Bought a N26 in the fall and plan to cruise Erie and the Great Lakes. Do any of you use inflatable tenders? Is there room on our deck for an inflatable tender?What are your solutions for tenders, inflatable or not. Sizes? Mounting? Thanks
You can get about an 8 footer on the cabin top. Up and down via the main halyard. It works, obstructs the view forward and blocks the overhead hatch . You can tow it, just use a floating line. Transiting the Welland it must be on deck.
Personally i found it a nuisance having one on deck. We use a dinghy tow.
I am increasingly determined to get my 8’ inflatable off the deck as mentioned in my earlier post. My lack of balance sense makes entering/exiting hazardous so I will restrict myself to “restaurant “ cruising. Another disadvantage of the on deck storage is it interfering with access to the sail cover.
Richard Lane
NS26c #35 Swoose
Port Townsend
Hi Don (assuming this is your name from your email address) -
please notice how we sign our posts so we know who, where, and what boat you have so we may better assist with questions
Though I have a 30, not a 26, here are some general thoughts/experience that I have:
I have always used an inflatable. My current (soon to be replaced due to age 12 years(?) - it doesn’t owe me anything!)
For the last many years I have inflated at the beginning of the season and tow the dinghy behind when going out for at least overnight. There is just enough space at my dock to keep the dinghy in the water at either at the bow or tied off at the stern. I pull the dinghy out every few weeks or so to clean the growth off the bottom (we have a lot here), especially if we are going on a longer trip. Towing with the engine in the tipped-up position reduces drag. The engine is additionally secured with a bungee cord from the back of the cowling to the dinghy seat. This keeps the engine from bouncing in rougher water conditions.
My reasoning for keeping it in the water is I discovered that if the dinghy isn’t ready for use, I hardly used it. I was keeping it deflated and rolled up in the portside lazerette along with the 2.3hp engine. Plenty of room down there for both, but not so much fun pulling it out and then putting it back. Keeping it on the coach top may be easier, but also has some disadvantages as noted by Thor Powell.
Once I began to keep it inflated and in the water, with the engine on it and locked in place, I found reasons to use it all of the time, and without struggle. I actually enjoy using it!
When storing for the winter, I roll it up, and place it on the deck between the mast and the forward end of the coach-top. Your 26 may not have as much space there as the 30, but the dinghy uses only about 2/3rd’s of the space there. It will also fit either down below or in the lazerette.
The dinghy I have is a West Marine 275 (made by Zodiac - I do not believe the current dinghies with WM labeling are produced by Zodiac) so just shy of 9’ in length. It has a high-pressure air floor, which I found to be great (my original dinghy had a wood slat floor - not as stable, comfortable, or easy to use). The dinghy weighs only 60lbs. I made a towing bridle using two lines - one line attached to each of the two D rings on the dinghy pontoons (one port one starboard), and then the other line attached to the forward point of the 1st line, with a float (an old small fender) on it so there is no chance of the line being sucked into the prop, and then cleated thru one of the stern chocks.
We can fit the two of us, some gear, and two folding bicycles when going ashore to explore. The 2.3hp engine is sufficient, but I would opt for a larger engine next time (4 or 5hp). The 2.3 struggles a bit in the chop or heavy winds, when loaded down with bikes, or 4 people, but it works. I bought the 2.3hp engine as it weighs only 30 lbs and was originally stored in the engine compartment and didn’t want to fight the weight every time it was used. Now, as I fine with leaving it on the dinghy, a larger engine won’t be an issue.
I bought the mountable navigation lights for the dinghy and whenever there is a chance we will be out after dark, they are with us.
More than likely we will be purchasing a new dinghy in the Spring, but will be looking to a RIB model for the hard bottom - less stress on the bottom when beaching and less likely to be punctured by a piece on our bikes. But deflating and storing on deck will not be as easy as the dinghy with the air floor.
Hope this is helpful.
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30 Ultra 430
Jersey City, NJ
I appreciate the info, thanks. What kind of bottom do you have on your inflatable? Inflated, aluminium, or RIB?
I hope to carry an inflatable next summer. Maybe take advantage of the Toronto boat show prices.
I purchased for about $2K from Stainless Outfitters in Canada some davits for my 26. I’m waiting for better weather to install it. Initially I was going to get an inflatable, to put on the cabin top, but it would totally block the view forward. Having used davits before on other boats, I find it easy to take the dinghy on and off.
I’m still trying to find the perfect little 8’+ rowing boat for this summer cruising in the great NW.
Cheers,
Howard Wright
NS26C
Friday Harbor, WA
I tow my inflatable when cruising to keep my stern clear for gybing but pull it up on my swim grid at the dock to keep the bottom from fouling. Works for me.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
I purchased davits last spring for my 26 but was unable to install them due to some structural damage to the rail. As fixing the rail and the underlying issues is not high on my priority list I have decided to tow the dinghy for now. The davits are from Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. They are adjustable and for sale.
Jim Lorriman
Capers
NS26C #69
Midland, Ontario
Thanks again everyone, tons of great info, much appreciated.
This group is quite the resource!
Don Grunsten
Boo-Knows
NS26C #201
Port Dover (Lake Erie) Ontario
Hello Jim,
Do you have an asking price for your dinghy davits? I was considering some to mount solar panels for my N26…
Cheers, John Boquist