couture@jaws.DEC (05/02/85)
I was in the market for an inflatable dinghy two years ago and I was considering an inflatable. I know that they're very popular in Europe, and they have a lot of advantages. For instance, they have enormous capacity for their size and are next to impossible to capsize under normal conditions. Furthermore, they tend to be about 60 to 70% of the weight of a rigid dinghy for similar capacity. But as far as I'm concerned, that's where the advantages end. Have you ever tried to row an inflatable? I'd rather try to row a beach ball. And with all of that windage, you'd be stymied in anything over 10 knots unless you have an outboard. And they take so #$@&**~ long to inflate and are so hard to deflate and repack that most people just don't bother. They partially deflate them and put them on top of the car like any normal sailor. The cost of inflatables isn't that terrific either. For a decent one like an Avon or an Achilles (or one of the Hypalon Zodiac's), you're talking close to $600 even at the mail order houses. However, to be fair, I must point out that in a recent survey in Practical Sailor most owners of the Sea Eagle were extremely satisfied with their boats and that's a real El Cheapo. Finally, have you ever seen the size of the rocks on the coast of Maine? I swear those Downeasters sharpen the rocks and submerge them about 2" below the surface. Granted, fibreglass can be punctured too, but not as easily and it's a lot easier to repair. I finally bought an Eli dinghy. It's light, cost me under $400, rowns well and tows like a dream. It stays dry even when I'm towing it through the notorious Buzzard's Bay chop. One last thought on inflatables. During the past four years three dinghies have been stolen from our marina . . . all inflatables.