A few days ago I was shooting the dinghy segment of “The Minimalist Sailor” and running through the pros/cons of both types of boats. After editing it I decided to heed my own advice.
I’ve retired the inflatable for a while. Its deflated & stowed on the back deck and the Yamaha 9.9 is in the cockpit. It costs me about $25 every time I have to fill it and I just cant do it any more! Funny thing is, the first day I pulled the outboard off someone offered to buy it. I’m thinking about it hard 
On my path of minimalism the first thing to go is the inflatable. I must say I do love the boat. It is very useful for carrying
loads, it goes fast without having to row or sail, and most importantly it is easy to get in and out of from spear fishing. But It is a boat that will render me fat, lazy, and broke in my old age. Not to mention I’m always stressed that my spear will puncture it if I’m not careful.
The expense of as fabric boat that deteriorates over time (sun), patching, the expense of an outboard motor, maintenance, parts, fuel, oil, and the stress that many people want to steal it just isn’t worth it for me.
The other day I couldn’t get the outboard started (flooded) and decided to row a mile and a half to my favorite spear-fishing reef. It was our first real row full of gear and a long distance in the newly acquired Dyer midget.
As soon as we were a few hundred yards from Splendid we came across a pod of dolphins which felt totally comfortable playing under the dinghy as I rowed. Its almost as if they were thanking me for burning rice & beans as opposed to fossil fuel. A few minutes later sea-birds came to thank us as well, hovering just a few feet away, and gawking at the humans it the quiet and slow boat, “Thanks guys”, it was a beautiful experience!
At 47 I must say the exercise is welcome. Getting exercise living on a boat is difficult. I do yoga and spear-fish (swimming), but no cardio, and this fills the gap for sure.
I can get into the Dyer alone from the water but take in 5 gallons over the stern. If Carla puts her weight on the bow I can get in keeping the dink dry but it takes both of us.
All I can say is the benefits of having a rowing & sailing dinghy far outweigh the benefits of an inflatable for me.
At the end of the day the most important benefit is safety. The hard dink wont let you down. It always starts, never deflates, and will always get you where your going. I don’t know if you have ever rowed an inflatable but its a joke.
If the hard dink is built right it wont sink either, and if you must, you can fit a small outboard to get you across longer runs. I must tell you I LOVVVVEEEE dinghy sailing. I can just sail around all day long!
If I was still a single-hander I might keep my Dyer midget. However I’ve been researching hard dinghies for a few years now looking for the perfect design.
What will allow me to get in alone from spear-fishing without flooding the boat, carry heavy loads, and still fit on my aft deck under the mizzen boom? I know I’ve posted the link a few times in the past but here you go again.
I’m going to build a CLC Passagemaker take apart (nesting) dinghy.
This is really the best of both worlds for me. Rows well, sails well, carries a heavy load (650 lbs) not to mention the fact that is just damn beautiful!
The front 45” unbolts and stows in the rear 93” (nesting). This means I can stow it under my mizzen boom when I’m at sea and keep the foredeck clear.
The plans are only $100 and I’m good with fiberglass. The Passage maker is usually constructed from plywood and covered with 
fiberglass making it a glass boat with a wooden core. However I’m going to make fiberglass sheets and use it instead of the plywood rendering a solid glass hull.
I plan on keeping this boat the rest of my life. If you know me, I’m pretty hard on my equipment, and this boat just fits the bill.
I know I have a lot of readers who dream of sailing one day, and many that are planning to buy a sailboat in the near future.
I have a suggestion. 
Why don’t you build a Passagemaker with the family and start sailing now? The effort wont be wasted as you can use it as your ships dinghy later on, and get sailing now?
If I have any adventurous readers who are up for this mission (should you decide to accept it), we can share building suggestions & techniques throughout the process, might be fun?
Anyway, just a thought.
Carla left yesterday and is is visiting family for a few weeks. Our “6 month trial period” ended on the 2nd, and needless to say I asked her to stay. She’s a really good lady, we are best friends, and uber-compatible.
I am such a lucky guy and a testament to the fact that “money cant buy you happiness”!
Ill be sailing for Linton in a few days. I haven’t had red meat in 6 weeks or more and I’m really craving a cheese burger or steak. I also have to find some scrap wood so I can build a folding table in the v-birth so I can move my editing suite out of the main saloon and give us a dining area again.
A few weeks after Carla’s return her mom is coming for a three day visit and Linton is a really nice spot for that. I’m going to explore some of the other anchorages in the area and may do a week or so exploring the Chagras (spelling) river. Its supposed to be pretty amazing with wildlife.
Peace from Paradise.
Sail far and live slowly.
– alex
why not used high density closed cell foam? light,easy to work with, strong and unsinkable. G
I look at dingy speed as “getting me where nobody else is”…………..must be different where you are. Things to think about when choosing a dink I guess.
In the states, anchorages and special places may be a couple miles away, or more. A dink that can make 15kts can extend your enjoyment…………..but where you are, might not make a differance……………..sooooo, can’t your dyer dink handle a 10hp and get you places when you need it? or is the length a problem for speed???
A couple thoughts here my friend.
1st. I love the idea you suggested, for myself and others; Build a dink. Cool.
2nd. I think there are a lot of folks in my sittuation that I dealing with a time and learning curve issue. That being said, I really think you should film the whole process and show those of us with limited, or NO experience, how to do it. The education in fiberglass work, and boat building would be priceless, and you would have another DVD product to assist in financing your life.
Just a thought.
Lucky
Sunfishn
For me the expense and the fact burning fossil fuel just sucks is the issue, bad juju.
I may get a little yamaha 2hp for long, long runs but I’m good rowing a few miles if I need to no problem, keeps me fit :)
Lucky,
I am thinking of filming it for sure. If you buy the ful CLC kits construction looks super easy :)
I’m having an engine issue today, I don’t think it’s serious. My psi running is almost 60, and about 20 on a hot idle. The oil pressure alarm is going off at 20 psi but I think it’s a bad sender. My oil pressure gauge is mechanical (tube) and not electric so I trust it, Hummmmmmmm?
Cheers
Alex, I like your idea of using alternative materials on your dingy instead of a wood frame. I had an old boat once with rotten wooden stringers and a plywood floor. I had to cut all that crap out and redo the whole thing…major pain in the ass. I was thinking about weight of that fiberglass though. Hope it wont be too heavy.
I have been looking at the clc passagemaker for about six months, I might just build one this winter. You should check these out, http://www.dinghydogs.com/ Make you hard dinghy a rigid inflatable. Several hard dinghies on the market have inflatable tube kits available. This is the first one I have found that looks universal. You might want to look at these. Just put them on when you need them.
Roylfukes
I spoke the the designer of the Passagemaker about my plan and he thinks it sounds fine. I wouldn’t exactly call fiberglass an alternative material my dyer and many other dinks are solid glass. I agree pulling out a wood frame does sound like a huge pain in the ass, that’s what I’m trying to avoid. I want it built a little heavier (not too heavy) but something I can be hard on daily. The Passagemaker when unbolted fits perfectly 8′ under the mizzen boom and that’s what I’m really excited about. I like the idea of having a larger durable boat once I drop anchor for work & fun.
Trekkerd,
In the mean time I’m going to try and fit a fender on the back of the dyer which should provide enough buoyancy for me to climb in and out. I’ll check out the link, Internet is too slow now, thanks.
Still blowing from the west, weather reports are for the birds !!!
Cheers
Ha, the dinghy dogs look cool for sure. However I don’t know about sailing, and I don’t think you could row with them?
I’m planning on sailing and rowing to my fishing spots.
The Passagemaker still looks like the ticket for me :)
Finally some sun today, no wind. I really do need to get a drifter to take advantage of all the 5-8 knots of wind around here.
Happy Sunday
Customers have reported that sailing is unimpeded. Also if the tubes are installed as suggested they sit low enough not to interfere with rowing at all. Check for more information.
The Walker Bay plastic dinghy have an inflatable tubes that mount on the dinghy. For rowing the answer is longer oars. The inflatable tubes also make it more stable when sailing, helps resist the dunk when a gust hits. Our first sailboats were Hobie kayaks with sailing kits, to keep them upright in 7+ knots and gusts we installed the inflatable Sidekicks (amas) they worked great. We up graded to their Adventure Island kayak trimarans. These were a blast. On your finder idea, if you can mount them on a adjustable pole (pipe 1/2 – 3/4 conduit) that you can extend out away from the boat, the leverage would get you more stability. You could make it as simple a running the pipe thru eye bolts and vise grips to clamp the pipe in place. Just an idea.
What about an aluminum passage maker??? Light weight, corrosion resistant, durable. I’m thinking that I may go that route one day. I’ve done a bunch of aluminum welding (tig and mig) and its actually not too hard. Getting the metal clean is the key.
http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/3110980003.html
Alex, check this “shooter” out and see if it would work for your drifter,,,,,,,,,,,I’ll send it to you …….of course it hasta fit……….but you could get Carla to modify it too…….whatdayathink?
Alex,
I just received your Kickstarter update with the rough cut video. AWESOME! Dude, you have so much film making talent. The opening speech is NOT too long. It is perfect. It moved me.
I am so glad I contributed to such a great project.
Alex, I couldn’t get the preview to play on my old xp computer. Could you post it to u-tube?
framer
Roy, aluminum eah, that’s an idea? I’m all about glass though :)
Sunfishn, I don’t think I could cut a drifter out of that. I actually have a decent spinnaker just too much work single handing. The drifter doesn’t have the horse power of the spinnaker but can be used to go to weather and is easy to handle, but thanks for keeping an eye open for me:)
Paul, thanks for the words, this will be a really special film. Carla played the bass over the credits and we are playing/recording all the music ourselves. It’s turning out so much better than I hoped, there is a little magic happening :)
Farmers, I’m keeping the film updates / clips only for the supporters as I want to keep it a surprise :) it’s a wmv download, I think you just have to wait as it’s a large file, not streaming.
I figured out how to engine-turn (swerlie circular pattern in stainless) today. I have to make a new dash panel at the helm and will engine turn along with my counters when I get a few bucks.
Planning on motoring for linton in the morning. There is just no wind in sight :(
Peace.
Alex,
I just watched the video again. Don’t change ANYTHING about the intro. It is PERFECT. I am 52 y/o and I guarantee that intro will resonate with EVERYONE over the age of 50 who is still in the rat race as I am. I get it and am taking action.
I have been toying with the idea of building a Tom Colvin Gazelle in steel. I have the skill sets to do so and I just found out that Tom is alive and only a short distance from me. I have met with him twice and I’m going for it. I am stil looking for a basket case Gazelle but haven’t found a fixer-upper in the right price/condition combo. So I am getting ready to pull the trigger on building myself. You are my accountabillity partner Alex.
Paul,
Im really, Really happy to hear that, I’ll consider myself accountable :)
I had posted a link to the clip but just realized I shouldn’t post it publicly as there are a few stock shots I haven’t paid for yet.
If anyone is interested to make a contribution to the cause let me know and I’ll send you a preview of some of the work completed. There is still some equipment I want to buy like a rail system with follow focus and a nice IPS monitor. When I finish the film I need a quality IPS monitor for color and contrast representation especially now that I’m planning to release on blue ray. Producer credit and credit in the special thanks section is also available.
I believe this will be an important film and a path to a lifestyle that is available to all of us.
Sailing for Linton in the morning check the spot page for updates.
The guy didn’t buy my outboard. I’d really like to have it when Carla’s mom gets here so it’s a good thing :)
Peace
alex, I am a kickstarter supporter and finally got the wav file to play. i think the intro is not too long also. for those who haven’t been following from the begining it fills in the background.
joe framer
Joe, glad you got the WMV to play. I’ll post more updates to kickstarter as time goes on.
Well guys, was up at 4:30 for an early departure and been motoring all damn day, burn’n that diesel :( I have the spot on if anyone wants to see location.
I have a small knock, actually more of a tick in the engine. I think I have a sticky valve or broken spring. I have to give the engine some love in the upcoming weeks.
Only one hit on the line today, still have nearly 14 miles and I’m hoping to arrive with a barracuda at the least :)
Hot, hot, hot sunny day and no wind, Argggg!
alex.. that sounds like an injector……first try loosening the fuel line to the injectors one at atime. the rpms should drop and the engine will become rough….normal. if one of the injectors does not drop rpms or change the idle that injector may be bad..bueno suarte……Cpt G p.s. why not use the closed cell foam?
Well Guys, I’m changing my construction philosophy. I had a long chat with an engineering friend and he suggested I build with a Nida-core, core.
My concern is that the boat won’t rot, or eventually become saturated with water. Check out Nida-core:
nida-core.com/english/
boatbuildercentral.com/proddetail.php?prod=NIDA_H8PP_finished
At this point this looks like the best option.
Gary, thanks for the tip, will do!
Peace
Alex,
I’m a divorced bachelor. I watch your videos with carla and read your blogs. I hope she smiles as much off camera as she does on. If so… maybe she’s a keeper. I’m happy for you. I felt your pain as I witnessed you last relationship fall apart. We all love you for what you do.
lee,
She seems to be smiling all the time, we are pretty silly most of the time, and she is a keeper for sure. I/we try not to focus on “forever” as life has a tendency to happen. That being said we have talked about future steps, and if I ever knew a woman to take “steps” with its Carla. She is an amazing woman, linguist, musician, sewer, partner, and friend, not to mention lots of other exceptional qualities. I guess I’m a little bias?
I got a couple samples of the nida-core from a french sailor building a bimini on his trimaran. He gave me a bare sample, and one covered with two layers of cloth on each side and it is AMAZING core material. You can go to the Nida-core website listed above and request a free sample. For those of you wanting to take on a boat building project with me it might be a good idea.
I’m going to have the coolest and most practical dingy everywhere we sail!
Happy weekend to everybody if you can get out sailing!!!