Robert Sminkey wrote:
RS>Joy,  I owned a 26-foot Seafarer sloop for 3 years...and cruised
RS>extensively in her; then, "upgraded" to a 36-foot Cape Dory cutter-
RS>rigged sloop...which I have owned for the past 16 years. I lived
RS>aboard the Cape Dory for 10 1/2 years and cruised up and down the U.S.
RS>east coast in her while using her as my domicile. Accordingly, I
RS>believe I can intelligently address the pros and cons of dinghy
RS>ownership by sailboat owners and cruisers...as I perceive them.
RS>     First off: One must have a dinghy if one is going to cruise in a
RS>sailboat. There are many encountered situations where one must anchor
RS>out...yet, must get into the beach for one reason or another. The
RS>further north one operates along the east coast of the United States,
RS>the more one encounters this situation...especially in New England.
Robert,
   How long does it take to inflate and by what means do you inflate it.
   If the boat was sinking real fast do you have time to inflate it?
   I agree with you that one must have a dinghy and I don't like towing
   it because of performance and anywhere on deck it gets in the way.
peter.deppisch@canrem.com
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