Fatty Knees 8
A lapstrake curvy hull might look distracting hanging off your stern. I think a smooth sided pram (or a Livingston) would look nice with the sharp angular lines of your Chris Craft.
Prams have a lot more stability and volume. But you may have to build it yourself.
Looks like another good option. The challenge seems to be mostly around finding one that's not a long way away.
We bought a West Marine Classic for our old boat (replacing a worn out inflatable). A few observations:
1. It's tippy. Entering and exiting from the swim platform or dock was always a little tricky.
2. Limited Interior Volume. Two people, a dog and some groceries and you can't move around too much, exacerbating #1.
3. It doesn't row/track well. I found rowing it to be almost a waste of time. We had a small 4.5 hp outboard on it which worked fine.
The new [to us] boat came with a Bullfrog and I could not be happier.
Fatty Knees 8
That looks HUGE compared to my 7' Fatty Knees. (In a good way.) Yet even the 7' is a real freighter when you need it to be. Mine was built by Hess Manufacturing in Ontario, California, who preceded Edey & Duff (who have since stopped making them).
Fatty Knees Boat Company started making them again - and they look to be done to a high standard (as has been the case in the past); but can't tell for sure if they are still producing them.
I've got a 10' Boatex that I know next to nothing about. I launched it off the davits for the the first time a couple of weeks ago, and decided that it's definitely not for me.
It's a nice looking little fiberglass job with a lapstrake look. It's got a slot for a centerboard, and can be fitted with a sailing rig, though I don't own one.
It's too tippy for me. That's not necessarily a criticism of the boat, but of my really big clumsy arse. I'm not going to use it, and will be replacing it with a RIB at some point.
I've got a 10' Boatex that I know next to nothing about. I launched it off the davits for the the first time a couple of weeks ago, and decided that it's definitely not for me.
It's a nice looking little fiberglass job with a lapstrake look. It's got a slot for a centerboard, and can be fitted with a sailing rig, though I don't own one.
It's too tippy for me. That's not necessarily a criticism of the boat, but of my really big clumsy arse. I'm not going to use it, and will be replacing it with a RIB at some point.
Yes, I’ve spoken to the owner at the Annapolis Sailboat show and was close to ordering one.
Maybe get some Shaw & Tenney oars like the new ones have.
Have you checked out the Portland Pudgy? I have one that came with the boat. It is certified for 4 adults, is essentially plastic, unsinkable, and would work well for 2 adults and a dog. I'm quite happy with it, if you are only using it for short distances as you've said.I still haven't nailed down how I'm going to carry the thing, but I'm trying to narrow down my dinghy options in the meantime. The basic criteria are: must row well, needs to carry 2 people + dog, shouldn't weigh much over 100 lbs.
So far, for the budget category, I've come up with 3 options, all in plastic: Walker Bay 8, West Marine Classic Dinghy, Water Tender 9.4. The Water Tender has the most interior room of the 3 and the highest load capacity, but is also likely the slowest to row and is the heaviest at 106 lbs. The Walker Bay has the lowest load capacity, least space and highest price, but is also the lightest weight. The WM Classic Dinghy is the longest, but with a bit less room and load capacity than the Water Tender and is only slightly lighter. But with the longer waterline, it's got a good shot at being the fastest / easiest to row (although it's hard to tell how much transom it drags in the water compared to the Walker Bay).
There are also more expensive options like the smaller Gig Harbor boats, although I'm not sure how much I want to spend.
Keep in mind, I'm not afraid of marinas and we aren't cruising full time, so this thing doesn't need to be my only link to shore for extended periods of time. I don't expect to regularly go more than a 1/4 mile or so with it, and if that plan changes, I'll deal with an outboard for it (until then, I intend to row for simplicity, cost and less weight on the mothership).
With that in mind, what does everyone think / suggest? Are there any good options that I haven't thought of?
Have you checked out the Portland Pudgy? I have one that came with the boat. It is certified for 4 adults, is essentially plastic, unsinkable, and would work well for 2 adults and a dog. I'm quite happy with it, if you are only using it for short distances as you've said.
Cheers
rslifkin,
Small? It carries 4 adults .. did you miss that?
If anyone finds the perfect dinghy PLEASE let me know and send a picture.
Effort number three is a 12 or 13 foot Sears aluminum fishing boat that I cut the transom off of and took a four foot piece out of the rear and reattached the transom. I am close on this one. With one person on board it planes nicely with a 9hp outboard and would win a marina dinghy race. With two people on board all it does is plow water and throw a bigger wake than the mother ship.
pete