Dingy

[Teke's Pride]

Anyone know where I can get a 8-10 ft RIB with a jockey console here in the United States? The only links I seem to be able to find are for the UK, the Mediterranean or Australia.

[GeoffSchultz]

Do you mind me asking why you want a center console on an 8-10' dinghy? IMHO, that's much too small of a dinghy for a center console given the additional weight and all of the space that it takes up. Also, where do you plan to store your dinghy while under way? Do you pull the engine or leave it on the dinghy? If you leave it on the dinghy, that's an awful amount of weight on the davits and if you remove it, that's a lot of work to reconnect the steering/throttle system. The fact that you can't find one of these for sale may have something to do with these issues.

-- Geoff

[Teke's Pride]

As I own/sail a 21, I certainly wont be hanging any dingy from davits off the stern of my boat. I'm looking for something I can to tow around the lakes and rivers. Many of the waterfront restaurants in this area are located on the wrong side of causeways for sailboats but accessible to bassboats, dingies, PWC, and pontoon boats. I'm also looking for it to be my fun boat for windless days (summer months in the Tennessee Valley tend to be becalmed). I considered a PWC but ruled them out as not having any cargo space.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mercury+ocean+runner+340&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=3C0D6F8C7418F8D61A893C0D6F8C7418F8D61A89

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mercury+ocean+runner+340&FORM=VIRE3#view=detail&mid=908B0236EA1DCBCBB9DC908B0236EA1DCBCBB9DC

[GeoffSchultz]

Just remember that the dinghy itself weighs 185 lbs and you'll probably be at 300 lbs with a 15 hp 4-stroke. That's a lot of weight to haul behind a 21' boat! Or am I mis-reading you in that you want to tow it via car?

-- Geoff

[CaptLen]

Yes- heavy- I have a 10' Achilles double floor RIB (160 lbs) with a 98 lb Homda 15 HP and it has some large amount of drag!!!! I would seriously recommend: 1. Forget the center console and do like the rest of us- sit on a seat (this model has two seats as well as a built in bow seat) or sit on the tube- the boat will plane with 4 people, slightly slower than with 1-2; and it is rated for 20 HP, so it could take the next size up.
That said, if you're towing with your F reedom you'll see a significant degrading of performance under sail or power (IMHO) so you might consider downgrading to a smaller roll-up with a small motor to get you around. I know that kills the "fum factoor" of zipping arou d on calm days - and that is fun, but balance practicality with reality! Good luck and happy sailing

[Teke's Pride]

This is the type I'm looking for but can't seem to find here in the US:
https://www.google.com/search?q=dingy+with+jockey+seating&oq=dingy+with+jockey+seating&aqs=chrome..69i57.50044j0j4&client=ms-android-quanta&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#q=small+rib+with+centre+console&imgrc=eR7oNvnO7NmFPM%3A

I was hoping to be able to use the 6hp outboard I'm currently using on my Freedom 21. Like I said, this is for lake cruising.