Sea-Doo Spark as a Dink?

[SofiaB]

Looking for a tender for a 46', 28K lb boat, getting to shore from anchor or mooring. At 400 lbs., this Spark is small, fast, carries three... It's big enough to get us to shore, town, docks, etc.

Has anyone tried this and if so, assume you hang from davits?

This one has a much smaller engine (quieter), much better fuel economy (3X) and 1/2 the weight.

I normally hate these "knats" but trolling to shore, it might do the trick.

Would love to hear from someone who has has one, tried this, or has seen someone try this option. Thanks!

[Jim Cate]

400 lbs?? good grief...and here most of us worry about the difference between 100 and 125 lbs! I shudder to think of such beast hanging from davits on your 46 foot monomaran.

Jim

[Stumble]

Sounds about 400lbs overweight to me. Most people pull their motors off to keep weight on the davits down during a crossing an that's just 50-60lbs. Davits strong enough to handle that thing in a seaway would be massive.

[Privilege]

There's practically nowhere to carry supplies, bags or cases of beer and it needs to be flushed every time you use it in salt water.

[shawndear]

And some Bays, marinas and countries don't allow jet skis

[silverbeard1]

Maybe you can convert your Aft Berth into a Garage

[SV Bacchus]

Weight, corrosion if you don't flush each use and the fact you can never, ever pull one behind you without clamping the water intake hose completely shut. I have a SeaDoo and water ingress is an issue, kills the motor type issue, if you pull one without clamping the hose completely.

Oh, silly me, I forgot about the inability to bring cases of beer back to the mother ship!!!

[ranchero76]

Just opinion. I think it's not very good idea to have jetski instead of dinghy, the reasons described above and in other threads. I'd like to have Seadoo Spark onboard, but in addition to the dinghy, and not hanging behind the boat. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at bigger cats, which able to carry it.

Originally Posted by shawndear

And some Bays, marinas and countries don't allow jet skis

That's interesting. Any example of country that not allowing jetski?

[TheWingman]

We are cruising full time on the pacific coast of Mexico with the same boat you have. I would not want to hang that much weight off the transom. I have a Achilles LSI dinghy and a 15hp motor that total less than 200lbs with gear and fuel and I wouldn't want to go too much heavier. BTW...The Bavaria has been fantastic for cruising and is super reliable & comfortable. Good luck.

[Slamjunk]

I've also looked at the spark. It's light for a seadoo but heavy for a dink. I was thinking of mounting of each like the westmarine convergence cat ketch. The dinghy is mounted where the aft cockpit would normally be.

[crosscr]

Originally Posted by SofiaB

At 400 lbs., this Spark is small, fast, carries three... It's big enough to get us to shore, town, docks, etc.

A ski that small would be very unstable with three aboard, especially at low speeds.

[Djarraluda]

Originally Posted by ranchero76

Just opinion. I think it's not very good idea to have jetski instead of dinghy, the reasons described above and in other threads. I'd like to have Seadoo Spark onboard, but in addition to the dinghy, and not hanging behind the boat. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at bigger cats, which able to carry it.



That's interesting. Any example of country that not allowing jetski?

Sydney for one - No jet skis in harbour!

[landsend]

Certain parts of US have banned jet skis. In s florida numerous areas in Miami and the Keys prohibit them.

[ranchero76]

Originally Posted by Djarraluda

Sydney for one - No jet skis in harbour!

Originally Posted by landsend

Certain parts of US have banned jet skis. In s florida numerous areas in Miami and the Keys prohibit them.

"No jetskis in harbor" and "Country not allowing jetski" - a bit different things, I think. I can have jetski onboard without dropping it in water if not permitted.

[autumnbreeze27]

We've got a 12' Carib Center Console Dinghy w/ 20HP Honda hanging off our stern.

It's heavy, probably heavier than the spark. It's doable.

It would be difficult to provision with a PWC instead of a dinghy. I'd be worried about storage capacity.

Not sure if it would be more likely to be stolen or less.

We've been cruising Mexico for over a year, have seen people with PWC AND dinghy, but nobody with just PWC.