Getting Ashore

[Bigplumbs]

My small rubber SIB is too big to keep on the 19foot GTS, I feel that a kiddies blow up boat is too flimsy and I am too old and fat for a SUP. I was wondering what people use to get from their moored boat to the shore when they are on a day out and moor either on a buoy or at anchor. I was thinking about an inflatable canoe but not sure how stable that would be to get in.

Dennis

[_Ed_]

Good question. Most of the time I have just beached the boat, and have to constantly re-adjust it to suit tides. Also means that its a no-no in many places. If its warm, I've just pushed the boat further out and left it at anchor, means I get wet however. Could you not tow the SIB along? That's one option?

[sprocker]

I went through exactly the same scenario last year Dennis.

I looked at every option I could think of, taking into account SWMBO and the occasional grandchild.

I came to the conclusion that, for what we wanted, nothing really did the job as well as a lightweight 2.3m SIB, so Santa bought me a new one for Christmas.

[Bigplumbs]

Can you actually get a lightweight SIB though. The one I have and will use on the main mooring is quite big when deflated. Cant tow it if I want to go fast.

What SIB did you get

Dennis

[betty boop]

I have seen a former forum member get great use out of the mooring bungee device, can't remember what its called but as most of bought one Im sure someone will be along soon and remind me. Personally mine has never come out of the rope store space but for coming ashore at Swanage beach it worked a treat. 4 adults ashore easily and conveniently and it pulled the byliner buddy back 30 foot out into deep water. 4 hours & 4 beers later a quick pull on the mooring line and in she came, ladder up the bow - job done and in that instance £10+ saved on the water taxi.

[BruceK]

A lot of beaches are gently sloping so it's a long walk to shore. There simply is no substitute for a small tender.

I can't vouch for these but gives you an example of where tenders have got to. 15kg!! http://www.piplers.co.uk/highfield-supe ... le-tenders
and at that weight will fold very compact.

I do not use an inflatable pump but rather an air matress high volume pump topped off with a foot pump. These will blow a tender up in a couple of minutes. I think after a few seasons of trying everything else you will begrudgingly end up with a tender, to repeat, there is no real substitute.

[Dave]

Heres the US version

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/greenfiel ... 51_002_507

Looks like a good idea to me...wish I had thought of it when I had boats too small to carry a dinghy......the other idea would be to pull the nose of the dinghy on to the bathing platform and secure / tie it like that, then you can tow at speed quite well with the back end of the tubes sat on the water just behind the boat....(apparently)....but not tried it myself.....

Now we have a big enough boat we sit our dinghy on the foredeck upside down and tied down...sits on the two fore and aft rails really well without touching the deck fortunately......only had to stop and resecure it once during a rough ride back from Bembridge last year. Outboard lays under the aft facing seat, with fuel switch off and carb drained. (Tohatsu 3.5 - 2 stroke)

[annageek]

As you know we have the same boat as you and we struggled with a solution.

For us SUPs did the trick but I agree it's not for everyone.

I fitted a custom 186L fuel tank in ours, so the big lazarette in the main deck was taken up. However it's a big space and if you were to enlarge the hatch I think you may be able to squeeze a deflated 2.4m airdeck dinghy in there.

Have you seen the O2 light dinghys (the black ones)? The 2.4m one is only 11 or so kg, and it seems pretty robust (and doesn't seem too much lighter duty than an equivalently priced heavyweight dinghy either). A bit pricey though. Take a look at the force 4 website to see them.

For short hops with the dinghy inflated, if only two of you, you could lash it onto the stern rails quite easily I'd imagine, too.

Like I say, for us it was a problem with no perfect solution. Having said that, this may all be about to change very soon!!

[BruceK]

Having said that, this may all be about to change very soon!!

Ooohhh new boat on the horizon? Want to spill the beans?

[annageek]

I can neither confirm or deny that... At the moment.