[PUP] Dingy Wheels

[Robby & Dolores]

Sure as long as the two of you can pick it up and carry it ashore and back 
again in the water.  If you have a pretty good wave coming in, you'll find 
when the dingy hits the beach the next wave comes over the transom and you 
an everything in the boat gets wet -- kind of fun if you're in a bathing 
suit and not carrying anything else that you want to keep dry.  It is a 
little harder getting out, since you have to power over incoming waves with 
oars.

The advantage of wheels with a motor (on any size dingy) you can hit the 
beach with the motor down and running, hop out, and with practice, hardly 
get your feet wet or get any water in the dingy.  When leaving you can walk 
the dingy into the water, put the motor down and start it, then time your 
departure.  I'm assuming large inflatable tires, and a system that you can 
swivel up and down.

A lot depends on whether you mostly anchor (as we did) or mostly use marinas 
which are more abundant on the west coast of Mexico and Central America then 
they were during our passage in 95 & 96.  Also after we went through the 
canal, we almost never used the wheels again during 4 years on the east 
coast of North America and 4 years in Scotland and north.

I think having two inflatables, as you have, is a great idea and we do the 
same thing now.  In addition to the Avon, I have an 8 foot West Marine 
roll-up that Dolores and I can pick up.  I plan to purchase a small 2HP 
Honda or the like, for the small boat.

Regards,  Robby
Dolores E., San Francisco

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Bulger" <scottebulger at gmail.com>
To: "'Robby & Dolores'" <robbyr67 at comcast.net>; <>
Cc: "'Passagemaking'" <passagemaking-under-power at lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 11:01 AM
Subject: RE: Dingy Wheels


> Robby & Dolores shared:  I can confirm that if you plan on anchoring and
> using the dingy to go ashore
> between Mexico and Panama, you'll need wheels unless you have a small 
> dingy
> that you can pick up and carry up the beach.
>
> So let me ask this:
>
> I have a 9' inflatable tender that is a spare.  It's very, very light with 
> a
> plywood floor.  It has NO motor.  Would it be a reasonable substitute to 
> use
> the light tender when necessary, rather than clutter up the RIB with 
> wheels?
> In other words, are the instances where I need to haul the tender up the
> beach infrequent enough that rowing ashore is a good alternative?  Oh, the
> tender inflates in 5 minutes, it's an Achilles, very good quality.
>
> Oh, a note, a bit of history just passed by.  Salvation II, just came
> through the Ballard Locks on their way to watch the Seafair festivities no
> doubt.  Marian and I had the opportunity to meet Jim and Suzie Sink and 
> sea
> trial the boat a few years ago.  It was a treat to meet the Sinks, they 
> are
> wonderful people.  I hope the new owners get to accumulate as many 
> wonderful
> memories as the Sinks have.  The boat looked almost new, bright and shiny,
> obviously being very well cared for!
>
> Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA