We have so many great memories


in which the dull grey and patched sides of our tender are an integral part: diving with giant manta rays, drifting with 70’ long fin whales, and protection from saltwater crocodiles. No dinghy is perfect, but the one that can accommodate the greatest number of needs gets pretty close. We would love to have a sailing dinghy and rowing dinghy aboard, but don’t have the room. As an active family that likes to snorkel and explore, our needs are stability, carrying capacity, and speed. That makes our beat-up old dinghy near perfect. To keep our near perfect tender


(adjective) tender (noun) in tip top form, we’ve learned a few things along the way.


Painter – Seems simple enough, but


a few features make for a better painter. 3-strand polypropylene line floats and so is less likely to get fouled in a propeller, rudder, etc. Attach one end to a structurally secure (eye bolt in the rigid part of the hull) point or points on the bow. Painter length can vary, but we like it somewhere between 1 and 1.3 times the dinghy length with 12” eye splice at the other end. To the eye, splice attach a large stainless steel carabineer. The combination of eye splice and carabineer enable easy options to securely attach to a cleat, toe rail, and piling. When about to get moving, clip the carabineer to a point the inside the dingy so that if the painter gets dragged overboard, it’s not long enough to foul the propeller.


Dinghy Chaps – Sunscreen for an


inflatable dinghy. If you’re sailing to lower latitudes, dinghy chaps are well


worth the cost from a canvas shop or as a DIY project. As a sacrificial layer, they can add years of life to PVC or Hypalon tube material. “UV resistant” polyester thread stitching on chaps will only last about two years in the tropics, so consider using far superior Tenara thread instead.


Lifting Bridle – Lifting the dinghy


out of the water, even just 2’, is a very effective theft deterrent; and it stops barnacles and other marine growth from forming. No davits? Use a lifting bridle to keep the dinghy flat and stable as it’s lifted by a halyard alongside the bow of the mothership. A bridle is easy enough to make yourself with details found online. The only trick is in adjusting the bridle-to-halyard attachment to keep the dinghy level front-to-back; which varies with weight in the dinghy (engine on or not).


Outboard – If you hope to venture


out to where the mechanics aren’t, learn basic maintenance: how to clean/change spark plugs, clean the carburetor, change engine and/or gear oil, and change the impeller. Of course you’ll need the spares and tools to go with it. It’s also a good idea to know if the propeller uses a shear pin (have spares) or a splined hub in which case you’ll want a spare propeller. Finally, keep a dingy log to track engine hours. Since engine maintenance is based on hours run, even a loosely accurate log will give a better indication of required maintenance than a wild guess.


Outboard tether – When transferring


an outboard between mothership and dinghy, always use a safety tether so that when the unthinkable slip happens,


Safety – In addition to common


safety practices, we’ve read enough accounts of people carried out to sea in a dinghy to take a few simple precautions. Always tell someone about the dinghy trip: who’s going and to where. Always carry a handheld, waterproof VHF and a protected cell phone if applicable. If using an outboard, always use the kill switch tether.


Dinghy as washing machine – In


Mexico especially, very little rain means numerous lines, sails, dodger panels, dinghy chaps, cushions, etc. get caked with salt. Not only does salt make rope and cloth stiff and harder to handle, it’s also an abrasive which cuts fibers. When we were in a place with a good water supply, we would half fill the dinghy with water, add a little vinegar or soap, and put anything that needed a rinse in.


Our outboard made it as far as


Bora Bora, when after a long day, the impeller disintegrated, the engine overheated, and went silent. The dingy dinghy lives on; highest marks to her makers, for building a real Traveling Buddy. When we leave Australia, she won’t be coming with us – just like we thought before leaving Puget Sound.


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“Absolutely” - “Cookie Monster” *partial inventory


“Absolutely” 48° NORTH, OCTOBER 2011 PAGE 27


the outboard is still attached to the big boat. Once the outboard is safely fixed to the dinghy transom, move the tether to the dinghy so that if the gets loose on the transom, it’s still attached. This all seems so unlikely but is common enough; and apparently, trendy with some of the boats cruising the Pacific this year.


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