[Public-List] Dinghy for Alberg 30

[Gordon Laco via Public-List]

Good morning John,

We tow a dinghy...  I know that is not to most people's taste these days,
but I like a dink that rows well.

Ours is a Boston Whaler Squall.  It's about 9' long and has an integral
centreboard, which means it can sail.  We really enjoy poking around islands
and channels either sailing or rowing.  That's the good part.

The not so good part is that the Squall is a heavy boat when out of the
factory (Whaler told me that ours was built in 1966) and like all of it's
brethren has gained a lot of weight through water saturation of the foam.
It's got to the point where it's tough for two people to lift the thing and
that means it tows like a beer barrel.  We've noticed it sometimes makes
more wake than SURPRISE does.

So why do I put up with it?  It's a great dink to row, it sails well
(particularly since we discarded the Sunfish-like lateen rig and replaced
with an Optimist rig)

I tow in full understanding that the day may come when we will have to cut
the dinghy adrift for safety reasons.  That's never happened yet but Pim,
you can describe if you like what towing that thing back from the Western
Islands was like in heavy air on that Misery Trip a few years ago....

Gord 
Surprise 426


On 23/07/14 6:25 AM, "John Johnston via Public-List"
<public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Ahoy Mates!  I would like to hear about the dinghies you have chosen and why.
> Also whether you tow or stow on deck, and any thoughts on ones to avoid.
> Thanks in advance! - Abel C Mann
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