www.iFourWinns.com

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Yeah, those seem like a fine idea until you see how much he's GOUGING for them. Way too expensive. That and with a higher swim platform it's less-than-trivial to tank a lot of weight up onto it. There's also some from Nautley They're also overpriced but seem a bit more versatile than the Hurley unit.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Yep BK, those are pricey, but the concept is great, they are easy to use and does not take up the entire swim platform like those monsters from St. Croix.

It was just a suggestion. If I needed a dinghy, I would choose something similar, and not the bow clutter option. That's just me though.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I'd rather the bow clutter option I think, than take up my platform (which isn't big enough for those davits). I have 2' of depth to work with, they recommend 36"

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Brett DiMichele

You may find it useful to get a duffel bag (more like a big gym bag) from a place like REI to help store it. The bag that came with our Bombard was a bit too bulky with both the inflatable and it's bottom floor panels inside it. I opted to store the panels in a separate duffel along with the foot pump. This makes it a bit easier to lug about on the boat and pier. I also have one for the 8hp 2-stroke engine. This eases moving it about and reduces the ankle and gelcoat gouging risk of the prop. I'm guessing the batteries would have to be carefully stowed upright to keep from leaking (or shorting the terminals). Perhaps a battery box in the transom with wiring for a charger would be a good project?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill,

That has been my train of thought. I will see what the OEM bag is like and if it is too awkward to handle I may go the two bag route.

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Brett DiMichele

Ok so everyone wanted a follow up on how I felt the new dinghy is constructed after having it in hand..

All I can say is BUY ONE... Wow this has to be the least talked about boat ever. No it's not a $4000.00 RIB but I could easily see Intex raising the price of this thing into the $600 range and getting it! It's pretty damn big! If I were to put weaver davits on my ESP (which I have been pondering) I will wind up with two foot of dinghy sticking out on either side! Oh and heavy too, yeah the 85lb figure is right.. I had a heck of a time lifting it out of the box. The floor is actually made out of 26 gauge nylon pvc with 1" thick extruded pvc slats. I did not realize this had a slatted floor, all they said in the ads was "corregated" I did not take that to mean it had removeable slats.

The blow up keel is cool as heck, the seats are kinda meh, I got last years model which has round tube seats, the new model has rectangle seats. I may email Intex and see if I can buy the new seats cheap enough. I am into the boat for WAY less than anyone is selling them for.

I also met a guy after work today via an ad on Craigs List (Ok, that sounds kind of bad...) Anyway he had a MinnKota 30LB trolling motor listed for $65.00 and said it was in "exceptional" condition. So I bit... We met up after work and it turns out it's a 2007 Endura 30LB Thrust with the Composite Shaft. $65.00 out the door! Not a scratch on it...

I am ready to rock, now if only the raging river would receede so I could actually GO BOATING!

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Brett DiMichele

And here are some photos of the SS Minnie

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Brett DiMichele

Bill,

Once again, you were right... The whole bag thing? The bag they give you is a joke! I just ripped it at the zipper trying to squeeze this heavy bastard into the bag. I am going to go waldumping and see if I can find a nice HUGE duffle that's got plenty of room to spare. The boat rolls up great with the slats in place and I tried folding it per the instructions and it just would not go back in that bag!

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Brett DiMichele

Hi Brett, I thought I post a pic of my dinghy set up which lets me keep a 9 foot rib on the swim platform and still have a barbecue. To use the barby simply unclip the two brackets on the starboard side of the dinghy and let the dinghy drop in the water (its still held to the boat with the twoo brackets on the port side of the rib.)
cheers Robbi

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2008 V288 with twin 5 litre Seacores
http://www.galwayhouse.com.au

Well, I'm right perhaps only because of making my own set of mistakes and being unafraid to share the solutions with others. So I'm glad it's helping. But I'll reiterate my advice on picking up a bag from a retailer like REI. Their bags are a little better than some I've seen elsewhere AND they're cheap. I personally despise WalMart so it wouldn't matter if they were giving 'em away with a gold ingot and free lap dance. Well, the lap dance might sway me, just as long as it's not one of those greeters... Heh.

I've abused the hell out the REI bags and as yet have not broken any zippers. I've got three bags for the dinghy (the boat, the bottom panels and the outboard), along with several others for storing the pillows, comforter and other bits over the winter. So while you're shopping you might want to get more than one.

Hey, Robbi, I see you've got the stern rail option! How durable has it been for you? Is there much (any) wobble of the grill when you're underway? And that's some fancy rope work you've got there for securing that dink!

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Kinkster,

Slick setup! Weaver Snap Davits I see. That is the route I am looking at. I like the idea of the snap davit and how you glue the brackets to the tube of the inflatable. I kind of wish the bracket section on the esp had a little less profile. It looks like a stubbed toe could happen. But the problem with something low profile usually means it would have to be recessed into the glasswork.

Nice RIB too! I will probably look retarded with an 11' boat on the back of an 8'6" beam!

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Brett DiMichele

Bill,

I understand you have been down this road. I wasn't being condescending in my response about you being right, you usually are and for good reason. I did not see you mention REI before. I will look into that, I loathe Walldump as well, I can't tell you the last time it was that I was there because I avoid the place like the plague, unless I need an ego boost. I will probably get two bags. The dinghy rolls up nice with the floor in place and I would like to store the oars and seats in that same bag. But I would like another bag for the trolling motor and if in the future I come across a clean older single cylinder 2 stroke OB I may pick one up (at the right price). I wonder if the stern rail on my 248 could support a 1.5 HP gas OB. Actually, I wonder if there would be ANY benefit to a gas OB over my 30lb thrust trolling motor, they make three blade props for these trolling motors that are supposed to deliver way more bite on the water, more speed and also more efficiecy (less slip) so I may explore that option.

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Brett DiMichele

Hey, Robbi, I see you've got the stern rail option! How durable has it been for you? Is there much (any) wobble of the grill when you're underway? And that's some fancy rope work you've got there for securing that dink! [/quote]

Hi Bill.the stern rail seems to be working well so far! No noticable instability while underway (with the barby)
Re the fancy rope work, its not normally as untidy as that. Its only my the dinghy painter, normally coiled up neatly. It doesnt contribute to holding the dinghy I should have tidied it up before I took the pic.




Thanks Brett, good luck whichever way you go, I have to say its very useful where it is as we have a dog (Barney Beagle)and like to take him to shore when we anchor(for a walk and pee) I think if it was up on the bow it would be a hassell for us. I have an 8hp Mercury two stroke which I keep below and I need one of those bags Bill is talking about, any chance of posting a pic of one of those please Bill?

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2008 V288 with twin 5 litre Seacores
http://www.galwayhouse.com.au

I think this is one of them: http://www.rei.com/product/748506#prodSpecs


Beyond the regular use of one for the dinghy floor panels and pumps, I also use them carrying stuff home over the winter. I use several of the big ones for the bed quilt and decorative pillows, the boat poles, PFDs and the like. The bedding and lifejackets work great in these because they compress a bit to really let you cram a bunch into a bag. But for the heavy stuff the webbing on the handles and the stitching has been more than durable enough. Cheaper bags will have lesser quality stitching, thinner webbing for the straps, etc. No bag's zipper is ever going to withstand trying to cram 10 pounds of crap into 5 pound bag, so to speak. But thus far the REI ones haven't popped a zipper (unlike the danged transom door canvas panel....)

I have another one that's a little longer, I think it was made by Eagle Creek, that use for the 2-stroke outboard engine. For that I got a couple of pieces of tough but flexible foam to help keep the prop from cutting it. It's worked well for the past two seasons.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista