A Factor 1 psychopath, the question I keep asking myself, and in the “with bated breath” department…
The other day, I came across an inflatable dinghy that wasn’t a RIB and looked like what my mind says would be a good tender/annexe. You know, something you could stow away when needful and row a short distance to shore or the nearest dinghy dock.
While the dinghy was affordable ($999), it was PVC (spelled short lived). It also required a motor because the toy oars and idiotic rowing geometry just won’t work for anyone who actually rows.
Still, it would be nice if someone made an inflatable stowaway dinghy that actually rowed.
My requirements are simple, light, stowable, won’t rot in the sun, and oars that actually work.
Ya think?
So, this morning I came across this one from TrueKit…
I actually kind of like the Stowaway dinghy. I’ve heard good things about Valmex material in terms of UV, it’s light and doesn’t take up much room deflated so there’s that. The downside is that the oars are too small and, while the oarlock position seems better than most, the oars are still too short. That said, I’d really like to have a chance to test one and see how it compares, rowing wise, to the Bolger Tortoise which I’ve rowed hundreds of miles on over the years.
At $1,250, it’s half what a Hypalon 8-foot rollup would cost here in the Caribbean but four times the cost of a DIY Tortoise. Still, it’s an interesting design and I wish more companies would do something similar but lose the toy oars in the process. So, still worth checking out.
I always had Avons as my boats were generally too small for hard dinghys. I did have a plywood “Holts Jack Sprat” dinghy with 6ft oars which showed how dire most inflatables are when rowing. Never been rich enough to have an outboard on a tender.
Its shape has a bow profile like an Auray Punt. I think Hannus Boatyard has plans for a small one.
What does it say when a $1200 PVC flubber costs more than an Albin Vega can be purchased for?
Elegant Punt for the win!