How to choose a dinghy - Sailing and travel Ep 233

[@sailingyoumeandjosapea6770]

Liked it. I like the nuts and bolts of things and your experience explained sets it out ! So that was very good

[@KeepItSimpleSailor]

I’ve used inflatable sit-on-top kayak, inflatable with inflatable floor and ‘keel’, plywood, RIB, and aluminium ‘tinnie’. I’m upgrading to a tinnie punt in 3-3.5m running my 15hp 2stroke outboard. Stability, speed on flat to flattish water, load capacity, takes rough handling - and crocodile safety. I live in north Australia so the croc issue is kinda important 😁

[@DM-tn6jd]

I’ve just recently bought my first boat which I need to sail up to Edinburgh from Brighton in the spring, so now I need a dinghy and outboard and so of course I reviewed previous Jamie & Liz’s thoughts on options/advice. I’m in Scotland and will just be coastal sailing (for now) BUT it made some sense to me to maybe get a slightly bigger dinghy and outboard than might strictly be needed, in case it becomes a tow/ push option if my old Bukh DV20 konks… Call it peace of mind for a new sailor? And I am Australian and would love a tinny too, but might struggle to get that up on the 28footer… Thanks guys for the advice, really genuinely appreciate watching you, and it’s recommendations or advice based on real experience unlike most of the online ‘experts’. Brilliant.

[@jaquigreenlees]

One option that a lot of people forget that would work for a lot of cruisers is a cargo canoe. There are multiple material options, multiple styles including built so you can mount an outboard. a 12 foot long cargo canoe set to handle an outboard can be lifted on deck by one person fairly easily yet handle 2 people and 600 pound ( about 280 kg ) of cargo as well.

[@followtheboat]

Nowhere to store it on Esper, but a nice option for the right circumstances. 👍 Liz

[@jaquigreenlees]

@@followtheboat a rack, the canoe hangs in it on the outside of Esper's railings around her decks. Kayaks and paddle boards are also stored like this when space is limited.

[@gregjones7472]

Just need to say thanks guys. Been with you guys a few years. Your exploration of life on the sea. Has inspired me to seek out new adventures. Your open, honest views. As experienced through your eyes. Brings a fun, real, and truly refreshing aspect to life. Calm seas & Fair winds

[@followtheboat]

Thanks so much for letting us know. If we can inspire in any way, we're truly happy. 🙏 Liz

[@viankahihatz7015]

One day, this will be how I spend my time!

[@followtheboat]

Do it soon!

[@joannshuttleworth6359]

I had a deflatable for years, had a solid floor but it still allowed the bow to flex up going into the waves. I decided to design and build an aluminum dink. Fat Boy is made of 1/8 material, seats 3/32". Bullitt proof. 11' 3'' is what you get when you use a 12' sheet. The engine is a 2001 Yamaha 2 cycle 9.9 hp that I modified with factory parts to be 15 hp. Fat boy is a v design with 1" angles as strakes. Fat Boy rows perfectly. The sweeps were made in Canada to a size they specified to the width of the boat. Sweep length is very important. We carry Fats on davits but are considering modifying her to fit on the fore deck.

[@followtheboat]

Wow, that is amazing, fantastic job. I bet you're pleased with Fat Boy! 👏👏 Liz

[@simoneclarke5104]

Thanks for the informative video! I think Highfield will be for us. No point in skimping, when the time comes😊

[@Bradley_Clark]

The daily episodes have been a joy! thumbed

[@followtheboat]

Thank you! Just a few more to go to catch up... Liz 👍🙏

[@simoncousin3241]

Great on dinghys and you certainly know from the experience

[@followtheboat]

Cheers, glad you enjoyed it. Liz 👍🙏

[@mrmped1]

I've been thinking of using a windrider 17, as a dinghy. You can mount an outboard on it, you can sail it, you can row it, , the amas slide in and out, its fast, and ir will carry a lot of weight and or people. I'm purchasing a 50 ft cat, so it should go on the back. What do you think?

[@followtheboat]

No experience of the Windrider, but it sounds like a fun idea. 👍 Liz

[@antonditt1661]

Do you think a non-planing dinghy doing some 6-7kts would restrict your activities too much compared to your planing water porsche?

[@followtheboat]

Not necessarily, of it has a long range. We explain that being able to anchor further out in crowded anchorages is a factor for us, but more importantly being able to go further when we're exploring remote places. Liz

[@antonditt1661]

@@followtheboat Thx for your answer. I had a 10hp deflatable on my boat some 20 years ago. Though I enjoyed zooming around caribeen islands I never stopped dreaming of a dinghy that would sail decently. Now I'm building an old school plywood to use my remainig time on land usefully. Besides sailing and beeing happy with a smallish OB it should be reasonably propelled by oars when it's not far to shore and is then much less likely to be stolen. At least I hope so...and that I will enjoy the slow pace as much as I envision now. 😊

[@clairepapadatos1116]

Absolutely super to see you both with your wonderful daily vlogs! 😊 👍 😙😙

[@followtheboat]

So glad you can join us. Four more to go! 😁 Liz

[@alofns]

Follow the Boat and Bo the Drifter...who woulda thunk...great video. Thanks.

[@followtheboat]

Hehe, glad you liked the soundtrack. It's quite appropriate.

[@bluedog1052]

Back in my old Australian Army days in Darwin, I was a Lance Jack coxswain of an F470 zod with twin 25 mercs on the back and we were cruising the estuaries doing a bit of patrolling, croc spotting and fishing, and one of the numbskulls grabs a BFOK (big fuck off knife) and starts to carve into a bit of squid for bait right on the tube...I freaked out and lost my shit. Upon return he was to only do land based patrols from then on. I'd prefer a zodiac over a tinny any day.

[@followtheboat]

🤣🤣 oh dear, no wonder you lost your shit! The question is, did he catch anything before being reprimanded?!

[@johnq.public2621]

I'm looking at the 14 ft. Alpha Porta Bote using a Yamaha 2 stroke 9.9 hp short shaft modified to 15 hp. The 14 ft is rated to 807 lbs./367 kg. I think this should due nicely for a 45 ft sailboat with a crew of two.

[@followtheboat]

We loved our Portabote, and used it for years. It's not so good in bigger waves, and we have a much drier ride now with the Highfield. 👍 Liz

[@svbarryduckworth628]

A PortaBote is indestructible, although didn't yours get destroyed? You guys play rough! :D We have a 3hp 2-stroke on our PortaBote now and it goes like stink -provided stink only goes about 5 knots. A 10 mile excursion is going to take a bit of patience. Not only will we save on gas but we'll also save on the bar bill at the tiki hut because when we get there it will already be time to head back to get home before dark.

[@followtheboat]

Haha! No, we didn't destroy ours, we gave it away in the end. Yes, too slow and not much good (and very wet) in bigger waves! I like the idea of saving money... 😁 Liz

[@navegandomivandestadt34]

Brilliant video!

[@followtheboat]

Thanks, glad you like it. Cheers, Liz 🙏

[@guyfrawley9662]

Great music Jamie.

[@followtheboat]

Cheers, Guy. It kinda suited the dinghy scenes 👍

[@rodneyz4856]

Looking at Tuhatsu 4-strokes right now to re-power our dinghy. 5 hp‘s come in at about 50 lbs, where as a 10 hp comes in at 85 lbs. do you think that will be too heavy to lift onto the Stern rail? We are two guys in our 30’s so thinking we can handle it. Thoughts?

[@followtheboat]

I don't know how strong you both are! Our 9.8 weighs around 28 kilos, which Jamie can lift on his own, if that helps? He passes it up to me through the stern guard rail gate, then I hold it in place on deck till he joins me and places it onto the guard rail. Liz 👍

[@rodneyz4856]

@@followtheboat thanks for the info!

[@sailingsolo5290]

The 4 strokes are crazy heavy for the hp. Unless you are restricted by law get a 2 stroke 15hp. You will struggle with a 4 stroke weight. Suzuki makes the lightest 2 stroke 15 hp. Yamaha not far behind. Tohatsu heaviest. Though the tohatsu 9.8 2 stroke used to be a great engine. Light at 50lbs powerfull too. But they are made in china now. They wont last. My first one i had lasted 8 years cause it was made in japan. The second one lasted barely 6 months. Total pieces of shit. My tohatsu 18 hp 2 stroke is still going after 15 years. I bought another and so far so good 2 years now. I hear yamaha has issues with there 15 hp 2 strokes.

[@dutchglobetrotter4513]

I part-time crew on Britican and they have a rib with a 30hp 2-stroke. I love driving that thing its fast as a bat out of hell. And as you mentioned, it can easily be used as a tug for their 39 ton Oyster 56. What is your take on added fins to make the dingy plane faster?

[@followtheboat]

We don't have experience of them but we have heard they are good for getting on the plane easier. Not that that's going to be a problem with a 30hp engine!

[@joannshuttleworth6359]

@@followtheboat they work well, have used the same pair for 20 years.

[@paulmerron3947]

that's useful to know, thanks

[@followtheboat]

Glad you found it useful. Liz 👍🙏

[@NortyNige]

I have an achillies with an air floor which forms in to a v shape. It's good for what it is as it has to be deflated and rolled up for passage The Suzuki outboard on the other hand... As we can no longer get two strokes here we are now stuck with four strokes so if you ever come to Aus bring a new spare that you will be able to sell with ease when you need more rum rations. The Suzuki has been a total disaster with some 13 hours on it, it's broken down 11 times and got so bad I sent it back to the dealer.Also the weight... Where as in the past I would have put a 9hp To match or Yamaha 2 stroke on it I was limited to a 6hp spew. Which is fussy can't handle any form of anything except totally clean fuel to the point where I need to mount an external fuel filter to catch water or just shit in the fuel. Can't say I will ever buy another.

[@edrymes3653]

I have to ask: Just what are those blue buildings on the end of docks? I don't think they are phone booths, police call box or even a Tardis.

[@followtheboat]

Ermmm... I'm a bit dim this morning, which blue buildings? Liz 🤔

[@edrymes3653]

@@followtheboat About the 1:27 mark and 1:52. Somehow I have the feeling I wouldn't want to swim around there.

[@followtheboat]

Yep, they look like portaloos! Fortunately this river is quite tidal so it wouldn't take long to wash away 😉

[@stevenplancich6449]

More Fun in the Sun 😎

[@followtheboat]

You gotta make the most of it...😁👍 Liz

[@robertkowalski9906]

I have an outboard named it Murphy, after my mechanic he didn't work either...

[@followtheboat]

Hahaha! I've met a few Murphys. 😉 Liz

[@dannyday5211]

Mildly disappointed that Gone Surfin's custom fibreglass jobbo didn't get a mention ;)

[@jaquigreenlees]

fibreglass, doesn't matter what size, breaks down over time exposed to sun and sea. not abrasion resistant ( really big issue with a dingy ) fairly heavy so not easily lifted on deck if you don't have a davit.

[@followtheboat]

@Danny - Haha! Those were the days, eh? 😁👍 Liz

[@followtheboat]

@Jaqui - We chose aluminium, which is much lighter. And the hypalon is designed to withstand the elements better than most other substrates, particularly when you add a sunbrella cover. Cheers! Liz

[@thylacine1962]

You summed up dingy requirements in Australia so well. A strong Tinny is the only way to go here, the larger the better. 25" crocks, 20' white pointers, 18 ' bull and tiger sharks. Even a strong 12' tinny is small in comparison. Then there is the supper sized marine bunyip to consider. God knows how many Australians have been killed by them. The bigger the tinny the safer you are here.

[@followtheboat]

Yes, we have many Aussie friends and most have tinnies which they brought with them from Australia. We've heard a few stories! Had to look up "bunyip"! Liz 😄

[@thylacine1962]

@@followtheboat i really enjoy your work. I've been watching you both for years now. Good chanel here thats for sure. I like the way you sum up your situation accurately and decide what is best course of action. You being here all these years is a testimony to your skill. Rock on you Two. Just avoid rogue bunyips and you will be fine.

[@captainsalty56]

Inflatables are merely teething rings for crocodiles, or laughing handbags as we call them in Australia. Bunyips are only surpassed by the fearsome Australian Drop Bear. See attached reporting from a Scottish lassie. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXSqhoGmr893bK8

[@trevhedges]

👍

[@followtheboat]

😀Liz

[@rashie]

👍👍

[@koenleekens1419]

Hi - love your videos - inspired us to buy our first sailboat last year. What do you think of the takacat type dinghies (www.takacat.com)?

[@followtheboat]

I'm not familiar with them but a cursory glance at the design suggests they'd be difficult for carrying provisions and jerry cans. They look like they would be a wet ride in rough weather but, like I say, I've never used one.

[@samderealist4224]

2 stroke outboard motors are environmentally unfriendly and therefore it is forbidden to use them in many places in the world.

[@AgentRafa]

Greta Thunberg ova here..

[@samderealist4224]

@@AgentRafa Don't worry, I hate that child. But if you give advice on outboard motors, do it well and completely

[@PanzerDave]

Two strokes are not really that much worse than four strokes, and they have advantages. More important than how many strokes the engine has is how well maintained it is. A disadvantage of the two stroke is that one must mix oil with the pertrol.. It's not hard and it doesn't take long, but it is a bit of a bother, and it requires oil and a measuring device which take time and space. I think the engine I liked the best was the Honda 4 horse. It was exceptionally quiet and ran extremely well. Well, it worked well until I loaned my dinghy to a friend and he didn't tie it up properly. A wake pushed it against his boat and knocked the engine off the dinghy. Well, we must offer a sacrifice to Poseidon every now and then, but I would have preferred to sacrifice a wrench rather than the Honda!

[@johnq.public2621]

ALL internal combustion engines are environmentally unfriendly.

[@PanzerDave]

@@johnq.public2621 That's not true actually. The air today is cleaner than it has been for the last 150 years. Each year technology gets better and better, and as a result the air is getting cleaner and cleaner. The other thing people forget is that electric motors also pollute. The process to gather raw materials, make motors, batteries, ship them, and generate electricity are not clean either. A far, far bigger, immensely bigger issue, is plastic in the oceans. Millions of tons are dumped into the ocean each year. We have now discovered that it is getting into the food chain at the lowest levels of the chain too.

[@grancito2]

People must have a lot of spare cash to waste, inflatables are expensive and have a short life span, also are vulnerable to punctures, kind of like owning a convertible in the hood.

[@followtheboat]

Dinghies can be a big investment, and since they act as your "car" when you're a cruiser, are one of your most important purchases. That's why it's vital to know what you're doing when you buy one. Most people have inflatables, in our experience, but there are massive differences in performance and longevity. Like many things, it boils down to paying more for quality and maintaining it well. Liz

[@svbarryduckworth628]

Just went into the 15-minute dinghy dock by the marina office here to pick up packages at extreme low tide and the oysters were exposed on the pilings of this non-floating pier for a couple of feet. There are no boards or other systems to keep the dingies off of the sharp shells as you tie up in many similar docking situations. If I had a deflatable I would be concerned about leaving it there even for 5 minutes without someone left behind to fend it off the sharps. With our Porta Bote I give zero shits about such things. Also, it's pretty crocodile-proof too. Not as much as a tinny, but there are many Australians who use Porta Botes, including Troy and Pascale from Free Range Sailing. I wouldn't want to be around crocs or even the gators we have here in Florida with a deflatable pool toy.