Advice Needed - The Right Dingy for My Circumstances

**huskylawyer** · 08-28-2012, 10:59 PM

Need some suggestions (and pics would even be better). I have an '09 Sundancer 240 and I'm looking for dingy recommendations. The issue is my 240 is set-up for cruising and fishing, so space is limited. I have a 9.9 Mer kicker attached to the swim board (therefore, with a fish cooler, I can't prop up the dingy on the swim board), and outriggers on each side. The dingy will be primarily used to shuttle the dog (a big dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback) to shore when he is hanging out for long periods on the boat. Ideally, the Missus, three year old, the dog, and myself can get on the dingy to get to shore. I probably won't be more than 50 yards from shore, in relatively calm, lake conditions. Any suggestions? Is a motorized dingy overkill, or can I go the row row row your boat route? And since the 240 is relatively small, is my only option to pull the dingy from behind? Perhaps an inflatable that I can break down quickly, assuming I have an air pump on board?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

HL

**La Maddalena** · 08-28-2012, 11:27 PM

My stepson has the same boat you have, and we boat a lot together, including on Lake Washington. He had a kicker on his swim platform too. When we boat together, we use our dinghy to shuttle people (and the dog!) - my son doesn't have a dinghy and I'm not sure the 240 is big enough to mount one comfortably. Also, the 240 is fast and maneuverable and we also use it to shuttle people around (Seafair). Since you're planning to be 50 yards offshore in the lake, would you really leave your boat anchored and take your wife, child and dog ashore in a dinghy, or just take the boat in to shore? From a practical standpoint, I think if you really want a dinghy then having an inflatable with a 12 volt pump might be your best bet, and tow it rather than trying to mount it on the swim platform.

**Gofirstclass** · 08-28-2012, 11:30 PM

HL, here's my thoughts. The beam on your boat is ~8'6"??? So if you got a dinghy you would probably be looking at a 7'-7.5' dinghy. By the time you get you, the Admiral, the dog, and the gas tank into the boat you're overloaded. If not overloaded for weight you definitely would be out of room and not very stable.

I'd skip the motor and gas tank, get one that you can row and tow behind the boat. Keep in mind that the flatter the bottom the more stable it will be and the better the dog will like it. There are some really nice wood dinghies in that size range and also some nice fiberglass ones. If you're going to go with an inflatable you can break down, make sure you get an electric pump. You'll be so tired trying to manually pump it up you won't have any strength to row, and mama ain't gonna be doing no rowing!

**JimFromMD** · 08-29-2012, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by huskylawyer

Need some suggestions (and pics would even be better). I have an '09 Sundancer 240 and I'm looking for dingy recommendations. The issue is my 240 is set-up for cruising and fishing, so space is limited. I have a 9.9 Mer kicker attached to the swim board (therefore, with a fish cooler, I can't prop up the dingy on the swim board), and outriggers on each side. The dingy will be primarily used to shuttle the dog (a big dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback) to shore when he is hanging out for long periods on the boat. Ideally, the Missus, three year old, the dog, and myself can get on the dingy to get to shore. I probably won't be more than 50 yards from shore, in relatively calm, lake conditions. Any suggestions? Is a motorized dingy overkill, or can I go the row row row your boat route? And since the 240 is relatively small, is my only option to pull the dingy from behind? Perhaps an inflatable that I can break down quickly, assuming I have an air pump on board?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

HL

My friend had a 240DA a while back and he would borrow a neighbor's dingy the few times they stayed out on anchor. He used to hook a line to the bow of the dhingy, pull it around to the bow of the boat, and then use the rope to lift the bow until he could reach it and haul it up/over the bow rail. He would then turn it over, bottom side up, and tie it off to the rail stanchions. Not elegant, but it worked if you or you and crewmates can pull it up.

The other option which I've seen has already been mentioned. Small inflatible and 12v pump to blow it up once you get to your destination. I've also borrowed a friends, inflatible kayak on a few occasions when I had guests aboard anchored out with a dog, just to get the dog ashore.

Last option, and yes I've seen it in action 2x with my own eyes, is a piece of green faux-sod on the swimplatform if you can convince your 4-legged friend its doable.

**Loose Cannon** · 08-29-2012, 01:54 PM

I started with a West Marine RU-260 inflatable which may work well with 2+ and a dog (slatted floor has good stability); this has been replaced with the RU-3 I believe. My only problem with the RU-260 was that it was too big (deflated) to fit in my mid-cabin. Other than that, it was very durable. Since then, I downgraded to a smaller Mercury Dinghy that deflates and fits in the 240DA mid-cabin. Purchased a Torqeedo Travel 1003 electric motor which I mount in the engine compartment (no gas, no mess, but expensive). One note about the 240DA, with such a narrow swim platform, it can be awkward when inflating the dinghy; I typically inflate the dinghy on the bow.