T&T: Livingston dinghy (was Rigid vs Caribe dink)

[Faure, Marin]

>Jim, you might also want to take a look at Livingston dinks.

After extensively researching dinghy options and talking to more people
than I can remember regarding the "what dinghy to get" question, we
settled on the Livingston for the "everyday" dinghy for our GB36. (The
boat came with a beautiful little sailing dinghy on the aft cabin top
which we've kept.)  This was just before the Bullfrog hit the market in
a big way, otherwise we probably would have got one of them.
Livingston's are made in this state which makes them an easy choice, and
Jim is correct--- they are incredibly stable and pretty much
indestructible under even the most arduous of conditions.  They're
ugly--- no question there, but they make up for this in being so useful.

However..... there are some things to be aware of regarding the
Livingston.  If you're going to mount one vertically on its side on a
swimstep mount (Weaver davits, etc) you MUST get the reinforced-side
model.  All this means is there is an extra layer or two of glass in the
sides of the boat, but if you don't have this the dinghy will start to
distort over time as the lower side bows in under the weight.  The
reinforcing does not add much to the weight but it adds a lot to the
side stiffness.  All the smaller sizes-- at least up to 12'--- are
available with the reinforced sides.

Another small but significant option is the stainless steel runner that
the factory can apply to each of the keels.  If you're going to be
beaching the dinghy a lot as we do on rocky or gravel shores, the
runners really help protect the bottom of the boat.

Livingston's have a huge amount of room in them, and each model is rated
to a horsepower setting that can plane it if you want to go this route.
We have a 4hp Yamaha 4cyc on our 9' Livingston, and this moves it along
at a reasonable speed but it won't plane it.  The 9' model is rated up
to 9hp.

Finally--- and this is important--- when heavily loaded a dinghy like a
Livingston won't have very much freeboard.  This is one of the big
advantages of the "non-inflatable inflatables" like the Bullfrog, Boss
Boat, Aldura, etc..  Like an inflatable or RIB, even when fully loaded
you still have a lot of freeboard.  So if you anticipate using your
dinghy in choppy water with significant loads, a Livingston may not be
the best choice.  It's definitely something you want to check out
thoroughly before you buy.

I have never been in a Boss Boat so I have no idea how it rides.  But a
couple we boat with have a 10' Bullfrog on their lobsterboat and I've
ridden in it a lot.  I find the ride not much different than the ride of
the inflatables and RIBs I've been in.  And if you get some weight in
the bow with a person on the front seat, the heavier Bullfrog has a
smoother and softer ride than the inflatables and RIBs I've been in
because it cuts the water better.  Without some weight up front keeping
the bow down, however, the Bullfrog can pound pretty hard in waves.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington