Dingy for C-25

K

kevello@comcast.net

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Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
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C Dory Year
2004
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Vessel Name
C-Puffin
Howdy All:
I am a new owner of a 2004 C-25 and am shopping for a dingy.
I am assuming an inflatable that can be carried atop the house but would love to get owner's opinions on the subject.

I have a Ramarine radar housing that sits forward, leaving 72 inches to the aft edge of the house. Thanks for any thoughts.

Kevello
 
I feel that a light weight inflatable is the best dinghy for a C Dory 22 or 25.
We carried an 8 foot and a 6'7" inflatable on the 22. We have a 9' 4" inflatable floor for the 25. Remember that the lenth of the boat includes pontoons which extend beyond the transom. Also the dinghy rolled up on the roof works well. I would keep it light--consider an air floor or slat floor. Low HP works for us (3.5hp)--but I may leave a 10 1/2 foot Avon with an inflatable floor which takes a 15 hp for my son to use--and have the Gaurhar Davit to lift than from the kicker bracket to the dinghy.
 
Hi Kevello,

We have been very pleased with our West Marine/Zodiac RU 260, 8.5' slat floor dinghy. We have a rear radar arch, and it fits fine on top of the boat. With your forward mounted radar, you should have no problem with an 8.5' dinghy on top.

It is easy to pull the dinghy up on the bow and move it to the cabin top. We also have a Merc 2.5 hp 2-stroke motor (no longer available in the US) that is a good companion to the dinghy.

There are plenty of places we have been with the boat that would have been difficult to explore ashore without the dinghy.

Good luck with your decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I'll second Jim's opinion on the RU 260, works great on mine, carries 4 people well using a Yamaha 3hp. Normally it's rolled up and secured on the bow tucked up against the cabin. If I want to carry it inflated I turn it around and put it on the roof, face up, stern towards front with the trailing pontoons surrounding my radar. Doesn't seem to affect the radar.
 
Thanks for all the good information. I have actually looked at the Zodiac RU-260 and really like it. I'm glad to hear Steve say that placing it stern forward did not screw up the radar function too severely. That was one of my concerns. I also looked at the smaller RU-240, which could then be set on the house facing either way.

Last question: with the RU-260 lashed on top do you still have enough access to the hand rails to be useful?

Thanks again.

Kevin
 
Several Brats (including me) bought Alaska Series dinghies at the boat show. You should consider them as well.

Warren
 
I use the handrails to lash the raft down, 4 straps. The handrails are still fully functional for use.

I bought mine primarily for price (xmas sale). Plus I already had/have a nice porta-bote, just too difficult to deploy vertically. The RU 260 has grown on me as the solution for our needs for past 3 years.
 
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