TS8 - Choosing a Dinghy

[@carsmotorcycles3327]

Hi, I need to change my dinghy and i wonder what is better choice? Takacat dinghy or RIB. RIB can be a bit heavier but it's probably gonna work better with 20 hp Tohatsu and some water play. The size of dinghy should fit aft of my sailboat (she is 4m wide, but i would like to have dinghy around 3.3m...) What are You thinking?

[@SailingAurora]

We have recently upgraded to a Takacat 340 with a Tohatsu 20hp and it absolutely flies. Sometimes it is a little too light with just 1 person in and you end up with a little "Tank Slapper" going on. The advantage to the Takacat is that you can still roll it, it's ridiculously stable and it gets on the plane with a lot of weight in... were talking 5 people + luggage with ours. This dissadvatage is the top of the tube is close to the floor so it can get your back a little on long journeys and sometimes you get a little more wet that a RIB, but my god its fun. I would love to try a highfield as I think it maybe a little smoother and faster in some chop but I love the Takacat for sure. I hope this helps. Cheers, Chris

[@SailingSisu]

Awesome! 9.8 yeah? Nice and light for sure and got you on a plain fast!

[@SailingAurora]

The 9.8 is a little beast, really light, simple and powerful. It will probably serve as the spare engine when we get to go crusing one day

[@jonc919]

Very interesting. Like VW emissions testing😀

[@makinawake9178]

I think first time I heard someone mention specifically characteristic of ride for fiberglass.. thanks for sharing I have 270 dinghy I am on the fence with 6hp or 10 With my style dinghy (fibreglass rib 270 aquamarine) does the struggle to plane still apply or is rigid a bit more likely to plane?

[@SailingAurora]

Personally I would go with a 10, the extra power to get two maybe 3 people onto the plain is welcome. With a rigid bottom they will always be better to get on the plain as they hold the shape better. The none rigid ones tend to bend a little upward and create kind of a vacuum underneath

[@japyoo2248]

@@SailingAurora 10 will be very heavy to carry..

[@chrisdowning9626]

How about davits for stern storage?

[@SailingAurora]

Hi Chris. Yes, eventually we would want to install an arch with integrated davits for the dinghy. Best, Chris & Tanja

[@surfrcali]

As a kid I put a 15hp tohatsu on a 10’ ft Achilles and as soon as I powered up the transom snapped! Lol We supported it with aluminum and it was dangerously quick! 😅😅

[@SailingAurora]

Sounds great, the transom is holding up really well on the dinghy, the dinghy itself could be a little bigger though. It is alot of fun going fast on a dinghy I must admit. Cheers, Chris and Tanja

[@sailingsyfie4713]

Nice set 👍