Replacement Tender?

[mm]

Old Zodiac still airtight but taking on water.  Common problem apparently and difficult to repair effectively.

With grandkids involved I'm looking at replacing rather than trying to repair.

The Zodiac 270 looks like a possible replacement.  I understand they still have welded rather than glued seams.

Does anyone have any recent experience they could contribute to the deliberations?

Michael Murray
Bittersweet - C28
 

[rajNfiesa]

Hi Michael,
I don't know much about Zodiac but here is what I have learned about inflatables.
Welded are definitely superior
Whilst tubes may be welded the join onto the "sailtrack" the joins to a rigid bottom is glued. Probably the same with soft floors, hence water leaks.
I looked long at what is being used in Qld waters and quickly discovered that Barefoot has lions share of the charter boat tender market. Made in Qld, welded and alloy hulls. Only trouble is they are very expensive to buy, but worth it if you plan on keeping it for many years. I ended up finding a 2007 Redback that was made in the Gold Coast, welded seams and alloy hull. They moved their manuafacturing to china and the quality may have suffered.
Our redback has one 6 month cruise and lived On davits in full sun for several years. It had a very slow leak so I took it for pro repair. The guy offered me my purchase price of $700 anytime I want to sell! I got a few patches done by him and said even if the hull join seam glue fails I would be better off (paying him!) to repair than replace with an inferior new one.

[mm]

Thank you, I haven't spotted a Redback on Ebay or Gumtree but will do a broader search.  Sounds like you've been served very well by yours.  The Zodiac 270 is roughly $2,200.  I'll also see how that compares with a new Redback but with an alloy hull I'm guessing they'll more expensive.  Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Michael

[Kyeemah]

If you are not stuck on an inflatable take a look at: http://www.finnkayaks.com/products/boats/spindrift-2-4m/
I have had one for about 5 years and it has been and still is brilliant. I can stand on the gunnel no problem (when I was 85kg). Polyethylene last 'forever'. The new ones are made from an expanded polyehtylene which gives it much better inherent flotation. Unsinkable they say. Mine is fairly light and I can pick it up by myself (in an aqkward sort of way) so it would be fine for davits.

[mm]

I'm definitely interested in exploring options and the Spindrift looks like a good one.  You've answered a key question about stability.  With gear and grandkids to move and the boat kept on a swing mooring it's important to have a stable tender under foot.  I'll give the Sydney dealer, which looks to be the closest option for Newcastle, a call.

[Kyeemah]

Call them direct. I have had two boats shipped from WA by Finn to Yeppoon. The Spindrift and a 4m dinghy. Wasn't cheap freight but was a competative complete price. I'm sure you will be pleased. I have had 2 adults and 2 kids in it which is fine in flat water. They have better flotation now with the expanded PE. If you call them you can 'accessorise'. They use a black PE strip on top of the middle seat. Handy if you want to fry an egg. They should have other coloured PE sheet. I would definately ask since it is a literal pain in the A. There's also a version with sponsons which will give level flotation. They may have various dated versions so make sure which one you get. The version with the anchor well looks good.. The sponsons would be handy carrying more than two people. I put aluminium angle under the gunwales because they flexed when rowing but they may have changed the design. The new ones look a little different to mine.

Also try https://paddlesteam.com.au/product/2-4m-finn-spindrift-dinghy/
He sells Finn products sometimes cheaper than Finn, Though from the website it does not mention the 'expanded' PE. Freight prices are there as well.

[Kyeemah]

There you go! https://paddlesteam.com.au/product/commercial-rated-2-4m-finn-spindrift-dinghy-level-buoyancy/ and freight to Newcastle is only 95.00

[mm]

Thanks for the link to paddlesteam.  I've also found a dealer in Sydney and I'm waiting for them to come back with a quote and delivery time as they don't hold stock.  I like the tip about the center strip and will make sure I get that changed if possible.

The other option I found this morning in a similar vein is the Walker Bay Rigid Inflatable: http://walkerbay.com.au/69/rigid-inflatable-dinghy

My preference at the moment is leaning toward the Spindrift.  Let's see what the quote from the Sydney dealer looks like.

[mm]

Best response came back from Paddle Stream Marine - delivered to Newcastle with wheels and davit points for $1580.  I'll have a chat to them tomorrow and will probably go ahead and order one.  None in stock but production run about to start with delivery in 10-14 days.

[Kyeemah]

The walker bay looks nice but it is hard to beat the Spindrift for stability. Especially loading things in and out of the boat. It wont row as well (but flies with a 6hp)

[mm]

Really pleased to hear your confirmation of the stability of the Spindrift, with my dodgy knees and back and young grandkids to transfer back and forward it is a core attribute for me.  After discussing with my wife and occasional shipmate we have decided to go ahead with the Spindrift.  Sounds like a couple of weeks to wait now for manufacture and delivery.

[Kyeemah]

Great. If not too late, I'd go for the expanded poly version for the extra safety. I often stand on the gunwale of the dingy to load gear in the boat. I stood on the bow last week, which has the least flotation and it was fine. Had about 2" of free board but stable.

[grandpiper]

 

Wish this thread had been going a few weeks ago!  I have a fiberglass hard dinghy that we call "The Dinghy of Death" because it is always tipping me out - even when reaching to grab the jetty!  The options for story a dinghy on a C28 are limited and have long been contemplating one of those Porta-Botes, but ended up buying a Sirocco 220 AirHull from the Sydney boat show the other day.  The inflatable bit is good as it can be stored down below when crossing Broken Bay, but the rowing abilities of rubber dinghies leave a lot to be desired.  Will have to fork out more $$ for a small outboard - plus the petrol, (premix) which is another thing aboard I don't really need. 

 

The English method of hoisting the nose of the dinghy up to the pushpit rail and leaving the two stern bits to trail in the water looks like a good idea, which means that you don't have to deflate the dinghy and store it during the Broken Bay crossing, where you get a huge swell on most days and if you tow the dinghy it could tip over and fill with water, or worse, end up in the cockpit.

cheers

Andrew 

[Kyeemah]

The spindrift is really too big to put on deck (not that i have tried). I had thought of trailing it off the pushpit by lifting the stern up somehow and trailing the narrow pointy bits (not that i have tried) just to reduce drag. But it towed OK with a 6hp and fuel. There's also the swing up, hinged type davits.

[Maeling]

My onshore dinghy there days is a 6'6" fibreglass and stows on the foredeck snugged back against the mast on the foredeck - but it gets frightening 2up.  For that I have an older Sirocco 2.1  I make a 4 point harness and hoist it aboard with the jib halyard. I stow it upside down on the foredeck or preferably stow it on the C29 cabin roof - partly deflated (relaxed) with the volume filled it is easy to re-pressurise.

On towing dinghies with outboards carry some WD40 for un-drowning.

Geoff Raebel

[mm]

The Spindrift comes with 4 davit points so I'll have a think about that as an option when we are out on the boat for longer excursions.  Will obviously need to do some serious homework about how to set up a workable davit system on the standard C28 pushpit structure.  Not sure if it would need reinforcing.

I also decided to spend a bit extra and add the positive boyancy option to the dinghy which involves spraying foam between the inner and outer skins.

Michael

[Kyeemah]

I think you will feel a lot safer with the positive buoyancy option. Re the process. I thought it was a type of all-in-one process of getting the internal PE to expand, leaving harder skin on the outside. I have drilled through it on my 4m boat and it just seems a little softer internally and thicker (7-8mm?) than the usual. Re the davits. Take a look at these interesting ideas. 1: dinghy sling davit system. US$275 & free worldwide shipping (www.alldavits.com/slingdinghydavitsystems.html). Not sure how it will work on the C28 narrow stern but simple and stowable; no drilling holes!. 2: Unknown origin. 3: Tilt davit (http://www.boatdavit.com/Home/Details/2) more what I was thinking previously.

 

[mm]

Thanks for sharing the davit links.  Very interesting. Being new to the world of boat ownership I wasn't aware of these alternate approaches.  Obviously some serious research to come!

Michael

[Kyeemah]

I am going to chase up the sling davit once I take a photo of the stern to send. Just wondering if it would work on the back of a C28. Ill let you know when I get an answer.

[Maeling]

One of our old members who moved up to a 36 footer got pooped going out over a bar - filled the tin dinghy on the davits which sort of collapsed.  He managed a U turn and got back into shelter to sort out the wreckage.  There's the best part of a ton of water in a tin dinghy!

Geoff Raebel

[mm]

On Monday, August 28, 2017 at 8:41:45 AM UTC+10, Maeling wrote:
> One of our old members who moved up to a 36 footer got pooped going out over a bar - filled the tin dinghy on the davits which sort of collapsed.  He managed a U turn and got back into shelter to sort out the wreckage.  There's the best part of a ton of water in a tin dinghy!
>
>
> Geoff Raebel

I have come across a few stories about damage caused by swamping of dinghies on davits. I will try stowing the spindrift on deck when it arrives. Might still consider davits for use on Lake Macquarie where most of my boating will be done.

Michael

[Maeling]

Swansea Bar was where a friend had to do a U turn!

Geoff Raebel

[Djarraluda Too]

Sailing in Bass Straight some years back, tinny up on davits.  Typical front came charging through and as we heeled, dinghy filled with water.  We had an interesting time to resolve it.  Always hosted it upside down after that!

Roger

[mm]

It seems anything off shore is definitely a significant risk to have the tender on davits.  I'll have to have a play with the spindrift on deck and find the best way to stow it.

Michael