Planing dingy

[AdriftAtSea]

The problem isn't that the dinghy can sink, but if it fills with water, it becomes a drogue and is more than likely to snap the painter or towing bridle in heavier conditions.

[ChimoII]

I have a 8 foot walker bay soft dingy with a 6hp and it plains with 2 persons on board. it takes a min to get up but it can.

[Amgine]

My current problem with the walker is the last three times I've towed it, it filled with water and became a danger. I'm kind of at my wits end trying to figure out why it fills; two of those trips it wasn't particularly windy or much wave. (I'm even to the paranoid state of wondering if somehow the drain check valve was installed reversed. Is that even possible?)

What I'd really like is a tiny 5' sub-micro hard dinghy that could fit on the cabin top... or a garage space where I could build a tiny 5' sub-micro hard dinghy.

[Captain Smollett]

I'm kind of at my wits end trying to figure out why it fills; two of those trips it wasn't particularly windy or much wave. (I'm even to the paranoid state of wondering if somehow the drain check valve was installed reversed. Is that even possible?)

Dumb question of the Day: Centerboard Trunk?

[boblamb]

Ahoy:
  I recently acquired an old 8' Achilles inflatable and finally got it to hold air.  This is my first experience with inflatables and I've a couple questions.  1) is it normal for the dinghy to expand in the sun?  2) the floor in this one is just a sheet of rubber, would it be wise/workable to make a 3-4 piece wood floor?

Thanks in advance for your expertise
BobL
???

[CharlieJ]

Yes- in fact sometimes on a really hot day you might have to bleed some air out, then re-inflate in the evening

Making a several part wood floor would not be a bad idea at all. I would carefully round the edges where they bear on the side tubes, and probably use some tape there.The biggest problem will be keeping the various parts from moving around. Our 12 foot Achilles has aluminum channels that the parts slip into. Our 7'6" Achilles has the floor pieces held together with Hypalon strips glued to the edge of each, like a hinge.

[boblamb]

Thanks Charlie J, just what I needed to know!
   I enjoy all you posts both here and over at TSBB.  You experience(s) are very helpful to us all.  Keep up the good work.

BobL

[s/v Faith]

Couple things here;

  I made the floor for the Avon out of plywood, covered with resin. Keep in mind, this floor is going to stay wet pretty much all the time.  You may not want a single part floor, since it is hard to stow, but keep the number of peices low to reduce flex.

Every time you get in and out you will drag some sand / dirt into the boat.  You are also going to need to bail it.

  I made a circular cut-out (oval really) near the stern.  It was about 9 x 12, and it allowed me to bail the water, and collect the sand.

  The other problem with a flat floor, on an inflatable dingy is that there is no directional stability.  Rowing an inflatable is less then thrilling, but even motoring without any keel results in sometimes goofy handling.

  I bought a pool noodle, and put a peice of 1/2" PVC down the middle of it.  I ran a line through the middle and secured it to a small hole drilled in the floor fwd and aft.

  This gave a very slight 'keel' the length of the boat.  It helped rowing quite a bit, and made it easier to motor as well.  Not quite like an inflatable keel, but it helped.  THe boat towed better too.



 

[geneWj]

I agree with Charlie about towing a dinghy!  we towed our 14' nester dinghy with no trouble on the ICW going North and South except crossing the sounds, nearly lost it twice. Finally hauled it up full length in the davits each time we crossed a sound on our way home.
It will plane and do 1`3knots with one aboard and sitting on the front seat. folded or nested it it 7'6" long.