Jump to content

Catspaw ot Spindrift tender?


Vanilla

Recommended Posts

I am looking to build one to carry 2 adults and a dog, total 340 lb, 380 with outboard. Will be rowed and motored, sail will only be an option.  8' to 9.5' long, stable to get in from the water.

 

This will be a tender to a 35 feet cruising sailboat, to be cary on davits. We live on the boat full time during the cruising season, 5 to 6 months in the Bahamas. My existing to be retired dinghy, is an inflatable AVON 9.5 soft bottom, so I am guessing around 7.5 feet of usable length inside. I use it, at a minimum, twice a day to get the dog to shore. Also to cary groceries, to go spear fishing, to go snorkeling, to explore. Most of the time I beach it or anchor in 10 to 20 ft of water. I have a 2013 Yamaha 4hp 2 stoke outboard, 36 lb.

 

 

Catspaw 8 or Spindrift 9.5 ?

 

Sylvain

s/v Vanilla

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I built a Catspaw 9 nesting dink about 15 years ago, still going strong! We chose the nesting version and carry it on the coach top of our Orion. We have the sailing rig but never used it as much as we thought we would, nut it goes fine with our tiny Nissan 2 stroke. If you build one of Graham's designs I am sure you will be happy with it, just don't try to "beef" it up. I am guilty of that on 2Paws and it is a little heavy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In general pram dinghies offer the best load carrying/stability for length. The spindrift would be a better sailer but if you are going to motor/row then the catspaw would be a better choice...lighter & shorter.

Coming from an inflatable however you might appreciate the catspaw 9- same weight as the spindrift  but better load carrying and probably better suited to the 4hp motor. Any hard dinghy will less stable (in terms of initial stability) than your avon (for standing in to lift up the dog for example) so the bigger catspaw would again be a better choice from this point of view.

Always compromises.

Cheers

Peter HK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You said, " stable to get in from the water." A big difference with a hard dinghy is it is much less stable for climbing in from the water. Some do it from the stern. Consider offsetting the motor to provide more room to climb aboard. Another method is to rig a float (fender?) to the top of your boarding ladder to support your weight when climbing aboard.

 

I like the Spindrift design partly because I think it tows easier but since you're using davits and probably need to watch the length so it doesn't get hit by waves when you're heeled, I'd recommend the Catspaw 8 or 9. The 9 would have significantly stability and capacity. 

 

Yes, the weights indicated are achievable. Don't overbuild. The boat is strong enough as designed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used a nesting Spindrift 9 as tender for years.  It tows better than just about anything, definitely better than a pram.  It rows better than a pram.  I bet it motors better than a pram.  I sailed it in port often, I liked sailing around harbors to look at other boats.  My wife would join me on the best days.   In calm water I have rowed it with 4 adults and some stuff, at least 700 lbs..  A pram will give you a little more load capacity per foot.  I was sold on building a pram until I found the B&B site and the Spindrift plans.  I haven't looked back.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

Supporting Members

Supporting Members can create Clubs, photo Galleries, don't see ads and make messing-about.com possible! Become a Supporting Member - only $12 for the next year. Pay by PayPal or credit card.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.