A "sailFar-sized" dinghy at last?

[CapnK]

Was checking out Jessica Watsons blog, and there is a pic of a really small, but I think 'real' rowing dinghy. I could fit the thing on the foredeck pretty easily, it looks like. Wonder if we'll see them in the States?

Jess in the dinghy:



Edit: It is listed as a "Starfish childrens dinghy". Just over 5' long, 37 lbs. More info:

http://www.hawk20.co.uk/gallery/

They have a link to a website there, but it is not currently working. More pics:

[Oldrig]

Wow! ;D

That looks like it would be a jolly-good dinghy for our little boats. Eh, what?

Do you suppose it's available on this side of the Pond?

--Joe

[Tim]

I have two comments;

1. a 10" wake would probably cause a capsize

2.CapnK quit daydreaming fantasizing and get back to work ;)

[maxiSwede]

Cute dink, but isn't it a bit too small to be an option as a daily commuter even for a single-hander on a small boat?

I am getting more and more inclined to build a dink in plywood/epoxi. Ideally it should be a sailing/rowing combo and it could be a nesting design aswell.

anyone did it and has good ideas are welcome....

[JWalker]

Thats just hot.   ;)

[rorik]

About ten years ago, classic boat had plans for a little pram need Tippy. It was stitch n glue out of only 2 sheets of 4mm marine plywood. According to their article, it towed very well and had a small sail plan. I bought plans, but moved before I had a chance to build it. I still have the plans somewhere.

[Captain Smollett]

I've been drooling over the nesting versions of sailing/rowing dinks designed by Graham Byrnes.

I'm looking more for a sailing dink for the children to 'call their own,' but having a sailing dink as tender would be cool, too.

In the vein of getting the little ones their own boat, however, I've just this week gotten a lead on an Opti for a price I can handle.  Been looking for one for over a year, and it seems the wait may have paid off.

Oooo, I'm looking forward to warmer weather, now, so I can give the wee ones a shove from the dock and a friendly shout of "now, go to it."   ;D

(I may have to do that when The First Mate is not around, though...)

[CharlieJ]

LOL- I JUST signed on to mention Graham's designs
Bandbyachtdesigns.com

We had one of the 6'6"'Minipaw Dinks. Towed that little rascal some 3000 to 4000 miles, including a 2 1/2 day offshore passage. Corky little boat. Carries quite a load too.

[hearsejr]

 I think it reads "FISHER PRICE" on the rear deck. lol.

[CharlieJ]

I used to share a building with a sailboat dealer, who also handled
Porta-Botes. They are fine boats, BUT, they take a LOT more room to store than you think.

The folded boat in and of itself is a neat package. The seats are not. They are bulky and difficult to stow.

Additionally, the boat takes an inordinate amount of space to assemble. I certainly would have no space to do so aboard Tehani.  We would be forced to lay alongside a dock to do so.

I know of several cruisers who use them, but neither folds them.

We finally settled on a 7'6" Achilles for our way of use. Not perfect, but does the job.

[CapnK]

I would like to sit in one of those Starfish dinks on the water, just to see - I've a feeling it would work. There's not a lot of freeboard, but those gunnels are so wide that the thing must have positive float, and I could easily come up with a kayak-skirt type of splash guard to mount there if it was really needed. The length and weight are really appealing...

(Tim - I'm not a dirty ol' man, like you...  :P  ::) That said, when she gets into her late 20's, I'll let her row my old butt around the harbor... :o  ;D )

My vote for neatest small dinghy, ever? The Neutrino. Bet that puppy is expensive as well as hard to build, though...

I've long looked at the MiniPaw. After listening to Graham's Furled Sails podcast, I have even more respect for his designs, too.

Build page for a Tippy Tender here: http://www.gaff-rig.co.uk/our_other_boats.htm , and image attached below.

[maxiSwede]

Thanks for the input on the PortaBoat. I never realised the seat was such a problem to store.


A few years ago, I 'found' the PortaBoat and the Rocna anchor on the web, and offered my services to become agent for the Scandinavian market.

Rocna were perfect to talk to and negoitiate with, but the owner of PortaBoat offered a higher price to me as distributor than what he asks from consumers in the US.  ::) :-\ :P

Needless to say I dropped the idea immediately.

And after some serious consideration re. Rocna, I decided NOT to do it. Simply because I wanted to go cruising. Starting up a nwe business would probably hav kept us tied up and anchored frimly to shore for another 10-15 years.  ;D

No regrets!  :D