Dinghy-Which one?

J

Joeshoes

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I want to buy a four person dinghy about 10 feet long. Price is not that important.

Which is the best brand to buy? Avon, Zodiac? I will use it to have my daughter putt putt around the bay.

Maybe I should buy used?
 
I think Achilles makes a great product, I've had mine for 2 years now. I chose Achilles because they manufacture hypalon dinghy's which are supposed to last longer than ones manufactured out of PVC. The other factor you will need to consider IMHO is what type of floor the boat has. Solid wood floors are very stable but will also weigh more, dinghy's with inflatable floors are much easier to assemble and disassemble. They are lighter and if the floor is not inflated to the recomended pressure will be less stable than wood, of course there would be another air chamber to deal with which could be victim to a puncture. Good luck with you selection.

--Steve
 
more info

How will you carry it?

Does it need to roll up for storage?

Are you going to put a motor on it or row it?

Do you want it to plane out?

Is weight an issue?

How old is your daughter, nothing more irresponsible than the brainless parents with their 8 year olds putting (screamng) around in a 10 foot dingy with a 25 horse motor on the back capable of doing 30 knots. Not saying you were going to do that, but for sure I've seen it too many times with the "its just a raft" mentality as if it somehow equates to a $25 inflatable from Kmart they once used at camp. Does this dingy need to operate just as a toy, or to do dual duty hauling you back and forth from the shore/dock etc..

Hard bottoms are the nicest, but are heavy and don't roll up.

I like the Achilles, AB, Novurania. That said, depending upon what you do with it, for the attractive price of some of the good quality off names out there today, you can afford to add keel strips, scuff guards to the bow (so you don't pierce a float when landing on barnacles), shore landing wheels and even help to buy a decent motor.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

more info

How will you carry it?

Does it need to roll up for storage?

Are you going to put a motor on it or row it?

Do you want it to plane out?

Is weight an issue?

How old is your daughter, nothing more irresponsible than the brainless parents with their 8 year olds putting (screamng) around in a 10 foot dingy with a 25 horse motor on the back capable of doing 30 knots. Not saying you were going to do that, but for sure I've seen it too many times with the "its just a raft" mentality as if it somehow equates to a $25 inflatable from Kmart they once used at camp. Does this dingy need to operate just as a toy, or to do dual duty hauling you back and forth from the shore/dock etc..

Hard bottoms are the nicest, but are heavy and don't roll up.

I like the Achilles, AB, Novurania. That said, depending upon what you do with it, for the attractive price of some of the good quality off names out there today, you can afford to add keel strips, scuff guards to the bow (so you don't pierce a float when landing on barnacles), shore landing wheels and even help to buy a decent motor.

Click to expand...


I plan to tow it.

Would like to put a 10 horse on it to plane.

Weight is not a factor on the boat. But will have to heft it to the boat.

Daughter is 35.

Thank you all for the good suggestions.

Joe
 
We had a 2-year-old Achilles air floor unit when we got our present boat 7 years ago, which came with a 3-year-old Zodiac air floor unit.
Not needing 2 dinks I decided to keep the Zodiac 340 as it had lager diameter tubes which felt more comfortable to sit on and the boat seemed more stable than the Achilles boat
 
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