After giving it much thought, I finally conclude that maybe an
inflatable 8.5' would be the least objectionable dinghy for use with
my 28' S2 sailboat. I have limited amounts of room for storage on
deck and a hard dinghy doesnt fit well.
So, some questions for ppl who know.


How long do they take to inflate?
How long to deflate?
Do they row at all?
Would you use them for fun things like exploring shallow areas?
what is stowage like?
Is it difficult to get the motor from deck to boat without dropping it
into the water?
Anything else?

A portabote 10 came in a close second but even closed, i think 10' is
too long.
I have heard seen a nesting dinghy that could work but would have to
see it being assembled in the water to be convinced. Portabote8 seems
a tad small.

My current Nautilus 8 rows well but does not tow at all well. It also
is very hard to row with two adults. Stowage is difficult to OK.

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 09:13:33 +0000, Parallax wrote:

After giving it much thought, I finally conclude that maybe an inflatable 8.5'
would be the least objectionable dinghy for use with my 28' S2 sailboat. I
have limited amounts of room for storage on deck and a hard dinghy doesnt fit
well. So, some questions for ppl who know.



Just a word in your ear: consider an electric trolling motor. It's easy to
store, and although the battery is kinda heavy (Group 24 is about 40lb), it has
a handle and is relatively easy to move around and store. And motor and battery
are only around $250.

And all the other folks in the quiet bay will thank you!

Lloyd Sumpter
"Near Cove" Walker Bay 8 c/w Endura 30

Lloyd Sumpter wrote in message
...

Just a word in your ear: consider an electric trolling motor. It's easy to
store, and although the battery is kinda heavy (Group 24 is about 40lb),
it has
a handle and is relatively easy to move around and store. And motor and
battery
are only around $250.

And all the other folks in the quiet bay will thank you!


If buying a Minn Kota...would you pay extra for the 'Sal****er
series...Riptide' ??
Wonder if it's worth the extra expense?
see ***
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/produc...nt/riptide.asp
***

After giving it much thought, I finally conclude that maybe an
inflatable 8.5' would be the least objectionable dinghy for use with
my 28' S2 sailboat. I have limited amounts of room for storage on
deck and a hard dinghy doesnt fit well.
So, some questions for ppl who know.


How long do they take to inflate?
How long to deflate?
Do they row at all?
Would you use them for fun things like exploring shallow areas?
what is stowage like?
Is it difficult to get the motor from deck to boat without dropping it
into the water?
Anything else?

A portabote 10 came in a close second but even closed, i think 10' is
too long.
I have heard seen a nesting dinghy that could work but would have to
see it being assembled in the water to be convinced. Portabote8 seems
a tad small.

My current Nautilus 8 rows well but does not tow at all well. It also
is very hard to row with two adults. Stowage is difficult to OK.


We use a Zodiac inflatable, just exactly the size you are considering. We have
had it for 7-8 years, and had to have it patched for the first time last
summer.

How long do they take to inflate?

Depends on the pump. The pump we use now is desgined to pump air on both the
upstroke and the downstroke. It takes about 200 strokes to fill the larger
chamber that includes the bow, and about 150 strokes to fill the smaller
chamber. How fast can you pump? When we're not in a hurry, we add 12 ounces of
pumping fluid about midway through the process. You'll find pumping fluid in
the icebox, often with a twist off cap. Be sure to put it into the pumper, not
the pump itself or the dinghy.

How long to deflate?

Only a minute or two, unless you are trying for maximum compression in which
case you will need to use the pump to get close to all the air removed, and
that will take maybe 30 and 20 pumps.



Do they row at all?

At all? Yes. Very well? No.

Would you use them for fun things like exploring shallow areas?

Perfect! Just watch out for jagged rocks on the bottom. You don't want to drag
an inflatable across a beach covered with barnacles, etc.

what is stowage like?

With all the air extracted and the dinghy folded carefully, it takes up the
space of a
medium size to large suitcase.

Is it difficult to get the motor from deck to boat without dropping it
into the water?

Probably depends on the motor. We use a 2.5HP Nissan (Tohatsu) that weighs
almost nothing. No more difficult to get the motor into the dinghy than any
other bit of gear. When installing the motor, I find that actually getting into
the dinghy with the motor and clamping it to the transom works better than
trying to fiddle with it from the swimstep or etc. If you're going to lauch the
dinghy with a boom, you might be able install the motor on deck and then
carefully lower away.

I've got a 9' inflatable with an air floor that weighs 78#. I use it for
the things you talk about. It takes me about ten minutes to get it
completely pumped and in the water. It takes a couple minutes to deflate
and rolls up to about 2' diameter, four feet long. I can just throw it
over the side when pumped up and turn it over if it lands jelly side down.

I have a four hp 2 stroke that will plane it with 225# me in it. Imagine
my surprise when that happened the first time. I like it because I think
my whole family of four could pee over the same side without tipping it
over, although I doubt if my wife would participate in the experiment. I
have rowed it but prefer not to, although it's terrific exercise. I had
a Livingson and would never give up the inflatable.

Capt. Jeff

Messing In Boats wrote in message ...
I've got a 9' inflatable with an air floor that weighs 78#. I use it for
the things you talk about. It takes me about ten minutes to get it
completely pumped and in the water. It takes a couple minutes to deflate
and rolls up to about 2' diameter, four feet long. I can just throw it
over the side when pumped up and turn it over if it lands jelly side down.

I have a four hp 2 stroke that will plane it with 225# me in it. Imagine
my surprise when that happened the first time. I like it because I think
my whole family of four could pee over the same side without tipping it
over, although I doubt if my wife would participate in the experiment. I
have rowed it but prefer not to, although it's terrific exercise. I had
a Livingson and would never give up the inflatable.

Capt. Jeff

How well do the 12V inflators work? For the kayak, I use one of the
double action up and down pumps. Actually, now the kids are old
enough to do it (you wanna go to shore, git pumpin!)

In article ,
(Parallax) wrote:

How well do the 12V inflators work? For the kayak, I use one of the
double action up and down pumps. Actually, now the kids are old
enough to do it (you wanna go to shore, git pumpin!)

REAL well for initial air, but our cheap one doesn't get the tubes quite
full enough. A few strokes on the original bellows brings the pressure
up to snuff, and you really do want proper pressure.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/