Hobie Cat as a tender?

[markpierce]

Wouldn't think a catamaran would be welcome at a dinghy dock.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Maybe get a sail kit for one of these instead?

If you have some massive davits, that is an awesome option. We used to have one but it took 3 big guys and a safety rope to be the 40hp outboard off the back.

It's too much fun puttering along at 25-30mph when a jet ski goes by and then they turn around and you are right with them.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

Other than choosing which big boat to buy choosing which little boat to buy & how to transport it is probably the hardest decision cruisers have to make. Although RIB owners like to pretend their dinghies row well the sad fact of the matter is that no one dinghy can do everything well. Dinghies designed to plane well do not row or sail well & dinghies designed to row or sail do not plane. Cats are the one hull design that can violate these principals but they don't really tow well & have to be broken down to store. We finally decided to go with 2 dinghies, an 11' Avon that we deflate & stow & a 10' Bauer sailing dinghy that we tow. I'm also thinking about adding inflatable paddle boards.

Beware inflatable paddle boards. I bought a top of the line one, but they are all PVC. I believe. It was great until all the seams gave way when it was just past the two year warranty. Talked to a service center for paddleboards, and the tech told me he hates when they sell inflatables, because they all come back and disappoint. Note, this is in the tropics. Up north, they might be perfect. It certainly was a nice board.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by contrail

Beware inflatable paddle boards. I bought a top of the line one, but they are all PVC. I believe. It was great until all the seams gave way when it was just past the two year warranty. Talked to a service center for paddleboards, and the tech told me he hates when they sell inflatables, because they all come back and disappoint. Note, this is in the tropics. Up north, they might be perfect. It certainly was a nice board.

Thanks for the info. I'll wait for a hypalon version to come out.

[Tomaz473]

Two options:
1) If you are very crazy you can use hobby cat as main ship. People have cruised from St. Martin to Venezuela on one:
Dick Brano: The Route
2) if you are not that crazy you can do what I did: Walker bay sailing dinghy.
I have the larger model (310) with tubes.
Pros:
- tough hull, almost indestructuble
- rows like a drem
- stable (with tubes ! )
- sails nice (I mean it is not a hobby cat or a Laser)
- tows very nice
- un stayed mast, so you can easy raise and lower the mast in the water. They have 3 sail rig options and I have the middle one - without a jib
- When you sail through anchorage people are inviting you to drinks and girls want to ride with you.

Cons:
- Tropics affected my tubes a lot (I bout it in Europe where Hypalon option was not available)
- Does not motor very nice (it does not plane). I bought largest motor allowed (6 PS).
- Stearn heavy with motor. I suggest you buy the lightest motor available. 2 or 3 PS is more then enough for that boat. I saw some with electric and it worked well as the boat needs very little push at slow speeds.

[Chrisgo]

You could try a Hobie Adventure Island, (AI) or Tandem Island (TI). It's sailing, peddling, paddling, trimaran, kayak, fishing, camping thing you can ad tramps to. Some put outboards on them. This is my AI at the RCYC in Toronto. Retractable/removable amas and akas.

[boatster]

What about a Fliptail folding dinghy? It rows, it motors, it sails, it folds flat, it's light weight.

[Fernando_FdM]

I use a hobie wave
I hoist her on fore deck
I made a bracket for my 5HP 2 cycle outboard
I still need to improve davits to raise her at the stern
I can pull her easily with a bridle but without mast, rudders ... Totally naked!