Tender dinghy options for outboard series 895 etc.

[westboating]

Folks,

     I think there was a light discussion on tenders and dinghys for the outboard boats, 795, 895, and 1095.  I haven't seen or heard much.  Last year Sundance yacht sales set up their demo at the Portland and Seattle show with a roof rack and a small inflatable on the roof.  I didn't get the specs of the dinghy at the show, but it was small without a solid transom.

     These boats are great and can get in some thin water, but I am not interested in beaching my 895 in the often not sandy enough beaches of the Pacific Northwest.  My other concern is safety and redundancy.  This last summer we were cruising the San Juans and we passed a rock a little closer than I thought we would which gave way to the question of what the four of us would do if staying afloat was at issue.

     My primary concern is where to put a RIB large enough for a family of 4.  With no transom space we're left to throw it on the roof or stow it in the large cockpit locker.  I did see this guy: with a rack between the swim steps, and I can't imagine towing anything at optimum cruise around 24 kts.  Then there's the pile on problem of what to do about dinghy power, electric, gas, propane, outboard storage, and fuel storage.

Love to hear your thoughts,

[dwp]

I bought a Zodiac Cadet Aero 270 and a 6hp Yamaha outboard for my 895.  In theory both will fit in the cockpit locker. The problem is they are both a little on the heavy side and to get in the locker you have to bring into the cabin first, open the locker and then drop in. Once one is in you don't have any room to work with and so must lower the second in from above. That is a little more work than I am prepared for. I have the 895 from the show last year with the roof rack and the Cadet could go up there but now you have a big blind spot on your radar. The end result is both the motor and the Cadet are sitting in my basement and I still haven't figured out a good dinghy option. I would love to hear what others have done.

Regards,

DWP

[westboating]

I did meet a captain this summer with an 895 who installed a nice big pull strap to at least make opening the cockpit locker easy.  It was a simple mod, and I think I'll be attempting that.

I'm wondering if there was a way to hang extended weaver davits to the swim steps and carry the tender behind the outboards.  The first problem I see is adding moment arm to the weight of the tender and thus stress to the swim platforms.  It's probably insignificant compared to a 300 pounder coming aboard.

[dwp]

I use a Velcro cinch strap through the handle to open the cockpit .  It does make it quite a bit easier to open. 

[westboating]

SO wen to the Seattle show and saw what Range/Cutwater rigged up to solve the tender on an outboard boat problem.  They had a dinghy frame with arms hinged on the swim steps.  The dinghy is mounted to the frame via Weaver davits.  The frame, in the down position makes a 45 degree angle.  Once you use the Weaver system to lay the dinghy on the frame, the frame is wenched up and forward.  Once fully retracted you're left with the dinghy inverted on the frame and the frame over the outboards and flat horizontal.  They claimed it had a weight of 180 lbs, but it seemed a bit heavier.

Interesting solution, but a bit unwieldy, and maybe too heavy for the swim steps.

[bcboater]

Hi westboating  I was wondering if you ever found a resolution to this issue? I am considering upgrading from my stern drive cruiser to the 1095 but I really need a dinghy for the reasons you mentioned below. On my cruiser today I have a Seawise davit system and it is one of my most favorite features of the boat. We use it all the time around this area. Did you ever find another solution? I am not too interested in storing in a locker on the boat. I would like something I could launch and off I could go. 

[westboating]

At Sundance in Portland they've configured a davit on the port side to lift a tender onto the cabin top.  It seems a bit more than one might want on their NC 895 but maybe not for a 1095.  It looked like it might encumber access and use of the smaller port deck.  I think we're going to roof mount a light tender and find a nice light electric outboard, like an EP carry, to stow.  

With the capability of these boats I don't think I need a high performance tender.  This August we were in Roche Harbor and the waiting list was 12 deep.  So, we dropped he anchor in the harbor and waited.  That was the first time I really wanted to be able to launch a small boat.

Here's Ranger's rig.  You might be able to have this fabbed for a 1095.

[shaodx]

This is a solution for Cutwater C32, similar with 1095. It looks ugly. I have a 1095 and am finding a solution too.
Actually, I like the first video. That solution is way easier. 

[evan]

I’ve just taken delivery of a 795.
I had some custom roof racks build along with a stern rail with bait board and outboard rack. The tender is light enough to lift onto the roof. Works well and doesn’t interfere with the rear space.
I have photos but I can’t work out how to add them ( new member first post )

[mf755wahoo]

We designed a roof rack for our 755 - the rib is light enough for the 2 of us to hoist it up onto it. We were fed up of having to haul the rib into the rear cockpit area if we wanted to take it anywhere with us

[Greg Bergman]

The posted solutions look interesting, but what about the ding's motor?

I have a leader 9 CC and a tender would be a great addition, but not sure how to do it either.

Greg