[Rhodes22-list] Help re Dinghy

[Mary Lou Troy]

Hi Doug,
It kind of depends on how you think you'll use it. We didn't really need 
one so we went as light and cheap as possible - a plastic Sevylor 3 person 
Super Caravelle "pool toy". Weighs 13 lbs. Has a capacity of 600 lbs.

It takes about 10-15 minutes to set up or stow and stows in a rubbermaid 
container under the seats (18" x 24" x 13" high). It's been very reliable 
though we are very careful about keeping the bottom away from sharp 
objects. We upgraded the oars a couple of years ago but the boat itself is 
now in its 5th season.  It rows OK but we are thinking of naming it "Comic 
Relief". Something with slats might row a bit better but I'm not sure if 
any inflateable really rows well. I would not tow it any distance at all. 
If it was essential to our cruising instead of just a toy, we'd spring for 
a heavier duty model but at $69 a "pop" we figure we're ahead if we buy one 
a year for 10 years. As it is we've had it 5 years.

Mary Lou





At 12:33 PM 11/28/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi, Rhodies,
>
>Your advice would be appreciated re an inflatable dinghy for the
>Rhodes 22.  What you have you found to work reasonably well? I
>have searched the recent archives without success.
>
>What fits and where do you store it?  What would you avoid?
>
>A Mercury 6'7" inflatable with slatted rollup floor I have
>looked at weighs 35 lbs and deflates to 3' 3" X 1' 10" X 15".
>How is that for storage?  Do I need to look at "light duty"
>dinghys without the slats?
>
>The dinghy will be used mostly on the Eastern shore of the
>Chesapeake bay while gunkholing.  Most of the time I shall be
>singlehanding, but may have the occasional company of my wife or
>son.
>
>Fair winds!
>--Doug
>"Red Rover"
>Deale, MD
>
>
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