16
CANADIAN YACHTING SPECIAL FEATURE SPRING 2019 What You Need to Know: About Inflatables, SIBs, RIBs and RHIBs, Portable Power and Taking Your Dingy Along for the Ride Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat”

Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    2

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

CANADIAN YACHTING SPECIAL FEATURE SPRING 2019

What You Need to Know: About Inflatables, SIBs, RIBs and RHIBs, Portable Power and Taking

Your Dingy Along for the Ride

Your Canadian Yachting Guide to“the little boat”

Page 2: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little
Page 3: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 3

4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little boat”;

the tender or dinghy that often leads the toughest life, gets the leastlove, but sees the most use. Understand your dinghy, construction types, power choices, towing and davits, and generally,how to use it better.

6 Inflatables: SIBs, RIBs and RHIBs For most cruising sailors and power boaters, the mainstay of boating

tenders is the inflatable boat. We look at the two primary models; theSoft Inflatable Boat (SIB) and the Rigid (Hulled) Inflatable Boat (RIB or RHIB).

8 Inflatable Tube Material: A Rose by Any Other Name We discuss the three basic materials used in the construction of

inflatable boat tubes; Polyvinylchloride (PVC), CSM/Neoprene-hypalon and Polyurethane (PU). These lightweight and durable materials have different performance characteristics and prices as well.

11 Small Power Units for Your Dinghy It’s more complicated than you might think – gasoline, propane, elec-

tric – are all choices you might make. Then there’s weight, horsepowerand even brand preference. We summarize some of the key metrics..

8 Stuff, Stow, or Suspend Taking Your Dingy Along for the Ride. For many boaters, these are the

choices that drive the selection of one tender over another. It’s not justthe space you have, it’s the cargo you need to carry and the design ofyour big boat too.

Volume 1, Issue 1Special Canadian Yachting Insert - Dinghies & Davits, Spring 2019

The Canadian Yachting magazine Dinghies & Davits, 2019 insert was written by Rob MacLeod,“The Informed Boater”. Photos by Rob MacLeod except where noted.

Rob MacLeod founded InformedBoater.com Ltd. in 2008 as a way to produce and distribute instructional boating videos. Rob has been teaching sailing and boating since 1975 and has developed a number of books and instructional videos over the past four decades. Rob also writestechnical articles for Canadian Yachting magazine.

As a Canadian Yachting Association Instructor Evaluator (1978 to 1990) and the first Technical Director of the American Sailing Association (1983 to 1984), Rob was instrumental in thedevelopment of boating instruction in North America.

Rob wrote Basic Sailing and Cruising Skills in 1985 and updated it in 2013. An Introduction toCruising and Chartering is in the works and due in spring of 2019.

Rob is a certified Sail Canada Intermediate Instructor who specializes in online learning for boating knowledge and custom designed on-water courses – tailored to the individual needs of his students. Check him out at InformedBoater.com

Catch Rob Jan 25, 26 and 27 at the Toronto International Boat Show.

Rob [email protected]

Dinghies & Davits • Spring 2019Publisher | Greg [email protected] | Rob [email protected] Director | Allan S. [email protected] | Greg [email protected] | John [email protected] Production | Sarah Campbell [email protected] Production | Eileen [email protected] | Elissa [email protected] | Michelle [email protected] & Davits Spring 2019 is a Special Supplement to Canadian Yachting and published by Adastra Media Inc. in association with Kerrwil Publications Limited.

HEAD OFFICE538 Elizabeth Street, Midland, On L4R 2A3Telephone: 705-527-7666Fax: 705-527-7662www.kerrwil.com

John W. Kerr, Jr. | Director and Managing PartnerGreg Nicoll | Group Vice-presidentThe contents of this publication are the property of Kerrwil Publications Limited and may not be reproduced inwhole or in part without prior written consent. We encourageletters to the editor, submissions and query letters from writers and our readers. Occasionally, we allow the use ofmailing lists to firms offering products and information thatwe feel may be of interest to you. If you do not want yourname made available, please return your mailing label to usmarked DO NOT RELEASE. Send all address changes, post office returns and subscription enquiries to:Canadian Yachting 538 Elizabeth Street Midland, Ontario L4R 2A3Canada Post Mail Agreement: 40065481ISSN0384-0999Return postage guaranteed.

Page 4: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

4 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

I TOOK MY FIRST sail at age 13 on a Folbot foldingkayak with a lateen sail and leeboards. It was on thisinaugural sail that I learned the tough lesson that it iseasier to sail downstream with the wind than up-stream against the wind. It would be another 12 yearsbefore I actually figured out how to do the latter. Butthat is another story.In researching this article, I was pleased to see that

folding boats and dinghies still have a place in moderncruising boats alongside hard dinghies, sailingdinghies, Soft Inflatable Boats (SIBs), Rigid (Hulled)Inflatable Boats (RIBs/RHIBs), and inflatable kayaks.In addition, cruising sailors are carrying SUPs, rigidkayaks, kite boards, windsurfers, and PWCs. (Not toworry, all TLAs [Three-Letter Acronyms] will be explained in due course.)Some cruising boaters are looking for the minimum

auxiliary craft required to be able to anchor out, explore the anchorage and surrounding area, and get

. . . . . . . . . .Dinghies and Davits

Story | Rob MacLeod

Image courtesy: Shorebase.co.uk 

Page 5: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 5

Midland Location:315 Cranston Cres.

Midland, Ont. L4R 2K3705-527-6060

co2inflatables.com

Oakville Location:285 Wyecroft Road

Oakville, Ont. L6K 2H2905-844-4386

nes2

om

n:ad2H2H

:s.K3

m

dH2H2

o2 has been serving the Ontario Co2 has b n s rvin th ntariCCo b g OntarioCC ee e eCCarket for over 20 years. We havemm rket for over 20 years We havem

ggamma2 i t l ti ith th2 convenient ocations with the a s hhtthhtn wittnt22222 e a o eic cl2 l22222 itonveni o ti iuying power to give you the best bub y g p g y b sbb in pow r to iv o th b tbb g e g e e eprice and va ue for your boatingprice and value for your boatingpp ggyy aabbaaaacc nniittrrrrffllvviirr a a o o boabe e gi i

g gg ggi fddnndpppppp

eeeddss. Facttooryy trraaiinneedd tteecchhnniicciiaannss nneenn ss Faacttory t i ed cchhnniicciiaannssg

edd rraaiinn tteg

nnnneenndd sseerrvviiccee ttoo bbaacckk uupp oouurr ine ofaaaa oo rr linee of dd ss cc oo bbaacc ppaaaann rrvvii tt kdd aa ppaaaa ee e oo bb

ts andd motors.bboaatts andd otor

oCoCamam

CCCCCCmmmmm

f e o

to shore for provisions, while other boaters want thesecondary water craft to be an extension of their expe-rience. It is this ‘purpose’ or primary use of the dinghyand other floating objects that drives the search for theperfect vessel for each boater and their situation.

Having given many talks on thesubject of cruising, I am used toputting forth our criteria in the tender for Sojourn, our 1981 CS36Traditional. We need somethingthat will transport four adults (for when we have guests), ourlaundry and/or provisions, or several jerrycans of fuel or water.We also pull our dinghy up onrocks, gravel, and sea shell beaches,so we need a hard bottom. Nine years ago, on a trip to the

Bahamas and back, we had a ten-foot RIB with a 15 hp outboard thatserved us well. Last year, we had asimilar RIB but with an 8 hp motorand I knew within a week we shouldhave kept the 15 hp.Some cruisers I talk with are very

happy with a 2.5 hp outboard andless capacity, while others want

something a little bigger, a more powerful engine, acentre console, and greater cruising range. Welcome toDinghies and Davits, an exploration of what floats your(secondary) boat. n

Lynn and Pat Lortie with their dinghy up on davits, heading to the Caribbean.

Page 6: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

6 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

. . . . . . . . . .Inflatables

SIBs, RIBs and RHIBsTHE MAINSTAY OF boating tenders today is the inflatable boat and thetwo primary models are the Soft Inflatable Boat (SIB) and the Rigid(Hulled) Inflatable Boat (RIB or RHIB). There is some disagreement ofwhether RIB and RHIB mean the same thing. In this article – they do.The inflatable part is the collar that goes around the hull. The hull can

either be soft (in that it is inflatable as well) or hard (made of fibreglass oraluminum). The soft inflatable can be deflated, disassembled, and foldedfor easier storage. They also tend to be lighter. It is this light weight thatprovides one of the downsides of SIBs – they do not necessarily track aswell as a rigid hull boat. Some SIBs have an inflatable keel and better directional stability than flat-bottomed boats. The soft hull makes the SIB easier to pull up on a beach or fish in

Image courtesy: Zodiac 

Page 7: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 7

COMING SOON

Come see our new 5hp Propane modelson display for the first time, Toronto International Boat Show. January 18-27th Booth 801

shallow water. Because of its lightweight, a SIB is more prone to flipping at higher speeds and sitslower in the water, which can resultin a wetter ride. Talking with DavidWilby at MarineOutfitters inKingston, he finds customers withsmaller boats (32 feet and under)prefer the soft bottom, so they candeflate and roll up the boat whilecruising.Because rigid hulls cannot be

folded, they have to be towed orcarried on deck or in davits. (Wewill look at davits later in thisguide.) The hard hull of a RIBmakes it safer at high speeds and farmore stable in rough conditions.RIBs tend to be more comfortablethan SIBs especially when they havesecure seating and storage space. Al-ternatively, the complex design ofthe hull also makes RIBs more ex-pensive than SIBs and the weight ofthe hull means that they can beheavy to launch and bring ashore.

The shape and layout of differ-ent SIBs or RIBs needs to be triedout to find the right combination offeatures to meet your individual

needs. Make sure you spend sometime in different dinghies beforemaking your final decision. n

An inflatable carried on the foredeck.

Page 8: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

8 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

. . . . . . . . . .Inflatable Tube Material

A Rose by Any Other Name…IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE to firstunderstand and then compare thedifferent materials and constructiontechniques of today’s inflatableboats – SIBs, RIBs, kayaks, and standup paddle boards (SUPs) – in partbecause similar materials are oftenreferred to by a different name anddifferent materials are sometimescalled the same name. Let’s start by attempting to unravel some ofthe terms.

There are three basic materialsused in the construction of inflat-able boat tubes:

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is a plas-tic coating sandwiched, i.e. on bothsides, to polyester or nylon fabric. In its normal state,PVC is not flexible and requires an additive to make itpliable. Other additives (plasticizers, heat stabilizers,UV stabilizers, pigments, and other modifiers) are alsoadded to improve the overall performance of PVC.

CSM/Neoprene-hypalon – Chlorosulfonated Poly-ethylene (CSM) products are widely referred to as Hypalon. Hypalon® is a registered trademark ofDuPont Performance Elastomers but has become ageneric trademark for CSM products (similar to howKleenex is used to refer to any manufacturer’s tissue).Hypalon is a synthetic rubber coating laminated onto polyester or nylon fabric and usually with a neoprenecoating on the back of the fabric. Neoprene is an airtight material.

Polyurethane (PU) fabric is more commonly used inlarger and higher-end inflatable boats as well as work-related, military, and rescue craft. PU fabric is water-proof and typically polyester, but can also be cotton ora polyblend material that has been heat-laminated toa polyurethane layer. The resulting material is light-weight and extremely durable.

Most recreational inflatables are offered in eitherPVC or Hypalon. Some manufacturers have created

their own take on both PVC and CSM/Hypalon produced either for proprietary use (Achilles) or purchased from one of the larger producers, such asMehler (Germany), Pennel & Flipo (Belgium), and Mirasol (South Korea).The chart (above) lists the name of the material

(including manufacturer, where available) used inmany of the inflatable boats, kayaks, and SUPs sold inCanada. (This is not an exhaustive list.)

PVC and Hypalon in ActionBefore we get into how inflatables are constructed, itmight be interesting to explore a brief history of water-

Material Manufacturer Boat Manufacturer Heytex PVC Walker Bay, Salter, Brig Mehler Haku PVC MercuryMehler-Valmex PVC Highfield, SalterMirasol PVC Fabric Salter, Brig, SeaMaxStronganTM DuotexTM PVC ZodiacKorean PVC 1100 Denier Saturn

Achilles CSM Achilles, MercuryCoolthane® PU Wing RescueHypalon ZodiacHypalon Neoprene AvonORCA CSM-Neoprene-Hypalon828 (standard) and 866 (heavy duty) Walker Bay, Highfield, AB, Polaris, Caribe, Lomac, Brig Orcathane PU Poliurethane SharcTM DuotexTM PU Zodiac over 6 metres

CSM/Neoprene-hypalon

Page 9: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 9

proof materials. As far back as the 9th century BC,Phoenician and Assyrian soldiers crossed water using inflated goat skins. Under Alexander, explorers navigatedthe upper Ganges using rafts floated on animal skins.Following a number of airship disasters, French

airship manufacturer Societe Zodiac ceased further development of the hydrogen filled airships and shifteddevelopment to rubber-coated fabrics. In 1934, Zodiacdeveloped a two-seater inflatable kayak and then an inflatable catamaran.In the UK, another airship manufacturer, RFD

Company Ltd., used their coated fabric technology todevelop inflatable boats, lifejackets, and life rafts for themilitary. Hypalon was developed and trade-marked byDupont Dow Elastomers in 1951.

PVC (polyvinylchloride) In older PVC fabrics, the plasticising additive coulddegrade over time through exposure to UV light. Thedegradation made the PVC brittle and led to cracking.Advances in fabric manufacturing have producedmuch higher quality PVC fabrics. Manufacturers now provide ten-plus years of UV guarantees on theirmarine grade fabrics. A PVC tube is a less expensive production material

than PU or Hypalon and there are PVC inflatablesthat have been in service for over 15 years. PVC tube

seams are welded using thermal or high-frequencywelding. They can also be glued – making repairsquick and simple.One notable difference between PVC and Hypalon

is how seams are sealed. While PVC seams are prima-rily welded, Hypalon seams have to be glued. Origi-

nally, this was a simple lap-seam that could break downbefore the material itself fatigued.Seams in Hypalon boats are either overlapped or

butted, and then glued. Butted seams produce a moreaesthetically pleasing finish than some overlappedseams, which tend to bulge. However, butted seams are

Image courtesy: Salter Boats

Page 10: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

10 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

more labour-intensive, resulting in the boats beingmore expensive. Seams that are double-taped andglued on both sides are stronger – so much so that thefabric will usually fail before the seams.

So, what material is your inflatable tube made of – PVC or Hypalon? There are a number of ways to identify what boat fabric you have:

1. Review the list of inflatable boat manufacturersin the preceding table. Remember, many modelsare available in both PVC and CSM.

2. If you can, look at the back of the tube fabric(either through one of the inflation valves orthrough a tear in the inflation collar), as Hypalon is a dull, dark grey or black colour onthe back face of the fabric whereas PVC and PU are the same glossy colour on both sides ofthe fabric.

3. Lightly sand the boat fabric. Hypalon fabric will turn dull and produce a dust or residuewhile PVC will scratch but maintain the sameglossy colour.

4. Apply a small amount of methyl ethyl ketone(MEK) or butanone or acetone solvent to an inconspicuous area of the tube fabric. The solvent will make PVC feel tacky with a slighttransfer of colour to the cloth. MEK will leaveHypalon with an oxidized or dull appearanceand the material will not feel tacky.

NOTE: The use of MEK or acetone is dangerous and shouldonly be applied in a well-ventilated area with no openflames present. For more information, refer to information on PolyMarine’swebsite - www.polymarine.com/advice/boat-fabric-guide

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

Page 11: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 11

. . . . . . . . . .

5 Horse PowerAll three fuel options are represented in the 5 hp range from Mercury, Tohatsu, Lehr Elco, and Torqeedo.

Manufacturer Mercury Tohatsu Tohatsu Lehr Elco TorqeedoMODEL FOURSTROK E 5 MFS5 MFS5 LPG LP5.0 EP5 Cruise 2.0 TSHP / kW 5/3.7 5/3.7 5/3.7 5.0/3.6 5/3.0 5/1.12Full throttle 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500 1,300RPMSteering Tiller Tiller Tiller Tiller Tiller Tiller with 360° lockingDry weight 57/26 55/25 59.5/26 48.4/21.8  65/29.5 33.7/15.3 (lbs./kg)Gear shift F-N-R F-N-R F-N-R F-N-R F-N-R F-NIntegrated 0.3/1.1 Twist ‘n Go fuel tank LPG Tank 16.4 oz Propane Electric Electric(gal / L) CanisterOptional 3.2/12 3.2/12 (Optional): fuel tank LPG Tank 11 & 17 lbs. Electric Electric(gal / L) Composite TanksRange - - - 3,000 – 1.4 hrs 2.7 knotsslow/hrs (64 oz)/12 hrs /10 hrs (11 lbs)Range - full - - - 5000 – 0.5 (64 oz) 6.0 knotsthrottle / hrs /5 hrs (11 lbs.) /1.25 hrs

AT THE LOWER END of the horsepower (hp) ratings,there are a wide range of options available to the cruising boater. In this article, we are going to restrictourselves to the 5 hp and under – outboards that fallinto the ‘portable’ category.Within this range, there are four-stroke, propane, and

electrical options. The chart below is not an exhaustivelist, but will give the reader some direction in the areasof weight, fuel capacity – which affects cruising range,and torque. All of this information is from availablemanufacturer literature and has not been verified independently, so ask good questions from the variousdealers you visit.

Small Power Unitsfor Your Dinghy

Page 12: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

12 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

Pros and Cons of Each Fuel TypeGasoline Propane EPro Con Pro Con P CEasy to find Integrated tanks have shorter No need for choke, gas is under Reported to be noisier than V M range than external tanks pressure and easier to ignite gasoline counterparts Integrated tanks reduce the Single cylinders result in more Cleaner burning – less pollution Heavier than gas engines E C need for external tank vibration than multi-cylinder n

Easy to service Engines must be maintained Uses 64 oz propane tanks and More expensive than M can connect to larger tanks gas engines for greater range Wide array of brands and sizes Fluids can leak if engine Easier to refuel Depending on problem, is improperly stored can be harder to find service Gasoline smell No issue with ethanol Not many models available B Ethanol, bad fuel, old fuel R o Refueling can be messy R b Can be hard to start — especially for young or weaker operators

3.5 – 4 Horse PowerFour four-stroke outboards are available in this range – no electrics or propane are currently offered.Manufacturer Mercury Yamaha Mercury EvinrudeMODEL FOURSTROKE 4 F4 FOURSTROKE 3.5 E3RG4HP / kW 4/2.9 2.5/1.9 3.5/2.6 3.5/86Full throttle RPM 4,500-5,500 4,000-5,000 5,000-6,000 5,000-6,000Steering Tiller Tiller with Tiller with Tiller 360° turning 360° turning Dry weight 57/26 59/27 41/18 41/18.4 (lbs./kg)Gear shift F-N-R F-N F-N ?Integrated fuel 0.3/1.1 0.3/1.1 0.3/1.1 -tank (gal/L)Optional fuel 3.2/12 - - -tank (gal/L)Range slow/hrs - - - -Range - - - -- full throttle/hrs

Page 13: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 13

P Electric

C P C Pro Con I R Very quiet More expensive by horsepower

r p g S H Easiest to start Concern about range before

v needing recharging

E M Fastest acceleration Most expensive up front c g f

F E D No end-of-season maintenance Harder to find service and parts i c G N N Batteries are expensive E Recharging options are limited or nonexistent on the water R Running at high speed spends batteries quickly C f

2 – 3 Horse PowerAgain, all three fuel types are represented in this range. Manufacturer Torqueedo Torqueedo Lehr Mercury YamahaMODEL Travel 1003 Travel 1003C LP2.5 FOURSTROKE 2.5 F2HP / kW 3/ 3/.48 2.5/1.8 2.5/1.9 Full throttle RPM 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500 5,250-5,750Steering Tiller with Tiller with Tiller Tiller with 360° locking 360° locking 360° turning Gear shift F-N-R F-N-R F-N F-N F-NDry weight 32.4/14.2 32.8/14.9 37.4/16.96 41/18 37/17 (lbs./kg)Integrated fuel Integrated battery Integrated battery Twist ‘n Go 16.4 oz 0.3/1.1tank (gal/L) with 530 Wh Li-Ion with 915 Wh Li-Ion Propane Canister Optional fuel (Optional): 11 & 17 lbs.tank (gal / L) Composite Tanks Range slow/hrs 2.0 knots/10.5 hrs 2.0 knots/17.5 hrs 3,000 – 2.5 hrs (64 oz) / 26 hrs (11 lbs.) Range - full 5.0 knots/0.6 hrs 5.0 knots/0.9 hrs 5,000 – 1 hr throttle/hrs (64 oz) / 11 hrs (11 lbs.)

A M Y S T E R Y D I S C O U N TR E D E E M T H I S C O D E : “ H igh f ie ld CYP ” FOR

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e f o r a v a i l a b l e p r o d u c t s

Page 14: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

14 Dinghies & Davits SPRING 2019

. . . . . . . . . .Stuff, Stow, or Suspend

Taking Your Dingy Along for the RideWHILE CRUISING, the dinghy is your transportationat anchor, on a mooring, and even in the marina. Butcruising is about going places, and it is during theprocess of getting to somewhere else that the dinghyrequires appropriate care and attention.

The three options available to cruising boaters are:1. Tow the dinghy behind the larger boat;2. Stow the dinghy by either: a. deflating or otherwise reducing its size so it

can be stowed in a locker; b. hoisting the dinghy onto the foredeck and

lashing it down;3. Suspending the dinghy in davits from the transom of the boat.

We will review each of these processes for varyingsizes of cruising boats – both sail and power.

TowingIn calm water, for short hops and in coastal environ-ments, many cruising sailors tow their dinghy. Not alldinghies like to be towed and there are some basicmust-haves to ensure the safety of the tow.Reduce drag by removing the outboard engine, fuel

tank, oars, anchors, and anything else to lighten theload. Use a bridle to keep the dinghy tracking behindthe larger boat.The towing bridle must have two points of attach-

ment for the primary towline and a second safety line –should the primary line fail. Both lines should be floatinglines or have floats attached to prevent the lines frombeing drawn into the propeller. We are also looking fora line long enough to form a centenary curve – same asthe anchor rode – to act as a shock absorber.The length of the towing line is critical, especially

in waves. By ensuring the dinghy is on the same part of

the wave – two or three waves behind the towing boat- drag will be minimized. When manoeuvring in close quarters, bring the

dinghy close to the transom or along side to ensure thedinghy painter / tow line does not become fouled inthe boat’s prop or entangled in the anchor, mooringline, or the docks and pilings alongside.The downside of towing a dinghy versus stowing or

suspending in davits include the following:• Reducing boat speed with drag caused by towing;• Controlling the dinghy while docking, mooring, and anchoring;

• The risk of losing the dinghy completely should aline part become untied or the towing ring fails;

• Dinghy becoming unmanageable during rough conditions.In open, rough, and offshore situations, experienced

boaters recommend against towing a dinghy. Make sureyou have a backup plan of stowing or suspending yourdinghy. Just as when reefing sails, stowing the dinghyis best done before conditions worsen, not after yourdinghy is getting hard to control.

StowingOn smaller boats (less than 32 feet), it is often best todeflate the dinghy, roll it, and stow the bundle belowor tie it in front of the mast while underway. On our CS36T, we tow our ten-foot rigid inflatable

boat (RIB) when in relatively calm conditions. The out-board is secured to the stern rail or, if the passage is relatively short, tilted up and locked on the transom ofthe dinghy. For longer passages we hoist the dinghy on to the

foredeck and lash it down. We have a traditional 5:1boom vang, which we use with a halyard to both raiseour outboard onto the stern rail and with the spinnakerhalyard to bring the heavier stern of the dinghy ontothe foredeck. To hoist the bow of the dinghy, we makeuse of the spare genoa halyard, which leads back to themechanical advantage of a winch. Attaching the boom vang to the halyard, we extend

the vang all the way out – even attaching a light line tothe end of the vang to start the hauling-in process. Either singly (alternating halyards) or together with my wife, we can easily and quickly raise the dinghyover the side. Once in place, we lash the dinghy downusing ratchet straps. When cruising in salt water, we

Crest - Wave #1 Crest - Wave #2 Crest - Wave #3

Ensure bow of both boats are on same part of appropriate waves. Usually 2-3 waves apart.

Floating Line

Page 15: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

canad ianyacht ing . ca 15

Introducing the updated

VisitWWW.ZODIAC-NAUTIC.Com

to view the entire line! #KEEPEXPLORING

By

make sure to oil the ratchets sothey don’t seize.

Suspending – in DavitsThere are many types and styles ofdavits for all sizes of sail and powerboats. We only have room in this ar-ticle to point out some of the con-siderations you may have. Thisshould be sufficient for you to determine if the supplier you aretalking with understands yourneeds and can deliver an appropri-ate and quality davit system to you.It is critical that a davit system be

properly installed, with mountingpoints properly reinforced and sup-ported to withstand the forces thata dinghy will bring to bear on yourboat. Depending on the layout ofyour boat, sailboat davits supportsmay fall into several categories.Straps are used on boats with an

aft cockpit and a fairly vertical sternrail. Straps attach to the top hori-zontal tube of the stern rail andbolt through the seatback coaming.Transom-mounted supports are

designed for boats with an extendedtransom. Stainless steel tubes support the top horizontal tube ofthe stern rail and are bolted throughthe transom.Often used for centre cockpits,

where there is space forward of the stern rail, deck-mounted sup-ports use a pair of stainless steeltubes attached to the top horizon-tal tube of the stern rail then leadforward onto the deck and are thenthrough-bolted.Sometimes wire is used in place

of tube for deck reinforcing – especially when space is limitedand it is necessary to remove thesupport when the dinghy is nolonger in the davits.Finally, on boats fitted with a

swim scoop, a pair of stainless steeltubes attach to the top horizontaltube of the stern rail and are boltedthrough the swim platform landing. According to davit maker Atkins-

Hoyle, one practical option is tohave davits that rotate out of the

way when not in use. Fixed davitsattach (often through-bolted) to aswim platform, transom, or deck.These are required for heavier tenders or when davits have to havea longer reach. The rotating davitcan also double as a motor hoist.

Powerboat davitsIn addition to some of the optionsavailable to sailboats, larger power-boats also have davits that fit on theswim platform. Swing up or snapdavits allow the dinghy to be sus-

pended from a pair of bracketsmounted on the swim platform ofa boat.

Power Lift DavitsThe ultimate lift solution is the hydraulic lift. A good example isthe Freedom hydraulic lift. The fea-tures include removable lift armsfor when not taking your dinghyand a lift that is separate from theswim platform, leaving the plat-form free for use while anchoringor docking.

Page 16: Your Canadian Yachting Guide to “the little boat” · 2018. 12. 21. · canadianyachting.ca 3 4 Dinghies & Davits The Introduction to your Canadian Yachting guide to “the little

See our complete line of Deluxe Yacht Tenders and Dinghies at a dealer near you, or visit walkerbay.com

SET YOUR COURSEDISCOVER WALKER BAY’S COMPLETE LINE

OF INFLATABLE YACHT TENDERS

Sherwood Marine

6771 Oldfield Rd, Saanichton, BC

sherwoodmarine.com

Steveston Marine

1667 W 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC

stevestonmarine.com

Dueck Marine

400 SE Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC

dueckmarine.com

CO2 Inflatables

285 Wyecroft Rd Oakville, ON

co2inflatables.com

Boulet Lemelin Yacht

1125, boul. ChamplainQuebec City, QC

blyacht.com

For over 20 years, Walker Bay has been designing and building the most innovative, versatile and enjoyable boats on the market. Each product we make goes through extensive design and testing so we can o�er a better boating experience for our customers. Whether you are looking for superior features or

lightweight construction, Walker Bay boats will exceed your expectations in function and comfort.