Your First Dinghy - Part 1

Thursday, 27 May 2010 15:29

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In the first of a new four-part series on buying a starter boat, David Webber looks at specific dinghies for different uses and different locations.

If this is your first boat, you are in for a real treat. Dinghies can be used on our rivers and estuaries, at the beach or for cruising the Great British coastline. Imagine the scene on a warm summer’s day - you fill your boat with a picnic, load up the kids and the dog and cruise a few miles along the coast for a great day on some deserted beach that landlubbers are unable to reach. What a fantastic day out, and all for the cost of a couple of litres of fuel...

But before you buy your first dinghy you will need to consider how much weight you need to carry, including stores and the number of people on board. This will give you an indication of the size of boat you require but be realistic and, if in doubt, buy a slightly larger craft rather than risk overloading a small one. Of course, your budget may also be a key factor in this equation, but if you buy a boat that is too small, you may end up selling it to buy a larger one before you get any value from its use.
How you are going to use your boat is also a key factor. Dinghies for river fishing can be different beasts to those used on the coast. For example, a boat with a higher freeboard (the space between the water level and the deck, or on a dinghy, between the water level and the top of the boat) is better suited to coastal use. It tends to be more capable of handling a chop than a low freeboard.

You will also need to consider how you are going to transport your new boat. Lighter craft up to around 12 feet in length can often be carried on a roof rack, removing the need for a trailer. Otherwise you could consider a collapsible or sectional dinghy. If you decide to use a trailer, you will have to add a towbar to the initial cost, plus the trailer and any associated gear such as the lighting board and tie down straps.

A dinghy can also be a multipurpose boat, for fishing, cruising, family outings and a spin around the bay at a good pace. Most dealers will guide you toward the right choice for your particular use and requirement. But make sure you look at as many as you can before making the final commitment.