Not sure what to recommend about inflatables. Spending last winter cruising
farther south of here on our 41' Gulfstar, we used a 12' Porta-Bote. This
is a folding boat that is very light and seems almost impossible to poke
holes in. Seemed very stable in fairly good sized waves though be careful
towing at sea in larger waves as they can fill with water and 'sink' though
they have positive flotation and are recoverable. We like this boat...your
9.9 motor will make in absolutely fly...maybe too much power. I have a 6HP
4-stroke Nissan on ours and with one person it is very fast. Cost with
motor was less than inflatable without motor. I think there are some
pictures on our web site (www.seawing.net). You will find information on
the manufacturers web site too.

Glenn.
s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net


"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message
news
Hi,
(Been a while since I've been he wave to the ol' regulars!)

I'm thinking of trading my Walker Bay for an inflatable (then using the WB
for lake fishing), for the tender dinghy for Far Cove, my Catalina 36. I'm
NOT currently looking at brand-names - I first want to nail down what KIND
I want.

70% of the time it will be carrying 1-2 people, using an electric motor.
20% same thing, but rowed. I have a Merc 9.9 4-stroke (light for a
4-stroke...) that I MIGHT want to hang off the back, which creates the
dilemma:

I'm torn between basically "like-for-like": A small, 8-9ft flat
(inflatable?) bottom, like a Sea Eagle. I'll be gaining stability and
load-carrying, but losing on rowing enjoyment.

Or, a bigger, 9-10ft "hard" bottom with inflatable keel that would handle
the 9.9 (like a Brig).

The 9.9 will spend most of it's time on the 12-ft aluminum skiff where it
is now, and the inflatable will be stored on the deck of Far Cove,
probably partially deflated.

Comments? Does the inflatable keel help? Anybody done comparisons between
various floor configurations and performance while rowing or motoring?
Will the electric push the boat as well as it does the Walker Bay? Do the
"bigger" (10ft...) inflatables tow as easily as a WB?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
"Near Cove" Walker Bay 8