Our SAILING dinghy tender splits in two - The best dinghy for cruising? - Ep.83

This 9ft dinghy has sailed over half way around the world. A tender that splits in half to save space on deck, has been the ideal dinghy for our circumnavigation. Having a tiny sail boat that we can use to explore the rivers and beaches of the countries we visit has been an absolute joy. In this video we will share the good and bad points of owning a wooden sailing rowing dinghy as a tender to our blue water cruising yacht Florence. Our 9ft spindrift nesting dinghy has generated a lot of questions in our previous videos so we hope to answer them all here.
We are a British couple who set off from England in 2016 to fulfill our dream of sailing around the world on our 37ft sail boat, Florence. Along the way we share the live aboard lifestyle with the highs and lows of travelling around the world by boat, our own little tiny house. Boat life out at sea on the ocean.
Support us on Patreon: / sailingyachtflorence
You can also follow us via our blog at www.sailwiththeflo.wordpress.com
#sailingtender #dinghydesign #besttender #sailing #sailingaroundtheworld
Music in order as played:
Keep Walking - Alvaro Angeloro - www.hooksounds.com - Creative Commons - AttributionBack Back in Business - HookSounds Originals - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Guiding light - Vlad Gluschenko - www.hooksounds.com - Creative Commons - Attribution Creative Commons 4.0 license
The Great Outdoors - Hooksounds Originals - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Happy Waves - Francesco Rea - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Americana Folk - Nicola Donchev - www.hooksounds.com - Creative Commons - Attribution Creative Commons 4.0 license
Sound Generation - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced

[@violettownmicroenterprises1528]

Probably the clearest, most interesting, informative and useful vlog on sailing tenders Ive seen yet. Thank you.

[@alr2656]

I think the backstory, with your father building The Machine, is fantastic. What a wonderful labour of love.

[@stevelambert7496]

Well said sir

[@michaelemanchak]

Of all the sailing KZbin channels out there you guys are still the very best and most helpful with a great attitude without the ego. You are an inspiration to us all great work. Thank you Matt, Amy

[@evslone]

Amy, your Dad did a terrific job building The Machine. It may be slow at times but I would choose it any time over inflatables. Very smart to repurpose the carbon mast.

[@robertbailey2342]

Your dad did a great job! But the thing I love the most is your use of a washer! Absolutely genius!! Take care guys!

[@charisseglen9639]

Proud daughter. Proud father. Proud owners. There’s a lot of good vibes there you “purists hippies”👍🏼😎👍🏼. Thank you for something real in these unreal times!⛵️✌🏻

[@bradzeigler]

I just got done watching a bunch of Catamaran cruising Texans on another channel waterskiing behind their center console dingy with a 60hp outboard. I gotta say, I’m more impressed by your setup. Keep up the good work!

[@2SpritOne]

Hi Brad, you forgot to leave us a link ... Cheers

[@ksc743]

Zatara is everywhere! I stopped watching because they motor more than they sail.

[@davek4442]

I think it’s a perfect dingy for the size of of your sailing boat. Your dad is impressive on his craftsmanship. We enjoyed your videos very much!

[@stevelambert7496]

Amy your dad did a very good job on the dinghy you are very lucky to have a skilled craftsman in the family. I would definitely use a dingy like that

[@KeithCarmichaelInFL]

I can't imagine how great it must be to have a dingy so integrated into your boat! Hope it continues to be such a great "machine"! Props to your dad!

[@williamcopeland6683]

Take a Bow? Has a new meaning from now on

[@tomst9417]

The nesting dinghy is a good solution to the problem posed by lack of deck space for a larger tender. Amy your dad did a great job building her and I bet he didn't expect her to be a dual purpose vessel-tender and washing machine!

[@josequins9099]

Using rainwater in the two halves to wash and rinse your laundry is just brilliant! Edit: Also, your Dad did an amazing job with Machine. She's beautifully built.

[@bongoslide]

As a white water senior instructor, I learnt to jump up on the back of a boat push down and forward, and as the bow rises and the push the back under the water it empties and pops up again, quick way to get a great deal of water out try it and teach your followers :)

[@ilCignoTube]

Absolute great filming and beautifully edited, well done. Amy, your pride in your father radiates from your face, and rightly so.

[@johncottrell7901]

I've got plans and drawings for the Spindrift on my desk right now because of you guys. :-D

[@sd3693]

Me too. We went one size larger, to the 10N. We have a Bolger Cartopper at the moment, which sails very well but is VERY tender when you try to board her, and she won't fit on deck. We'll probably reuse the 59 square foot Cartopper rig for the Spindrift.

[@PaulBKal]

Me too. Mine were emailed to me just this week, for a 10ft dinghy for our 47 footer.

[@yachticus]

me too - we have gone for the 12N - and I cant Help myself --its going to have a little sprit - funny they were all the thing 30+ years ago - maybe longer - decision process is really great. And the old story - once a dinghy sailor - well you just never lose the joy of it

[@bbraonain]

You guys need an affiliate link for the plans.

[@mikeosler1003]

I’ve put my own slant on the rig design myself adding a bow sprit and foresail

[@kengranacki5420]

love the dinghy especially the fact that it becomes your washing machine.. Thanks for making wonderful videos guys.

[@robertmstarr9028]

Love the dinghy - your video has me convinced that it is the one I'll need for the small sloop I'm hoping to sail.

[@NormanHenryMartin]

A super video story. Thanks. Your dad is a great guy to have built you a boat. Very affectionate. I'd love to meet him. We built a stitch and glue 15 ft sail/row skerry for our grands so they could learn seamanship. It worked out well. For our 33 ft race boat, I have bought an Eastport Pram kit to build this winter. A nesting model wouldn't work any better, I think. I need simple and light. A couple years ago we met a cruising couple in St Thomas on a 38 ft sloop with a nesting dinghy who said it was perfect. If we were to go voyaging on a bigger boat, I'd go nesting, too. No more rubber duckies for me! When I was a cruising kid in the 60s we towed a 13 ft Penguin class dinghy for years up and down the US East Coast. Then, one night, it went away. My dad still didn't carry the next one on deck, her reinforced the bow ring. Thanks for your work on these videos. Norm on Cape Cod

[@bokalisaint-wyatt6680]

That is a gret dinghy! Thanks for sharing!

[@davidmalone9022]

Very diplomatic in not specifying the direction of your rowing circles. 😇 Very cool what your dad did.

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

I am not sailing around the world but live in a small 1 bedroom apartment with a balcony. I think this would be a great apartment sailboat. I subscribed.

[@GregoryLongs]

We had been tossing around the different options, but now you've convinced us that this is our next dinghy. Nice thorough video on the Spindrift. Oh, and Dad did a remarkable job!

[@jamespunnett7992]

Your dads boat building skills are amazing! Great job

[@jimhood1202]

So nice to see you enjoying your Spindrift. I built a ten foot one for our Cobra 10.50 Charmer in Panama. She's called Cheeky and she's almost twenty years old now. She sails really well, rows like a dream and is easily powered with our little 2 hp Honda. We've had so many adventures with her I could write a book. I added the second rowing position you mentioned for when you have two on board and added a removable fore and aft seat that allows a single person to work an outboard (with a pvc tube throttle extension) and keep the boat balanced. I'd recommend the Spindrift to anyone with even a little woodworking experience. As a crusing dinghy it's got everything you'll need and gets a lot of positive attention.

[@ianhelleren4890]

Love your tender. Your dad might have to be careful as he might just get a pile of orders. Love your work also.

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

If it was made by my dad, i'd gladly use a nesting hard dinghy like yours. It must be a great feeling every time you get into her.

[@SteamboatWilley]

Smart system. It sounds like your dad is a very clever man.

[@adammarcello9797]

Your Dad is amazing. Looks like I’m building a dinghy. Great job explaining everything. Very useful information and entertaining as well. Thanks a bunch.

[@bradgreene3340]

I never got around to saying thanks for creating this vlog on the Spindrift nesting dinghy. I ended up buying a 10 I found for sale late last year. The info here was very helpful in deciding to give this a try.

[@cyclomaniac9086]

Brilliant.

[@waughthogwaugh3078]

If my dad built me a machine like that I'd be equally proud! Great job he did too.

[@quantenschaum]

This is a great dinghy built by a great dad. I like that you're using a sailing/rowing dinghy, it's fun, environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing and good seamanship. 👍

[@olavthyvold2288]

I have a PT11 nesting dinghy for all the reasons you've articulated. It's fantastic to row or sail and fits my sensibilities to a T :). The forward half is decked over so that results in more buoyancy in the event of a capsize and less water to bail in waves. There is a hatch that allows me to store food, gear etc forward. The forward deck allows for 2 rowing positions Aft when I'm rowing by myself. Forward if there is another person sitting in the stern. I love the simplicity of rowing and sailing. I hate noise and I don't like outboards. But you guys are correct in the compromises of a nesting dinghy made of wood. It does require a little more maintenance. It does require a little more knowledge. Its definitely not a "use it and forget it" kind of dinghy. But I like that a little expertise is required. Just like the big boat. :). Great job you two.

[@karlthompson1961]

I’ve really enjoyed your video. Thanks!👍🏻🤓🇬🇧

[@jeffreyholt4169]

I built the same Spindrift 9ft dinghy and found your comments to be spot on. It took me two seasons on the water to get her dialed in just right, but now I wouldn't consider any other option. After one season, I made a rather significant adjustment to the nesting connectors. I replaced the lowest connecting bolts with four 1 1/2 inch through hull fittings glassed into the stern section. The two upper connecting bolts did not change. The through hull fittings provide a better clamping force and allow water to flow from the bow section to the stern before the level gets high enough to seriously effect the trim level. This has made the dinghy much drier under tow. She also goes together more quickly. Keep up the great videos. Learning a lot from you two:)

[@baroundy]

Would you mind sharing some pictures of what you changed? I'm building the nesting 11' and may need some suggestions.

[@jeffreyholt4169]

@@baroundy I'll be happy to share some photos. The dinghy is a bit of a mess right now, undergoing some TLC after many seasons of hard use, but you can get a sense of the mods. I installed four thru-hulls as connectors, which was overkill. Converting the lower two bolt holes to thru hulls is all you need for adequate drainage of the forward half. I used 1.5 inch thru hulls, but smaller ones would work just as well. Do you have an email to send the photos to?

[@n2it154]

Your dad sounds amazing!

[@garthlee8166]

100% very very slick, congrates to your dad!

[@MrGentlebutfirm]

Frikin awesome! .. And kudos to Dad!

[@bmitch3020]

Seeing how much you sail the world, especially with your dinghy, is why I love your channel. Hat tip to Amy's dad for the fantastic build.

[@charlesgillyatt2635]

I would like to congratulate the builder of the dinghy !! It's just about the size of my Mirror Dinghy, which I reconstructed a few years ago when I purchased it second hand and quite a lot of damage on it. I would love to have a new one since mine is feeling it's age!! Good luck with your sailing adventures, I really envy you!!

[@Cacheola]

With more and more veteran sailing channels having kids and/or upgrading to subsidized catamarans, you guys are a refreshing find :)

[@SLOWBOAT2CHINA]

Brilliant video. Really enjoyed your humor. But also, I really appreciate your honest review of the dinghy. Your insights are incredibly helpful. And a shout out to your Dad for do such a great job with both the dinghy and the on-deck attachments. Aloha~

[@Sonya_Barnes_On_Move]

What a great idea! And the fact that your dad built* it for you is so sweet!

[@soggybottom3463]

Lovely work Amy's Dad! Fab and fun movie, many many thanks.

[@remyyamabushi1473]

Merci pour cette démonstration de votre anexe. J'ai toujours trouvé le concept de ce bateau excellent.

[@JohnTaylor-bf6ll]

Yes, I had thought that one of you would hold on the other side of the dingey, in the water. Dingey, being the only experience I myself have had of any water-borne adventures, I was able to calculate that. You'd be surprised the number of people who don't even get as far as a dingey.!! I've met people who can't even swim.!!! So, little wonder the great success and inspiration of your videos. When I get to the final episode I'll be waiting to see what has happened next, but I think I'll be recommending your contacting Holywood. For the moment, let's keep going.

[@erichyney6287]

God bless your pop.

[@skytechea70]

Thanks for this one guys, loved seeing the birth and end result of the 'Machine'. Amy your Dad is quite the genius. 'The Dog Days are Over'.....

[@andrewmullen4003]

I think your machine is perfect, well done Dad, great job

[@amphidory7600]

your dad is a superstar

[@boyhowdy5893]

Thats sweet, I think thats the way to go!

[@wilfdarr]

The "best boat" is a highly subjective question with too many moving parts to ever even consider. There's only ever "the best boat for you". Great video guys

[@suzannessweetkitchen6266]

Wow, your dad is very talented! 😃

[@AlbinStratusCalima]

👍 Thanks for a great video.

[@idreecemian2192]

Of all the other choices so far I have come across yours is ahead of all.

[@donwakefield6695]

Perfect timing as I've been shopping for a kit or plans last couple days! Going to check out that website. Thanks - BTW you guys make a great couple!!

[@mikeosler1003]

Just watched this again, great vid, since I watched this the first time 3 mths ago I have built my own Spindrift 10 nesting dinghy in my workshop to go on the front of own yacht for this summer.

[@stevelambert7496]

Cool Mike I was wondering if people were going to build a few after seeing this I hope yours turned out as nice as the machine

[@ziasadrudin]

I have a small 8' pram and it was hand built by the guy I bought it from. Going to convert it to nesting and use it as a tender once I get a bigger boat. Glad you're enjoying and thanks for the video!

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Best review of a sailing dinghy I have ever seen anywhere. ⛵️💥💥👍🏻 You’ve totally sold me on the idea of getting or building this nesting dingy for my upcoming sailing adventures, thanks for all the fantastic information you always provide, cheers! ⛵️💥👍🏻🙏🏻

[@patraic5241]

I've just run across your channel. What a wonderful and useful small boat for a blue water cruiser.

[@Alt-ec4nv]

0:00 "Well, a wave hit it, chance in a million."

[@donzie13]

Love the dingy! Your dad did an awesome job!

[@christopherguthrie7433]

We are the owners of Outback Dreamer, a 12M sailing catamaran from Melbourne Victoria Australia. You have encouraged me as a trial to build a more pointed bow for the Sabot dinghy I learnt to sail in 52 years ago. Its still in the shed, in reasonable condition and weighs less than our current Walker Bay dinghy. Thanks

[@Wauquiez48PS]

It's absolutely awesome for all of the reasons you say. Also its very cool to have a tender which morphs into something half the size and is even a platform for safer working on the foredeck. Thumbs up from me!

[@michakj4994]

The Great thing is to watch previous videos, again. You are sailing across the Mozambique Channel and I am watching the episode about dinghy.

[@davidhowarth6489]

Great little boat - Baby Florence

[@camilaguimaraes1916]

The romantic in me can only wonder if you will ever do a video as to how you two met and how did the idea and plans to sail around the world came about? You guys are great and just love and look forward to your videos!! Better every time!!

[@donnakawana]

Yes, I would as I learned on one!!! Brilliantly done Daddio!

[@mantenimientoreparaciones6916]

I loved it, it solved many doubts and I will have one just like yours, thanks for the knowledge you share ❤❤❤

[@TheCoolhead27]

It sails so nice!

[@couch2k2002]

I really appreciate the work that went into this video.

[@tallbikercat]

Great video! Glad to hear that your travel restrictions are eased. I can't wait to hear about your new timeline for continuing your journey.

[@k34561]

The dinghy is a 10 out of 10. Built the dad is a 11 out of 10, a real prize.

[@arthomer6535]

Great dinghy. Must build one!

[@haighaj]

What an amazing machine! Can't wait to see your future adventure with the machine!

[@haydnjames5617]

What a fitting GOING AWAY gift from your Dad Amy. He is very talented and what an awesome design

[@NorthPoleTime]

Always love your content! Thank you and Merry Christmas!!

[@gyzmopower7599]

Brilliant story, brilliant dinghy and BRILLIANT Dad. Love your vlogs. Safe travels.

[@nsw1959]

I have an old hard dinghy that also has a sail. You've motivated me to cut it in half and modify it so I can nest it. Love your channel. My favorite.

[@chukwow5738]

You guys are so amazing in so many levels. Loved to hear how you actually met, so sweet ❤️❤️❤️

[@rodrigo13121962]

Best video about small boat to carry on a big sail boat around the world. Well done guys!!!

[@kaykeelan3765]

That was very informative, thank you!

[@cameronedkins4966]

Thank you for all the great videos.

[@wulkie]

Kudos to your father!! Building it so fast is really a challenge. I started minde 4 years ago and it's still not ready 😜. Great video! Congrats

[@davidcrawford305]

Great dinghy. Built a PT 11; same concept and construction. Great fun to sail!

[@vfsurgpa]

Thanks for that. I bought the kit for an 11 ft version and built it in a storage locker. It's not quite finished, but I got the idea from you. my boat is smaller (33ft), I plan to carry it aft of the mast.

[@paulmccormick4701]

Great episode guys, thank you for a fun explain!

[@klemenprezelj]

Amazing that u didnt do this episode sooner. Briliant! I would def.choose this dingy for extended cruise. Your dad is great. Best gift ever

[@cousinjack2841]

What a smashing little dinghy; I want one. Well done your Dad!

[@alancadieux2984]

One of the best videos on the subject ever made. You can't argue with success, and the experience speaks for itself. I would be more than willing of this. Thankyou.

[@robertcapen6814]

I had a 17 ft Montgomery sloop whose foredeck may have supported a 4 ft hard hull dingy so had to revert to an Avon Redcrest strapped to the bow. I sailed from the northern end to southern end of the Sea of Cortez and the inflatable worked but was no fun for all the reasons you sited. Amy, your dad gave you a gift that keeps on giving. Enjoy!

[@caahacky]

Great video.

[@EdwardTilley]

Brilliant video guys. I'd never seen a nested dinghy and its completely unnoticeable as a newcomer to sailing

[@waynedoeblin6801]

Terrific dinghy,and a great video all about it,you do have a clever Dad indeed🙂

[@wiserman100]

Brilliant design, use and storage of the dingy. Well done everyone!.

[@sk4256]

That is brilliant! Really admire and respect the work your dad did to build her👍 SK in the UK.

[@funkyalfonso]

Another great video. You guys rock.

[@stephaniewaite6833]

Really ,really enjoyed this clip, it answered a lot my questions?

[@rolyoly100]

Yes, now that I’ve seen yours I’m motivated to make one.