Any feedback on this dinghy? Looking to purchase soon and looking for opinions
Posted by F0regn_Lawns@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 29 comments
We were planning on getting a uv cover for it because it would be hanging on the davits, and looking at inflatables because it would be easy to get in and out of for snorkeling/fishing. There were mixed reviews on the site, looking for more info. Thanks!
vanalden@reddit
Consider the value of having a tender which can be completely disassembled and stored in lockers, thereby avoiding the need for davits, the effects of windage, the risks of losing the tender in high winds and the eyesore/interference with rearward views.
Look at a True-kit tender, from New Zealand.
plopsicle@reddit
Definitely get the cover for it. UV absolutely destroys PVC dinghys and once the glue starts to go the whole thing is basically garbage unfortunately.
mokacharmander@reddit
Depends where you're located. On the great lakes, we're far enough north that UV isn't a major concern. A good PVC dinghy can last forever
mcpusc@reddit
same here in seattle, PVC dinghys aren't a problem
barnaclebill22@reddit
I've had 2 similar boats in Seattle (Folding transom RIB 310). The first degraded after a few years. We get a lot of UV in a very short time. The second is holding up great but I put it in the bag in winter and don't store it in the sun in summer. Good boats but for the price of 2 I probably should have bought Hypalon.
Eddie_shoes@reddit
Literally came here to warn against this dinghy for this exact reason. I had one. Doesn’t even matter if you cover it if you use it more than once a month though. I am out quite often and I wasn’t covering it when out on extended trips and it got tacky within a year. Ruined any pants or shorts I wore while sitting on it, and to get that to stop I had to clean it with something more aggressive which made it look like absolute garbage. Worst money ever spent. It was seriously so bad. I tried getting it covered under warranty and they said they would give me credit for the years left towards a new one, which was a hard no. DONT BUY THIS GARBAGE.
the__itis@reddit
Hypalon > PVC
dwkfym@reddit
After having a bunch of different dinghies, I've come to the conclusion that I'm only getting hypalon dinghies preferably built by Achilles. Also, don't mind getting new ones (vs used ones) because you're paying for the lifespan. However, you do not get to recoup it if you have to sell it soon.
infield_fly_rule@reddit
Too small for anything. 290 is the bare minimum if you want any type of an outboard and two people. It’s simply impossible to plane without at least 290cm of waterline. 310 is dramatically better if you can
Wolfwere88@reddit
Check out Defender.com
They sell a bunch of RIBs and you can comparison shop easily.
weedfreezer@reddit
Lots of good feedback here. I’d add:
1) don’t get a flat bottomed dinghy (can’t tell if this one is) because they handle really badly and it’s just irritating
2) best thing I did with mine was to switch the petrol to an electric outboard. At that size dinghy there are only upsides to going electric
IanSan5653@reddit
Yep, I have a flat bottom roll up with an eLite outboard. Love the outboard but I definitely wouldn't mind a dinghy that could actually steer.
JackalBear@reddit
Okay I am here to say I owned this dinghy and used it full time sailing for 3 years and in a marina before that. We were at anchor for over 3 years but we owned the dink for over 5 years.
It has a hard fiberglass bottom and with the outboard it does get up there in weight. I believe our davits could hold 200 LBS and we never had any issues with the outboard on and hoisted. If you put a 10HP on there it would be getting closer to our davit limit but I think it may have still been under. I know with a 310 Highfield, which is like 10ish ft, and a lighter, aluminum bottom we could have had a 10HP no problem. A lighter dinghy, like an aluminum one, could plane more easily with a 6HP motor and two people but barely. We had a 6hp Tohatsu and could not plane with 2 people but could with 1.
I have ridden this dink from the statue of liberty to a marina in NJ, through the canals in Fort Lauderdale and in the Bahamas. It will not plane with 2 people so it will be slow going unless you get a 10+ HP outboard. It is rated for a 6HP but I am sure a 10HP would do fine on it. There were a handful of times I would have loved to have a 10HP on it for getting somewhere faster but the 6HP did fine.
The dink lasted just fine WITH A COVER. We bought some shitty expensive cover on amazon, cut holes and re sewed the edges to fit our lines. The Davit anchor points are inside the dinghy on the front and outside on the stern. We either added or reversed the stern U bolts to be on the inside of the dink for our narrow davits.
The skin of the PVC on the dink will get sticky eventually. It's bacteria, or their waste, eating at the PVC that makes it sticky. We used some oxy clean and it all came off nicely and stayed not sticky for 6 months+.
Yes even with a cover this won't last forever but it will last long enough for the price.
Get it on either 4th of July sale or 'Black Friday'. I believe on the 4th sale we got it for like $1200. but that is when I believe the list price was $1600 or $1800. I don't recall this being $2000 in 2020.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Kibbles_n_Bombs@reddit
I bought mine for half off before they raised the price so total was like $700. For that price it’s worth it, not for 2K.
It’s not a bad dinghy, but is heavy and you can’t store it anywhere on the boat if offshore and you don’t want to keep it on Davits.
I’d probably go with a full inflatable trukit so I could store it nicely for offshore work, or find an aluminum hull to save 60lbs in weight or so.
I (150lbs) can get on plane with another 100lb person with a 6hp but just barely.
EuphoricAd5826@reddit
I think you’re much better off with a Newport Vessel 9’ wood floor. They’re built with much better materials and west marine dinghies don’t last very long at all. Fiberglass floor is definitely great but not worth having shitty PVC pontoons that will evaporate in the sunlight
Anstigmat@reddit
Once a year or so West Marine does these 1/2 off sales for stuff like this. Bear that in mind. No idea when that may happen. I personally went with one of these: https://truekit.us/products/true-kit-navigator?variant=44619891441903 And I love it.
EngorgiaMassif@reddit
Do you think the Valmex will last comparatively to hypalon? I've got an old hypalon that needs to be replaced and was considering a rib or a Takacat or similar for a tender in the Salish Sea.
hudsoncress@reddit
That thing is tiny. You're not getting two people with gear in there safely.
bobber18@reddit
Brian Hooker has entered the chat.
saltisurfer@reddit
Remember the episode of “ Gilligans Glue “ and the SS Minnow … a tale of a fateful trip…
bobber18@reddit
Don’t let your wife fall out
F0regn_Lawns@reddit (OP)
That would be me, very presumptuous of you
DanielBG@reddit
Go hypalon over PVC if you can swing it
light24bulbs@reddit
Aluminum is better. It's both lighter and stronger. Significantly lighter.
Ninja_Wrangler@reddit
Be careful fishing on these things. It may be possible to poke a hole in it with a fish hook. So I've heard
Outside_Advantage845@reddit
If you can go bigger, definitely do so. I had a comparable size one from zodiac, and it was VERY tight having two free divers dive out of it. Couldn’t imagine scuba tanks and all in the boat too.
With two divers and their gear, if your engine ever quit and you had to paddle, I couldn’t fathom how you’d pull it off without having to wear your gear at the same time
Glenbard@reddit
Used an inflatable dingy for nearly 30 years. They are the less-expensive option but UV completely destroyed them over time. I also had to patch two of them (one extensively after hitting submerged branches (and coral once).
It was perfectly fine for me and served its purpose for three decades. As long as you understand the limitations and are prepared (keep the patch kit on you, get a UV-resistant dingy cover) you’ll be good to go.
I switched to a solid dingy a couple of years ago…. I went with a Mantis… because I was tired of dealing with the inflatables and getting older… just didn’t want to have to buy another dingy for the rest of my life… if your budget can support it, I’d recommend that route…. But there are also drawbacks. The thing is a tank though!
namesarenotus@reddit
Yeah, quit playin with it.
StuwyVX220@reddit
With the fibreglass hull how much does it weigh?
Can your davits take it, maybe with a motor on as well?