Affordable dinghy for small sailboat

[DaLuz]

Your momma,

27 foot boat owner and I bought a West Marine 8 foot roll up dinghy ($600 new) and a Suzuki 2.5 hp 4 stroke ($1025 new).

The dinghy fits well on the foredeck or I can tow it behind as it weights about 55 pounds.

The motor goes on the stern rail but I can bring it inside for extra security as it only weights 30 pounds.

If and when I replace the dinghy, I will buy a hard dinghy because I'd like to row and sail the dinghy and my little motor will push the hard dinghy better.

Be safe!

[Adelie]

2.3m, air-floor. No opinion about quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQPRNKK...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[ohdrinkboy]

take a look at youtube for sailboatstory. they built a nesting dinghy.....sail, row, or motor. might be an option.

[Sailingmartin]

You might find that the smallest Portabote would fit. Some people love them, dome don’t!

https://www.porta-bote.com

[Delezynski]

We cruise on a Nor'Sea 27. Not much larger than your boat. After trying a LOT of different dinks from hard plastic to deflatable to even a 2 part dink. BEST one and has lasted us for MANY YEARS...... https://youtu.be/rflbgjoX-fo

[CaptMDG]

PT-11 nesting dinghy works for me. I have a Hans Christian 33T and the fore deck area is limited and I do not want davits on my canoe stern. It is not as easy to set up as propaganda suggests, but it works. My ideal would be a Trinka 10' with the sailing option. It is too big for my boat though.

[Scaramanga F25]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

This is the only picture I found of a dink on a Etap 26

That pic shows of a temporary and losely rolled up dinghy.

[Delezynski]

The nesting (2 part Gken-L) dink I tried can been seen with why it did not work out at;
Guenevere's Projects, 2 part dink

[loneshark64]

I had an old 10’ hard floor Achilles for my 28 footer. It was heavy and slow and guess what Hypalon doesn’t last forever. So it died and I just got a 9’ West Marine roll up for under a thousand bucks and it only weighs 60lbs. Yeah it’s PVC but it doesn’t stay inflated all the time and I got a cover. It’s fine. At first buying the West Marine dinghy felt like settling for less but it’s light weight, I don’t have to always tow it or have it on deck, and at a third the price of some of these other ones I could replace it in a few years and I’m still ahead of the game.

[NorthernMac]

Kinda in the same boat with my 33’

The new 8’ portaboat with a little merc and bigger carb seems like the answer

[scareygary]

I have a 26' Albin 7.9 meter sailboat. My wife and I cruised the San Juans and Gulf Islands for about 6 weeks with a used W M inflatable rollup we got for $350 and a 3 hp Evinrude we bought many years ago for $200. That old 2 stroke from the 60s is SO reliable, plus it folds in half for storage! Hung it on a holder on the rail and deflated the boat and put it on deck when going many miles or across open water, but towed it when in protected areas or for shorter travel days. Worked great for us.....Obviously, we are budget conscious! . Read, "Cheap".

[contrail]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

This is the only picture I found of a dink on a Etap 26

Looks like a Tinker, which would be perfect, but they aren't made anymore. See if you can find a used one. The Tramp is 9 feet and the Traveller is pretty big, 12 feet. They fold in one piece and row very well. Great oarlocks, as well.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by Captn_Black

If you're cruising rather than daysailing, I fully recommend a solid tender, rather than inflatable. There are plenty of designs online for you to build yourself, and tutorials on YouTube. You will regret an inflatable in 3 or 4 years time.

Hmmm. 35 years on and I have not regretted my inflatables....and I have had several: Avon, Achilles, Tinker, and AB.