[C320-list] Dinghy Hard bottom Aluminum vs. Fiberglass open ended question

[Greg Flanagan]

I replaced my 10 year old Titan 9’+ hypalon and fibreglass bottom dingy (150+ lbs) and Yamaha 6HP 4 stroke outboard with an AB 9’+ hypalon and aluminium bottom (75lbs) and a Torqueedo electric outboard. The much lower weight of both makes handling much easier. The electric has greater range with the lighter dingy. I am very pleased with both and we use the dingy much more especially for checking out the coastline. The electric has perfectly continuous speed and is silent so we can sneak up on critters without scaring them off. 

Greg 
Hop Dancer #1076
Sidney, BC 

> On Apr 23, 2018, at 6:41 AM, Chris Nichols <cinichols at btinternet.com> wrote:
> 
> We got a mercury 310 rib with 6hp 2cl 2stroke. It is fibreglass but we find it too heavy for our davits so tow it instead. 
> I would go highfield AL if choosing again but we only sail 3 weeks a year so not worth changing. 
> 
> Chris
> 
>> On 23 Apr 2018, at 12:21, John Morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> AL clearly the way to go. I have a Walker Bay rib which has the ABS Hull very rugged but for a similar sized AL rib it’s about 30lb heavier. Also I went with the hypalon tubes instead of the PVC. Unless the dinghy is continually in the Sun PVC is just fine. I’ve been looking at the Highfield products and wud buy one of them. 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Apr 23, 2018, at 5:03 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> We are starting to do homework on replacing our dinghy once/if  we get davits.
>>> We are leaning towards hard bottom dinghy and hearing pros and cons of Aluminum vs fiberglass.
>>> Any thoughts out there?
>>> So far, we are hearing that Aluminum is lighter.  Not much else yet. 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185
>