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CaptRory · 22-05-2017, 13:12

Gig Harbor Boat Works builds a sailing Whitehall.

hsi88 · 26-05-2017, 19:59

Bought a used Backwater dinghy. Small at 7.5' but carries two fairly well when motoring. Decent row boat and surprisingly dry in a chop. The best part, it only weighs 55 pounds. But to be honest, its still a handful for one person. Its clumsy to move around. But I'm not sure I could even manage anything with much more weight.

KP44 · 31-05-2017, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by KetoNomad

I rarely see people's dinghies without an outboard on the back. I suppose it might be nice to have an outboard in some ways but I can think of a lot of reasons to not have one (target for theft, requires stowage of volatile fuel aboard, something else to fix, undesired expense of purchase etc.). I'm guessing most people just go the outboard route because it's fast (when it works) and you don't have to employ as much strategy in use as you would rowing or sailing.

Me, I'm a cheap and broke bastard and I hate fixing stuff, engines especially. I wonder then how practical it'd be to have some cheap sail cloth and a few makeshift spars lashed together to make a sailing rig. It'll look ugly and probably not get stolen (I hope) as a result. I know these rigs can be made fairly easily as they are commercially available for dinghies and everything else you can imagine so it probably wouldn't take an engineer to figure out how to duplicate one of the commercial rigs with some wood.

I dunno, what do you think? I've only sailed keelboats so I don't know if this is a ridiculous idea.

Keep in mind that any boat will sail (or be blown) downwind. What you will need is a vessel that sails to wind. Or you need a good set of oars.
In protected waters, bays, or harbors, the wind is often flukey or calm.
Some of my friends use small kayaks. I see others with paddle boards. These all work in harbors but you can't transport other people.

I carry a Port-a-Bote as a second dingy. It's a folding boat that is light but very tough. It also works with our little Lehr (propane) outboard. A versatile boat if you can find one.

Steadman Uhlich · 31-05-2017, 20:14

The Whitehall EXPEDITION Spirit 17 rowing boat (and it sails too).

Only $39,000.

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Expedition Sailing & Sculling Rowboat – Whitehall Rowing & Sail

This is a well crafted small boat (see the link above for details about its construction and features). The photo below is one of many of this boat via the link.

__________

I am impressed by the sailing and functionality of the PT11 (Nesting, sailing) dinghy. (Not shown in this post, but you can find very good videos on Youtube.)

**Don C L** · 31-05-2017, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

The Whitehall EXPEDITION Spirit 17 rowing boat (and it sails too).

Only $39,000.

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Expedition Sailing & Sculling Rowboat – Whitehall Rowing & Sail

This is a well crafted small boat (see the link above for details about its construction and features). The photo below is one of many of this boat via the link.

__________

I am impressed by the sailing and functionality of the PT11 (Nesting, sailing) dinghy. (Not shown in this post, but you can find very good videos on Youtube.)

I thought for sure that was a typo, Steady! $39,000?? And sure enough, it is a typo, it is $39,080!!
But it's ok, because it does include a DVD on how to row.

**Don C L** · 31-05-2017, 22:32

Here's how my friend does it. Paddles upwind when it is calm in the morning, then sails back in the afternoon. This kayak goes pretty fast to windward (paddled) too, even in a good breeze.