The best dink is the one you have, )
IMO, the best dinghy is not about the dinghy itself but how it is launched, retrieved, and stored. Solve those and you have the best.
BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha. Truly an amazing boat. But it does not serve as a tender to my big boat. I will end up selling it and trying to solve the 3 things you have listed in your criteria. The lightweight 12 foot Caribe with that lightweight 25hp Yamaha on Hurley Davits is what I am leaning toward. There are other solutions. The Ilmar aluminum (RIB)dinghies are becoming popular around here as there is an aggressive dealer pushing them. I have 3 friends that have recently bought them.
But if you don't have anything, and you need one, you're wet. So I reiterate, with a grin, that the best one is the one you have. Guess you missed my vague humor.
Looks just like the Aluminum Rib Zodiac I picked up.
Light, fair price. If mine last 5 years I will be very happy!
BINGO!!! I have the best baddest dinghy I have ever owned. But I cannot bring it with me on my 41 foot boat. So it amounts to a boat I use for a runabout locally. It is damn nice....14 foot Caribe with a 60hp Yamaha. Truly an amazing boat. But it does not serve as a tender to my big boat. I will end up selling it and trying to solve the 3 things you have listed in your criteria. The lightweight 12 foot Caribe with that lightweight 25hp Yamaha on Hurley Davits is what I am leaning toward. There are other solutions. The Ilmar aluminum (RIB)dinghies are becoming popular around here as there is an aggressive dealer pushing them. I have 3 friends that have recently bought them.
Tow it behind your boat - you will have a great time.
I run at 20 knots. I have done a practice run and it was very unhappy over 8 knots. I think what needs to be done is the engine needs to be lowered and the helm lashed in place....then it will track straight. Just a matter if I want to tow a 1000lb boat at those speeds. I am a weekender. So maybe I should just keep it for when I slow down!
Is there any issue with towing when the weather gets fairly rough?
Thanks! I'm also in Long Island Sound mostly and have a small rollup inflatable but it's still a pain to haul in and deflate/inflate. I'm thinking that with the motor removed, it would skim along ok while towing. most of us don't knowingly go out in bad weather but sometimes find ourselves there, so having a dinghy that could get swamped or flipped is a concern and not something you want to deal with in rough conditions. I think I will try it next year and plan not to tow if the weather is iffy.
We have towed similar and larger RIBS at near those speeds for 1,000's of miles each season. If the bilge is self bailing, and you have a good bridle ,and you can get it to track well, it is a great alternative. In no case did we ever lower the engine(s) but often we did add 2 tow points to the RIBS on either side and slightly lower than the existing bow eyes.