I have had a issue with storing my new 2.5 rib for a number of months....I have towed it in up to 20knts it could work as a sea anchor in big seas or on the deck or on the deck which is painful but the safest . today completed a hinge system on my transom so the tender hinges transom to transom and raises from the bow until vertical. As I have a narrow strern a davit system is not practical for a Dunc. What do you guys do?
On a Top Hat, the only place for long distance travel is the fore deck. The hinge system is attractive, but perhaps too much windage for a small boat. Locally, I just tow it behind, being a slat deck inflateable it's light enough.
On my Top Hat the mast is further forward allowing me to keep the hard dinghy on the cabin roof. IMHO "Dinghy managment" for want of a better term is the hardest thing about going sailing for a week or two or longer.
The hard dinghy on the roof does get in the way a bit & restrict visibilty, I am now looking at other options ie inflatable kayaks (they seem good for 1 or 2 persons & a small amount of provisions)
cheers
I store my tender on davits that rotate on the deck brackets past the counter stern and I access the tender from foot holes cut into the stern. It works well I have seen alot of different tender solutions on the foredeck is ok as long as you can tack and get to the bow to anchor. Rear of sailing boat tender stored vertical seems a little odd but works for some boats that have cut away stern access like Beaneteau's the tow behind the yacht is difficult in a following sea as the tender will surf and misbehave. Interesting solutions to the problem of storage of the tender will plague boat owners forever. not to mention of putting the engine on the tender when it is in the water is difficult singlehanded.
My inflatable is in its bag under the cockpit (centre mounted engine). The outboard is mounted on the pushpit.
I have a baby stay and an inner forestay taking up the space up for'ard and my solar panel is tied to the deck aft of the mast.
Deck storage is a shortcoming of a boat with limited deck space.
Ok this was my prototype unfortantly it touched the water once vertical so today I have modified the tubes hopefully making it more practical and clear of the waterline.
The mechanics change a bit with the longer tube so the load was nearly double untill about 45degrees and then in became feather weight. I choose the Aakron brand RIB due to its wide beam and quality ......
Now I think about it I might get 2 or 3 cross beams welded on , this will replace the old ladder and make it multi purpose for tender and ladder.
Yeah. I think it needs a little more development.
Are you happy with the look and feel of it when stowed like that?? Are the oars/paddles secure??
I have always had a good run with Zodiac and they have priced them to meet the market.
Na the look is ugly.....I don't care for that so much it's more the practical side I search for.....I sailed the east coast of Aus with my flat bottom zodiac in much the same fashion....but the new tender is a v bottom so it created a little challenge but I feel confident I can do some short passages with this option.
