[PUP] Operating a Tender, safety

[PrncessKHY at aol.com]

Hey Scott,
 
Have noted you didn't get any replies on list, so wanted to share  with you 
our experience,
 
We installed the Unihelm in our Caribe 11'9" tender and I have mixed  
emotions about it.  As with everything boating, it's a trade-off....
 
For me, the Unihelm has made a huge difference -- steering from a wheel  
rather than a tiller is *much* easier for me (John was concerned about my  comfort 
level in driving the dinghy).  It steers like my car -- I can do  this, (on a 
good day :)) and makes the transition from living aland that much  easier to 
living aboard.  Could I have learned the tiller?  -- of  course, and so can 
Marian, (if she doesn't already know it) so perhaps at this  point, the steering 
issue is a non-issue for you guys?
 
Secondly, John fishes, crabs, and shrimps out of our dinghy, so he  really 
likes having a seat with a comfortable backrest to fish out  of.  Fishing off 
the tube would be very uncomfortable, and spending several  hours out could lead 
to extreme Advil usage.  Again, as with the big boat,  what are you planning 
to do with the dinghy??  Simply going from boat to  shore changes everything.
 
Space -- we found the Unihelm really did take up more space than we  
anticipated, so when we loaded the dive tanks, BC's, weights, etc. for us to  dive the 
PNW, it was very cramped.  We're hoping that as we head south, it  will work 
better due to less gear -- we'll see,
 
Weight -- we were able to take 4 adults to shore in our dinghy quite  
comfortably, but 2 had to ride on the tubes (which we felt was within the  
"acceptable" range of Okay, but could not plane with our 20hp Honda.  Well,  it all 
worked out ok for our usage, but realize that it wouldn't for  everyone.
 
We basically were trying to maximize space while trying to minimize weight,  
so I think we did that within our needs and perimeters, and so are  happy.  
Bottom line -- the Unihelm is more space than a motor tiller  and less weight 
than center helm dinghy, but again, you have to weigh what  your usage will be 
and decide from that.  Yeah, I know.....nothing is  *ever* easy!
 
BTW, we have heard and read that you really need wheels on your dinghy  in 
Mexico to pull it up on shore -- I  know Lats & Atts has a  regular ad for them 
(the wheels), so if you want a website, let me  know -- we're planning on 
having them added in SoCal this fall before we  continue on.....  
 
Hope this helps and doesn't just muddy the waters......
 
 
Kathy 
Mystic Moon - Selene 5323
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 7/30/2007 9:11:18 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
scottebulger at gmail.com writes:

I have  the opportunity to install a Unihelm in my tender if I make a
decision  quickly.  The Unihelm will enable me to sit and face forward,
steering  and operating the throttle/gears with a console rather than  sitting
sideways on the tube of my RIB.  The downside is adding weight  and taking up
room in the tender.  My question is do people commonly  opt for operating
their tender from the tube or is  a console that  much of a safety
improvement that it's the norm?  I'm a bit concerned  about dragging the
tender up on a beach and keeping it as simple as  possible.  I tend to
overcomplicate things   J



Thanks, 



Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle  WA
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power

To  unsubscribe send email  to
passagemaking-under-power-request at lists.samurai.com with the  word
UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the  message.

Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water  World Productions, 
formerly known as Trawler World  Productions.








************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour