Rowing a dinghy

RWS

RWS

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I know they are best operated with a small engine, but my 33' vessel is still, yes, a 33' vessel. With a 13' beam I can manage to store a smaller, non-rigid floor dinghy aboard, but the outboard seems to add to the complexity of inflating, deflating and setting up the dinghy for a visit to the shore for dog relief while anchored out.

Additioanlly with having a diesel (no spark protection from starter motors) and the idea of carrying gasoline on board doesn't seem to mix too well, and the idea of an electric motor and gel battery seems heavy and cumbersome.

Trying to stay simple, is it practical to row a dinghy assuming I'm in protected water ?

Any particular models that are better or worse for this ?

Would I be better off with a small air compressor and an air tank (plenty of room to mount these under the aft deck) or is a high volume lo pressure air pump better?

Thank you all in advance for the response.

RWS
 
RWS-

Coincidence??? Take a look a my post that came less than 30 seconds after yours. And to boot, my boat is 34' and 12'6" beam. Scary!

I store my motor in the aft lazzerette, and the fuel tank in a vented locker in the cockpit. The LP tank for my grill mis mounted there also. Hopefully no one throws a match in there.

Dan
 
they dont' row well at all... been there, done that ! it's ok with no wind but throw in even a light breeze and it's a strugle.

i used one on my old boat, a 37 express, woudl roll it up and store inside a locker. i used a 12/110v pump to inflate, usually off teh genset. worked well, fast.

why dont' you look at the new Torqueedos ? they seem well built (made in germany)... htey have 2 smaller model with built in battery and a larger one with separate battery. the smaller ones shoudl work fine on a small dink... not too expensive compared to outboards, no fuel to worry about.
 
quote:
Originally posted by RWS

Click to expand...


The rowing efficiency of a dinghy correlates to the stiffness of the underwater part of the hull, and to the total amount of wetted surface.

Good rowing dinks have rigid hulls and low wetted surface. Most inflatables row poorly.

Naturally, a highly skilled rower can overcome some degree of shortcoming in the above-listed categories, but rowing skill is another subject.
 
Pascal...i googled for your "Torqueedos" couldn't find anything in English. Can you help further with identifying this?
David
 
with similar concerns to yours, but only a 10' beam, I bought a 9' Titan inflatable with a rigid aluminum hull, and couldn't be more pleased with it. It rows just great, really zips, and in our northwest waters I don't have to worry too much about rocky shores. Plus it only weighs 75 pounds! A breeze to handle. Couldn't be happier without lugging the 9.9 horse around & all that jazz...

The Titans are I understand made by Aquapro. I was set on going with a Walker Bay Genesis (rigid plastic hull inflatable, new series), but it was just way too big for my boat.

Good luck,

Orcbait
 
A RIB rows fairly well, as long as there is calm water and no breeze. Part of the problem with rowing inflatables is both the air resistance, poor water lines and dinky oars for the dinghy. The older round Avons we all rowed--couldn'd affor those infernal "Sea Gull" engines which were popular with them. We used to row the dogs ashore several hundred yards at least 4 times a day.
 
Solid bottom makes sense until I realize I have a 33' boat and want to collapse the dink for storage. Of course I will have to compromize SOMETHING. I like the idea of electric but the torquedo is an expensive item to be putting into salt water.

1. Can't fold up and store a RIB

2. Inflatables row with difficulty

3. Inflatables with small outboard means heft and gasoline fumes onboard a diesel engined vesssel, plus more maintenance, impellers and flushing of engines after use, etc.

4. std electric trolling motor means hauling a heavy sealed 12v battery around.

Are there any other options ?

Has anyone successfully dealt with a small electric trolling motor/battery combination for this use ?

THANKS !

RWS
 
Couple guys in my mooring area use the trolling motors, course they run out of juice at the most inconvenient of times. And a battery weighs more than an outboard. But if you really hate gasoline that much, it is feasable. Get the salt water series trolling motor.

A small rollup with a 2, 2.5 or 3.5 horse gas motor is as portable as you're gonna get. Unless you boat on lakes or other areas with no current, do yourself a favor. The area I hang at all summer has a current, and I rescue at least one small dingy per day. Famous last words "Gee I didn't realize their was such a current"....

Oh and flushing isn't necessary, it's a good thing, but people who leave their dingys in don't have that luxury.
 
those dinks are simply unrowable except in the calmest conditions and then never against any current.
 
Are any of the newer, small 4 stroke outboards air cooled?
 
The Honda 2hp is the only air cooled I know of. Can't go wrong with that, no flushing! :-)

Unless you want a lawnmower engine powered outboard.... (Briggs and Stratton joke)
 
Outboard gas shouldn't be a problem as long as you keep it out of the engine room; depending on what the insurance company has to say.

I use an electric trolling motor (Minn Kota) on my dinghy. For me it's a matter of convienience; the motor ALWAYS starts and I charge the battery by connecting it to the boat's system. The motor and separate gp 24 battery are easier to handle than the 4hp gasser I used to use.
 
we use an electric trolling motor on our inflatable. Much better than rowing. No dealing with gas cans. We use a deep cycle battery dedicated to the dink. Not that bad to set up. We only use it for going back and forth from the boat to the beach. Have not had any issues running out of battery juice. Not sure what the range would be if it was used for motoring around for extended periods.
eric
 
How many lbs of thrust do you guys have on your electric motors...

[:-goldfish]
 
Mine is an old 24# MinnKota. I don't think they make it any more; smallest now I think now is a "30".

My 10' dink is plywood, homemade. It's heavier, but probably rows (and motors) better than most inflatables. I can get 3 mi (and return) with juice left over.
 
Is there a portabote in your future? They row very well, and they fold flat. Good under motor as well.
 
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