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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FizFisho Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: DIY small boat stabilisers?
    Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 7:47am
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Titanium
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I have been thinking about the stability problems with dinghies (glass and tinnies).

I have seen the commercial stabiliser products but often they are nearly the cost of the dinghy itself.

I was thinking either a skirt that goes around the hull or maybe an outrigger system.

Has anyone added such a system to their small boat?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Ohsoslow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 8:40am
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http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/parts-accessories/safety/auction-604928234.htm
Something like those? Attach to either side of the boat..
 
Imagine they'd help a little bit!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FizFisho Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 8:49am
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Titanium
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a mate asked me about them, he has a small dinghy sailor, will check out those, cheers.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote EditB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 9:39am
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A mate of mine put those Dolphins on his tinny and he loves them, really made a huge difference to the stability of the boat.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Sufishent Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 9:53am
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I've got them on my 15' Marco - they improve stability tremendously and they are particularly useful when I have newbies on the boat. I don't use them when it's flat or have experienced crew - and by experienced I mean they understand the stability and tippy issues of a small tinny.

They'd be fantastic on anything smaller but not sure how effective they'd be on anything bigger.

I use them both drifting and at anchor  - just need to fold them out of the way before steaming away at wot 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Granville Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 3:00pm
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I too have been thinking about something for my 12ft tinny.
 
An idea I had was to attach inflatable pontoons in a similar way to RIBs, but I don't know whether that is feasible.
 
Another idea is to weld or rivet small alloy pontoons on the side.
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote OneWayTraffic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 9:28pm
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http://www.kaptenboatcollar.com/
http://dinghydogs.com/
Both about the same price, though I'd give the nod to the boat collar myself.
A DIY option would be to get a car/truck tube on an oar and stick it out when at rest.
 
Depends what you plan to spend I guess.
 
I bought an inflatable first and then a Smartwave because I just wasn't willing to consider a)boats that would tip over with young kids in or b) boats that would sink if I put a hole in them or swamped them.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FizFisho Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 10:04pm
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Originally posted by OneWayTraffic OneWayTraffic wrote:

 

A DIY option would be to get a car/truck tube on an oar and stick it out when at rest.
 
 


thats a good idea. im thinking of what to use to attach it to the oars and how to make the oar lock at the boat end. probably not suitable for the dinghy sailer as i dont think they carry oars, but could be handy for a near shore dinghy. i wonder if there is some kind of telescopic pole that could be lashed down in the row locks at rest and tire tubes attached at the ends, although oars seem more practical as most small dinghy's have some.

i did look at the dinghy dogs and collar, i think for a small sail dinghy the collar would be more practical. i wonder if there is a diy option for this. it must sit low enough to add some value and not too low so when under way it drags, fine line i would think?

i wonder if any option for the collar would be lengths of pool noodles on each side? not sure how it would be possible to hold them in place.

the aqua dolphins mentioned on trade me maybe the neatest solution for a fishing dinghy, probably worth the money if money isnt an issue.

getting some good ideas here. cheers.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Granville Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 10:40am
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Thanks OWT, for those links.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Catchelot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 11:20am
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These look great are they sold in NZ does anyone know?
 
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Joker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 3:23pm
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Not just for small boats it seems - what does this say about Westcoasters - must be the pointy nose
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Moki Marko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 4:17pm
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Originally posted by Joker Joker wrote:

Not just for small boats it seems - what does this say about Westcoasters - must be the pointy nose
 

My concern on a boat this size would be that at some stage your're going to hit a warf or another boat and rip the thing off and make a real mess
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote letsgetem Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 5:02pm
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And it looks far too small to me, to have significant buoyancy.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote daveo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 5:12pm
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god thats a ugly boat LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote pirate Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 5:22pm
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They were the sh it back in the day the ole westcoasters. Im wondering that looks like a diy mod on the hardtop real similar to a local naki boat called kgb.. if so i think thats caught some marlin in its day
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Moki Marko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 8:20pm
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as Joker says: 'what does this say about Westcoasters',  They did have a good reputation though, although by the look of the hull shape possibly a bit 'tender' be interesting to hear from any owners.
I like the look of that 'stick on' boat collar though - a mate had a McLay Softee which was a McLay hull with a big rubbery pontoon glued on, worked really well, problem is if you ever damage it , you can't really fix it, so it just slowly deteriorates and starts to look like shyte
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Muzzfishing Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jun 2013 at 10:05pm
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Dolphin Aqualisers, my father put some on his 12ft tinny was definitely more stable at rest, they are angled down into the water. Were supposed to be in the up position like in that picture of the West-coaster when under way. On the 12ft tinny water used to splash inside the back of the boat occasionally as it went through the water, tinny had low sides.  
    A Good Skipper Keeps the water on the outside of the boat.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote OneWayTraffic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2013 at 9:05pm
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I think the Boat collar could be removed and replaced if you cared about that. Problem is one could buy a SW or a Mac and get a more capable boat than a tinny for less money and effort than a tinny and collar.
 
I love my Smartwave. Stand up whenever and wherever and it's been stable as.
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