Dinghys & Outboards

[GordMay]

A couple of articles from ’Ocean Navigator Magazine’ ~ Issue 143, Jan/Feb, 2005:
http://www.oceannavigator.com/

“Bringing a friend: Solving the dinghy storage dilemma” ~ by Steve C. D’Antonio
“Is it possible to go cruising without a dinghy? The answer from most cruisers is an emphatic no. The value and safety in carrying a dinghy is undeniable. Although their many uses are discussed frequently within the cruising community, it’s hard to imagine putting to sea without one. Everything from such mundane tasks as ferrying groceries, fuel and crewmembers to and from shore to more exciting undertakings like transporting a kedge anchor, being filled with seawater for ballasting operations during a grounding or as primary or secondary lifeboat (the Robertsons of Survive the Savage Sea fame initially used their hard dinghy as a slaughterhouse and then as a lifeboat when their inflatable life raft failed after 17 days at sea).The universal agreement among cruisers regarding a dinghy’s attributes appears to end, however, with the question of how to carry that dinghy...”
http://www.oceannavigator.com/site/c...nt.asp?id=8880

“Dinghy power” ~ by Everett Collier
” For the coastal cruiser, selecting an outboard for the dinghy is pretty straightforward — enough power and speed so the kids can play with the wake board and it doesn’t take all day to ferry supplies and guests out to the boat, minimum weight so the old man doesn’t get a hernia or drop it in the water while shipping the thing, and maximum reliability so it doesn’t cost a fortune in repairs and off-the-water time. That’s it, right? For the long-distance voyager there are some additional considerations...”
http://www.oceannavigator.com/site/c...nt.asp?id=8881

Good reading,
Gord