Does anyone have any words to say, kind or otherwise, about Gig Harbor Boat Company dinghies? They look sleek and seaworthy on the company's website, and tempting enough, but nothing beats experience. Comments welcome and thanks in advance.

Dick B.
Westsail 32 CAPER

"R.W. Behan" wrote...
Does anyone have any words to say, kind or otherwise, about Gig Harbor Boat
Company dinghies? They look sleek and seaworthy on the company's website, and
tempting enough, but nothing beats experience. Comments welcome and thanks in
advance.

A friend has one of their dories, and likes it a lot -- looks well-built, rows
well, sails reasonably well.

I've been looking at them too since my boat is only moored 7 miles away from
Gig Harbor. (I could just drop by and pick one up.) I spoke with an owner on
one of them last fall. His only complaint was that the "sleek" nature of the
hull tended to make it less stable compared to others he's owned. Getting in
and out was a challenge for him.

Beyond that, I can't confirm more than this second hand comment for you.

Dan

"John R Weiss" wrote in message
news:iMp%b.412073$xy6.2343312@attbi_s02...
"R.W. Behan" wrote...
Does anyone have any words to say, kind or otherwise, about Gig Harbor
Boat
Company dinghies? They look sleek and seaworthy on the company's website,
and
tempting enough, but nothing beats experience. Comments welcome and
thanks in
advance.

A friend has one of their dories, and likes it a lot -- looks well-built,
rows
well, sails reasonably well.

Thanks, gentlemen. I'll keep looking. Another possibility is the line of boats made by The Dinghy Company in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Similar in concept. Anyhow, thanks again.

Dick
"R.W. Behan" wrote in message ...
Does anyone have any words to say, kind or otherwise, about Gig Harbor Boat Company dinghies? They look sleek and seaworthy on the company's website, and tempting enough, but nothing beats experience. Comments welcome and thanks in advance.

Dick B.
Westsail 32 CAPER

Are you going to have to pick up your dinghy? Then a fiberglass one may
be too heavy. (A friend keeps his Minto in his slip next to his sailboat
and only picks it up to paint the bottom, which he does right there on
the dock.)

Are you interested in sailing your dinghy? An inflatable dinghy is
easier and safer to get into and out of, but won't sail like a sailboat.

Out club has a dinghy regatta every year (it's actually a cruise) at a
protected place. Since we have been doing this for some time, we use an
older sailing dinghy called a Minto that used to be built by Ranger in
Kent, WA.
http://www.ttpyc.org/Barnacles/Sept0...o%20Mingle.htm is the
story of one of our regattas. And if you look around you can find photos
of a Minto on our club website (I think). Someone told me they were
being made in Gig Harbor by Eldon (they are different than the Ranger
version in have a slot on the transom for a scullin oar.

I've sailed a Minto, and can verify that it is challenging and fun.
Racing one is difficult because like all sailboats, its sensitive to how
much weight is aboard, but even a 'big boy' like me gets to finish
second once in a while (we just need a little breeze).

Good luck,
Bumper7

R.W. Behan wrote:
Does anyone have any words to say, kind or otherwise, about Gig Harbor
Boat Company dinghies? They look sleek and seaworthy on the company's
website, and tempting enough, but nothing beats experience. Comments
welcome and thanks in advance.

Dick B.
Westsail 32 CAPER