way too heavy.

I certainly don't want to be discouraging about the NN10, I just don't know much
about it. It looks like a better tender for rowing use than many others I've seen.
Hopefully somebody who has (or has had) one will chime in.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

"Albert P. Belle Isle" wrote:


Doug,

Have you ever evaluated the Niccolls Lite NN10?

http://www.niccollslite.net/page3.html

I'd be interested in your comments on it.

Never seen one in person. Looks lke it's a nce boat, but it's too heavy for my
personal taste. The boat that I intend to build will weigh far less than either
half of this one.



If you haven't looked into the NN10, specifically, can you tell me the
things about the nesting dinghies you were unimpressed with that led
to that conclusion?

Usually it is a PITA to connect the halves, the connection goes loose in a short
time and then the two halves are always banging together and eventually break at
the connecting link. Also I have a short attention span, I like boats that are
quick to get into action and a nesting dink takes more than twice as long.



I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.

The two things I'd like to try in person with the NN10 is the reserve bouyancy of
the bow sections and it's initial stability.

Looking at the top picture on

http://www.niccollslite.net/page1.html

the bow is awfully low and doesn't look like it has a lot of flare. About
stability, it's true that initial stability & easy rowing (or paddling) are
supposed to be opposites so what you lose in stability you gain in 'rowability,' or
at least that's the theory. I have a pet theory that with CAD design, it should be
possible to tweak the midsections for better stability and keep good rowing
characteristics in a short boat. When I get my own boat finished (unfortunately
it's on a back burner right now) we'll see. My main objection to most rowing dinks
is that they are 'way too heavy.

I certainly don't want to be discouraging about the NN10, I just don't know much
about it. It looks like a better tender for rowing use than many others I've seen.
Hopefully somebody who has (or has had) one will chime in.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

The Perfect Dinghy wanted
 

check out the "cameleon' by danny greene. it nests in 5'4" -bolts
together at 10'4" and rows very well. we carry it on the foredeck of a
27' sailboat and assemble it on the cabin top. for coastal cruising we
just tow it .the plans and info are at the west system epoxy building
web site. the reality of the equation is that one must build two small
hulls -thus alot if work. nothing is easy and that is why you see so
many deflatables on the water . check out our building experience at
www.sailorgirl.com cheers colin




On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 18:45:26 GMT, wrote:

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 18:13:10 GMT, Albert P. Belle Isle
wrote:


I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.



http://www.portabote.com

BB