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Post by NigeL on Apr 27, 2009 7:49:27 GMT 1
OK - so you plan a reasonable trip that involves crossing open deep water.
You have a modest pocket cruiser sail-boat (in this case a 25ft Motor sailer) and an Avon Redstart inflatable.
If I pump it up and tow it - it's a pain ... it drags the speed down seriously, it flips regardless of hauled up to transom or not. If I leave it deflated - it's not much help in emergency.
In past I've part inflated it and folded in half - stowed either under boom in front of sprayhood (then it interferes with main hatch opening) or lashed to foredeck (then making it awkward to get around foredeck).
Ideas ? I have no lockers or space to stow this beast so I have only external options ....
What would you do ?
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Post by malcb on Apr 27, 2009 9:50:18 GMT 1
Last year I carried mine, completely packed up in its bag, lashed over the forehatch. The forehatch is a houdini hatch fitted flush on the foredeck. I tied it to the hatch bars.
Advantage was that it moved some weight forward and I reckoned the boat sailed and tracked better. Disadvantage was that the sheets tended to snag on the bag when tacking or gybing.
This year I've put it back in the cockpit locker, although it does put a lot of weight right where I don't really want it. However, when I go to the West Country again later this year it'll go back on the foredeck.
No point in leaving it half inflated as it only takes 2 mins to blow it up with my 'expensive' High Speed Pump ;D
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Post by NigeL on Apr 27, 2009 10:06:12 GMT 1
Malcb .. you've been on SA and you've seen it folded under the boom.
Since then I've replaced the slats in the bottom so it will not fold so well with them in.
I think so far I'm maybe going back to foredeck folded with slats still in .. ??
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Post by malcb on Apr 27, 2009 16:05:41 GMT 1
Nigel, yes I've seen it under the boom. I reckon it's better rolled up completely deflated with the slats in. It would be quicker fully inflating it, I would have thought, than inflating half of it, but having to insert the slats. That's what a friend of mine does with his round tail. However his wife made a bag for it so that it doesn't get affected by UV light. And to save you posting the pictures:  and the other  Looking at the photos, it looks neater in front of the spray hood and more out of the way. |
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Post by NigeL on Apr 27, 2009 17:55:57 GMT 1
Blimey the old girl looks quite smart there !
Thats Llandaff standing by her - from YBW ... he was at one time going to share SA ...
mmmmmm if I leave slats in the roll is bulky where the slats don't allow it to fold right down. If I take them out - then bottom is like walking on jelly !
mmmmmmm will roll it up as bast I can next weekend and see which stows best ...
Thanks for digging those piccies out - saves me doing it !
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Post by geoffwright on Apr 27, 2009 19:06:46 GMT 1
Hi All,
I have the same problem on my Rowan (22 footer). My only option was/is to deflate it and roll it up on the foredeck, same as in Malcb's first picture. It stayed there during our Channel crossing and return, in the most horrendous weather last July. Towing for more than a short distance is not an option.
Geoff
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Post by NigeL on Apr 27, 2009 19:37:39 GMT 1
Hi All, I have the same problem on my Rowan (22 footer). My only option was/is to deflate it and roll it up on the foredeck, same as in Malcb's first picture. It stayed there during our Channel crossing and return, in the most horrendous weather last July. Towing for more than a short distance is not an option. Geoff The two photos malcb posted are of Superanne - my boat and the two positions used over the years .. Never had any question about security of the stow ... I was hoping there might be a way to stow in a condition that could give some assistance in emergency that I hadn't figured out .. I was at one stage considering two wooden arms out from pushpit as davits to carry the dinghy ... but I think the weight right aft  ? plus dinghy is longer than boat is wide. I even thought of life-raft style folded and lashed to outside of pushpit rails ... |
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Post by NigeL on Apr 27, 2009 19:39:30 GMT 1
I'd carry the Soviet Army 2 man job I have ... all in a bag etc. - but it cannot take an engine .. and I'm getting a bit passed it for rowing great distance ... ;D ;D ;D
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Post by faya on Apr 29, 2009 13:52:54 GMT 1
Mine lives in its bag on the quarter berth. Of the 2 I like the second option. My main hatch has a garage that I can lash the dinghy on if I want to keep it on deck. This stops the dinghy interfering with the hatch opening. Can't really do these 2 with the floor in place though......
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Post by Gandy on Apr 30, 2009 14:40:06 GMT 1
I don't think there's any good solution for a small boat. We have carried our Redstart part inflated on deck, but I'm not sure the time saved by the part-inflation is worth the extra hassle from the bulk.
I made a lovely solid set of floor boards, but they're a fiddle to get fitted, then they stop the boat being rolled up so we've never ended up using the boards at all. Best compromise would probably be an air floor and carry the dinghy with the air floor fitted and inflated, but the tubes deflated. At the moment I'm gagging on the price for the air floor, assuming the current part would even fit an old Redstart.
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Post by NigeL on Apr 30, 2009 15:27:29 GMT 1
I don't think there's any good solution for a small boat. We have carried our Redstart part inflated on deck, but I'm not sure the time saved by the part-inflation is worth the extra hassle from the bulk. I made a lovely solid set of floor boards, but they're a fiddle to get fitted, then they stop the boat being rolled up so we've never ended up using the boards at all. Best compromise would probably be an air floor and carry the dinghy with the air floor fitted and inflated, but the tubes deflated. At the moment I'm gagging on the price for the air floor, assuming the current part would even fit an old Redstart. When I bought the Avon - 2nd-hand before anyone gags on me spending such huge amounts of dosh ! - it had solid floor fitted. 12mm ply board cut in two, fantastic fit, fantastic floor, really transformed it to a real stable, excellent dinghy. But oh the kg's and also the not being to fold it. The boards now live in the store, cause it's difficult to fit them and they force you to leave dinghy out all the time. I replaced the broken slats (original floor system) with 10mm ply sections - the original vinyl slat pocket affair being in good condition. I did think about using the modelmakers style of slats ... instead of the pockets. You have material strips in X's to join the pieces so they fold well but do not fall out of line etc. as the originals do. Well I think it's fold up ... lash it down where best ... slat floor rolled up under ! |
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Post by NigeL on Apr 30, 2009 15:28:23 GMT 1
Reminds me - must get my 12v wandering lead air-pump out !! Might even change the SLA battery in the rechargeable one.
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? plus dinghy is longer than boat is wide. I even thought of life-raft style folded and lashed to outside of pushpit rails ... 
