Dinghy's and Water Police

[Lynx]

It might be hard to believe what the Water Police are ticketing people in dinghy's for. Here is some of the things that I have found.

You need every thing that your big boat has.

People have been cited for -
Dim hull numbers
wet PFD
OLD flairs
Missing oar lock
Going to fast in a no wake zone

Please add to the list.

[AdriftAtSea]

Of course some of this is only necessary if you have a motor on the dinghy.  Manually powered dinghies don't need to be registered or have hull numbers in most states.

In Massachusetts, you need to have an anchor on board IIRC.

[LooseMoose]

It's funny but the allure of going back to a simple rowing dinghy just makes all kinds of sense these days...Its all about less hassle!

I'm currently working on building two new dinks...One a Bolger "Rubens Nymph" and a Wooden Widget small dink designed to wrap around the mast ( it has a cut out) and even better it uses the Hobie Mirage drive called the Deckster (http://boatbits.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-next-dinghy.html)

Anyone want to buy a Caribe 8 foot rollup and a couple of 5HP outboards?

Bob

http://boatbits.blogspot.com/
http://fishingundersail.blogspot.com/

[TJim]

Try rowing your dinghy against 5/7 knot currents b4 you get rid of the motor.  You might want to hang on to it for awhile.  TJim

[CharlieJ]

I've said this before- but here goes again ;D

There are many anchorages where rowing a dinghy works just fine. And I often do. But there are also many spots where having even a small engine on the dinghy makes life SO much more pleasant.

Row if you can, but carry the little O/B along- as you cruise, you'll want it, I guarantee you. Particularly if you are gonna be in the Keys and Dry Tortugas especially ;)

If you can ONLY row, you'll find yourself passing up small excursions here and there, for snorkeling, fishing or just looking, because the distance is simply too far to bother rowing.

[TJim]

In La Paz, about every 6 hours or so, especially  with wind running with the tide or a strong wind against the tide, you won't even try to row ashore .  Even if it's only 75 yards to the mouth of the marina. TJ

[mrb]

Any one remember why the 9.9 hp outboard was first made? 

Problem seems to be not so much the law but the interpertation of the law.  A wet pfd? Unfortunately judges usually go with the the ticketing officer, that is where the money is.

[Lynx]

I should have added that the State Florida has money problems and is trying to solve it with increased tickets on land and water.

[LooseMoose]

We did our first few years cruising with a rowed dinghy and never had any problems or ever felt that we were missing out not having a motor.

The last year here in the Caribbean we have been noticing a lot of cruising boats down sizing their outboards with high gas prices and my guesstimate of the average HP is now falling somewhere around 8HP while a year ago it would have been 15HP.

So it evolves...

Trying to make sense of the various east coast states dinghy laws alone is enough to make you crazy...


Bob

http://boatbits.blogspot.com/
http://fishingundersail.blogspot.com/

[TJim]

K I S S ... Stay out of and away from the  U S A     .The only time I'm depressed  is when I have to put up with US BS and when I watch ABC, NBC, CBS & CNN  news.. which I don't (never) do in Mexico....TJ

[MJWarner]

WAIT! Wet PFD'S???? Heck, in my dinghy, most trips I'M wet... of course my PFD will be It's a DINGHY for cryin' out loud! Are you serious???? And flares? What flares?? I thought all I had to have was a "signaling device" and that a whistle would do. Can you imagine holding a FLARE in a PVC inflatable??? Talk about needing rescue! Help me out here, seriously, 'cause I'm coming to FL in November and can't afford the ticket. I have: 2 PFD's (one for each of us)
1 whistle, registration and numbers affixed as prescribed by NC state law, registration paper in dinghy, 1 all around white light for night, oars in their oarlocks, a bailer and the painter. It's a 7.9 ft inflatable w/ a 2 HP outboard, a joke of a tender at best. AM I OK by FL law? I have a 10lb. mushroom I can throw in if I need it to comply, but I may have to swim alongside to keep her moving!

[Lynx]

Let me see how this evols. It apperas that they are trying to get rid of some of the anchored boats here. Anchorages are bad and boats are dragging in the  thunderstorms. A lot have moved to Marathon.

Key West can try to get rid of the bums any way they can at times.

I will try to find out more and let ya'll know.

I do not know about the rest of the state. I never was checked on my dinghy nomatter where I went.

[sharkbait]

Here in SF bay I use a 12' sit on top kayak for my dinghy and have yet to be hassled
by the Coasties.I do keep a pfd on board.

[Sonnie]

All I had was a rowing dinghy for my trip from Toronto down to the Bahamas via ICW. Never once wanted an outboard. Keeps you in shape. I remember all I wanted to do as soon as I dropped the hook for the evening (after sitting on my ass all day at the helm) was jump in my little "frog" and row around. It's amazing how many people you meet in a rowing dinghy - you have time to stop and chat with other anchored boats, better fishing, and I think it's more respectful than the whine of a little OB early in the morn and late at night.

And anchors, well, I wouldn't go anywhere in a dinghy without one. What if your engine dies and there's a current? Gonna row that hard bottom inflatable against that and a twenty knot wind, at night, with those dinky plastic oars? :)...

I think the cops are easier on rowers too... I never had a problem in the year I was out.