what? I have no idea what you are referring to ... as my comment doesn't refer to any end, bow nor transom, of the dinghy (excluding length which is 6'8").
I tow a fiberglass 13' lightweight Whitehall behind my Flicka 20 and Gardner 18' workboat; very little resistance, probably even less than a RIB, and handles rough seas behind the boat with ease. It can easily carry two adults plus gear to a beach or dock. I've safely rowed her solo even in waves up to 3'.
Forgot to mention an interesting design by Bolger, a 3 section boat divided longitudinally, not athwartships. The 2 outer portions are enclosed and serve a sponsons, making it unsinkable if swamped. A fore and aft bench allows solo rowing, or with a passenger. I am tempted to build one of these, though I no long have need for a tender
Like Dan I tow a Portage Pram behind my Eun Mara. It will fit uncomfortably on the foredeck or across the cockpit so it generally just stays in the water. I have plans and plywood for an Ozona X Nesting Pram that is intended for use on my Next Boat and in the meanwhile will fit in the back of my Vanagon for small craft adventuring.
Keep a MRS Adventure X2 on my Montgomery 17. Inflates and deflates in the cockpit. Can sling to a backpack for inland water adventures. Too light to tow unless it’s calm.
Much prefer hard-shells, as inflatables are a beast to row. I have built two--one an Al Mason (I think) design for a 6.5' V bottom pram that was a very nice rower. The other was a "Tiny Ripple" 6 footer by Billy Atkin. Actually built at least 2 of those, one for my dad to fish from. Atkin claimed lifeboat capability for this little boat, but I never put that to the test. It towed and rowed very well. I could outpace a similar size Livingston easily.
Both boats had for and aft rowing benches, which allowed you to shift balance solo or with a passenger. And of course 2 pairs of rowlocks.
Once, when towing the Atkin dink behind my little 21' cutter, a pair of dolphins picked us up in the Strait of Georgia. After examining the cutter, they dropped back to check out the dinghy, which had a bone in her teeth.
For those who have problems spelling, here is a little ditty for serve as a mnemonic:
Hard dinghy when we had the Catalina 34. These days I just swim back and forth to my Gloucester 19. Still have the same hard dinghy if I have to haul stuff out to it on the mooring.
Almost hate to mention it on this site, but we had a Ranger 9' dink that sailed reasonably well, was OK for rowing, and handled the 4hp outboard with grace. It rode on davits over the stern of our 1949 49' Chris Craft Tri-cabin that we lived on. After getting crushed (another story) it was replaced by a butt-ugly Livingston dink that was good for cleaning topsides, but terrible to row and of course, no sailing.
Actually I do either depending on where I'm going. There are beaches I don't want my boat on but if I'm expecting a nice sand beach I may not take a dink. One will find however that the best part of all this are the surprises and that can easily call for alternate transport ashore.
On my fifth try to find “my perfect dinghy” I got it right with the Portage Pram. Rows well, can handle my wife & me(with care), and is light and easy to stow on the back of my 22’ Downeaster.
I stow a two person Alpacka Raft. Rolls up to the size of a large paper towel roll. Weighs less than 8 lbs. Stable, durable and made in the USA! It inflates easily and has room for grocery runs.
We love our Portland Pudgy. Only weighs 120 pounds, rows great, motors fine with our electric outboard and can land almost anywhere. Bought it used and have cruised with it for 15 years.
When I had my schooner I also had a small fiberglass dink. It did not row well but I was able to tow the schooner with my 1 1/2 hp Jonhson with no problem. The only other advantage of this dink was that it could stow between the masts on the cabin top.
Towed a Montgomery 6'8" behind my M17.
fore and aft, not for and aft.
what? I have no idea what you are referring to ... as my comment doesn't refer to any end, bow nor transom, of the dinghy (excluding length which is 6'8").
I was correcting an error in a post I did earlier (my own error)
I tow a fiberglass 13' lightweight Whitehall behind my Flicka 20 and Gardner 18' workboat; very little resistance, probably even less than a RIB, and handles rough seas behind the boat with ease. It can easily carry two adults plus gear to a beach or dock. I've safely rowed her solo even in waves up to 3'.
Forgot to mention an interesting design by Bolger, a 3 section boat divided longitudinally, not athwartships. The 2 outer portions are enclosed and serve a sponsons, making it unsinkable if swamped. A fore and aft bench allows solo rowing, or with a passenger. I am tempted to build one of these, though I no long have need for a tender
Like Dan I tow a Portage Pram behind my Eun Mara. It will fit uncomfortably on the foredeck or across the cockpit so it generally just stays in the water. I have plans and plywood for an Ozona X Nesting Pram that is intended for use on my Next Boat and in the meanwhile will fit in the back of my Vanagon for small craft adventuring.
Keep a MRS Adventure X2 on my Montgomery 17. Inflates and deflates in the cockpit. Can sling to a backpack for inland water adventures. Too light to tow unless it’s calm.
Beach the Mariner. 10" draft, no protrusions below hull with centerboard and rudder up.
Much prefer hard-shells, as inflatables are a beast to row. I have built two--one an Al Mason (I think) design for a 6.5' V bottom pram that was a very nice rower. The other was a "Tiny Ripple" 6 footer by Billy Atkin. Actually built at least 2 of those, one for my dad to fish from. Atkin claimed lifeboat capability for this little boat, but I never put that to the test. It towed and rowed very well. I could outpace a similar size Livingston easily.
Both boats had for and aft rowing benches, which allowed you to shift balance solo or with a passenger. And of course 2 pairs of rowlocks.
Once, when towing the Atkin dink behind my little 21' cutter, a pair of dolphins picked us up in the Strait of Georgia. After examining the cutter, they dropped back to check out the dinghy, which had a bone in her teeth.
For those who have problems spelling, here is a little ditty for serve as a mnemonic:
How dingy is the dinghy,
How peely is its paint;
It floats upon the water,
But a haughty yacht it aint.
Just revised the ditty: "leprous" instead of "peely" paint.
Or, another edit: "grungy" instead of leprous or peely. (Former English teacher; can't leave well-enough alone.
Hard dinghy when we had the Catalina 34. These days I just swim back and forth to my Gloucester 19. Still have the same hard dinghy if I have to haul stuff out to it on the mooring.
Almost hate to mention it on this site, but we had a Ranger 9' dink that sailed reasonably well, was OK for rowing, and handled the 4hp outboard with grace. It rode on davits over the stern of our 1949 49' Chris Craft Tri-cabin that we lived on. After getting crushed (another story) it was replaced by a butt-ugly Livingston dink that was good for cleaning topsides, but terrible to row and of course, no sailing.
Actually I do either depending on where I'm going. There are beaches I don't want my boat on but if I'm expecting a nice sand beach I may not take a dink. One will find however that the best part of all this are the surprises and that can easily call for alternate transport ashore.
On my fifth try to find “my perfect dinghy” I got it right with the Portage Pram. Rows well, can handle my wife & me(with care), and is light and easy to stow on the back of my 22’ Downeaster.
I stow a two person Alpacka Raft. Rolls up to the size of a large paper towel roll. Weighs less than 8 lbs. Stable, durable and made in the USA! It inflates easily and has room for grocery runs.
We love our Portland Pudgy. Only weighs 120 pounds, rows great, motors fine with our electric outboard and can land almost anywhere. Bought it used and have cruised with it for 15 years.
When I had my schooner I also had a small fiberglass dink. It did not row well but I was able to tow the schooner with my 1 1/2 hp Jonhson with no problem. The only other advantage of this dink was that it could stow between the masts on the cabin top.
Portland Pudgy. By my sights, best dinghy made. Oars, sail kit & electric OB. Comes with a tow harness and tracks beautifully behind Seaward S-23.
Portland Pudgy. By my sights, best dinghy made. Oars, sail kit & electric OB. Comes with a tow harness and tracks beautifully behind Seaward S-23.