www.iFourWinns.com

A recent topic about these came up, and Defender is having a sale on a few models. I have not shopped for
one myself lately, so I don't know if the prices are fantastic or not. But they are Zodiac's, which are good quality.
So if anyone is in the market for one, these may be worth checking out.

Wood Floor 10' 2"
Zodiac Typhoon 310S Lt. Grey/Blue 2011
Length 10' 2", PVC, 99 Lbs $939.00


HP Air Floor 8' 8"
Zodiac Typhoon 265 Aero Lt. Grey/Blue 2011
Length 8' 8", PVC, 60 Lbs $699.00


Slat Wood Floor 7' 7"
Zodiac Zoom 230 Roll Up Lt. Grey/Blue 2011
Length 7' 7", PVC, 57 Lbs $699.00


They also have dinghy rack systems for mounting to the bow on sale.
http://www.defender.com/managerpicks.jsp

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

This reminds me of why we are lucky on the inland lakes of Texas. All of our marinas have walk out piers/fingers, and most are fully covered (except for sailboat slips). We have no need to have a dinghy.

I see many people that have their boats attached to mooring balls or pilings that without a dinghy, you would have to swim to your boat.

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

We realy don't NEED a dinghy. Only sailboats around here are out on moorings. You can walk right on your boat off the finger piers at most all marina's here as well.

What would be nice about a dinghy is, we could anchor in deeper water, and take the Dinghy up to the beach and carry all our stuff on the dinghy, rather than ,making 6 trips back and forth to the boat carrying the grill, chairs, tables, umbrella's, the dog, coolers etc.

Also, there are several people in our marina with dinghys. They get together a few times per year and all take their dinghy's up the river, to local restarants on the lake and have a dinghy race each year, kind of a dinghy poker run. It would be fun to be able to participate, instead of just riding along. So I would want a dinghy, more than need one.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

For us its a want also. Be nice to take the dog to shore in one instead of heading back to the launch ramp. Run around the marina, cruise in the coves, or go further up rivers off of the lake.

Also burn less fuel playing with that in a cove, versus running the big boat over the lake.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

It would be hard to put a price on the enjoyment we get from using our inflatable. When we travel to various marinas that have areas we would like to check out by water we will take our inflatable with us.

There are just so many places that have multiple marinas in a given area that we can spend hours exploring various river cuts and marina basins. We take this opportunity to discuss the variety of boats that we see, the homes that back onto the waterfronts and simply enjoy being on water. I find myself jumping in the inflatable and doing an afternoon and evening cruise. We purchased the bow and stern lights so going out after dark puts a whole new perspective on things.

Once back at our marina, I simply back our 328 into its well, lower the inflatable off its davits from our swim platform, and snap the inflatable davits onto the sea wall inflatable rack I had fabricated and raise the inflatable out of the water for storage until next ime we use it.

Like Cap'n mentioned inflatable poker runs are fun (the water fights can be intense at times) and in the summer its nice when visiting marnias to have the option of taking the inflatable out in the lake or to a beach and going for a swim without disconnecting your main boats city water connection, shorepower, lines etc.,

Boy, you'd think I was selling inflatables or something the way I ramble on......

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Hey that big mighty 28 lb Honda 2 hp will actually get up on plane with just myself aboard our 310 Mercury Inflatable. I do need to move my body weight towards the centre of the inflatable for it to plane but it will plane.

A good friend bought the Honda 2hp with the clutch, I have to say I prefer mine without the clutch option. Those little 2 hp can cruise about 2 hours on the one litre of fuel they hold in their internal tank.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Hey Cap'n, you posted a picture of a purty Honda 2 hp (with clutch option) above and then deleted it. Hence my related reply above.........

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Ooops, sorry about that..... It seemed like a decent little motor for the money. Probably run forever, and I like the no stink 4 stroke idea.
Here is the re-post of Fire's next motor....

Honda 2HP 4 Stroke Outboard Motor. Model BF2d. Short shaft w/ clutch. Very good condition with very low hours.
$575.00 http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/2275593912.html

And since were having some fun. Here is a complete package for a decent price, depending on year and condition.
http://nmi.craigslist.org/boa/2256392111.html

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks for the links Capn. Ideally a 4hp. There's a 3.5hp in Chicago at a a decent price.

Baltik dinghys are styled like the Mercury airdecks and can be had for cheap new with warranty on eBay.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Not familiar with Baltik. Sometimes you get what you pay for, but a warranty is always nice. Lots of 3 to 5 HP outboards around here for sale. Some old , some newer.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I have a question for you guys... Do you take your dinghy to go to shore or wherever and leave your boat unattended while at anchor? I hope this isn't a stupid question but I had to ask.

Rader,

When we travel with our inflatable the vast majority of times our destination is to another marina where our 328 will be docked in a well and we will use our inflatable to cruise around from there.

A couple of times we have boated up into the North Channel here in our Great Lakes were we are anchored out overnight and haved used our inflatable to sight see from our anchorage, but we normally have boats travelling with us that can keep an eye on our boat when we are away from it.

I think I know what you may be thinking, and I too would be a little nervous about leaving our boat at anchor totally unattended and out of our sight for hours at a time especially depending on where we are.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

I agree whole heartedly with Mike, you cannot put a price on the enjoyment you get out of a dingy. It has enhanced our boating experience exponentially. We take it with us on our boating vacations and use it to tour the areas we travel to. We use it when we are at our home marina and have had some exciting adventures touring local marinas and running up the river which terminates into our local lake. Twenty-five miles per hour seems like the speed of light when you are lying in a rubber raft. We also take it with us when we stay on the hook, travel away in our dingy and yes, we do leave our boat unattended. Dan

_________________

Current Boat: 1994 278 Four Winns Vista