PDQ OWNERS FORUM

I need a new dinghy and would like to avoid a 'deflatable' if I can.

With all of that deck, limited displacment, and a cut down transom, a single strong rainstorm can take it down.

I had a nieghbor where that happened 2 days in a row! He did have ~ 15hp on it, I think. No, it did not leak. It did rain 3+ inches both nights!

Still, there isn't much planing surface when loaded...

A friend of mine had a cat dingy and got swamped by a following wave.... not enough lift in the stern.

Have a Livingston 9' with an 8hp 2-stroke on my MV34 and I love it! It is the light version (without the reinforcing pieces along the gunwales) and only weighs about 110 lbs. It is extremely stable; I can stand on the gunwale amidships, and it will not flip. I've had no problems with flooding but then again, I never leave the drain plugs installed when it is on the davits. It doesn't have as much freeboard as I would like, but I've transported 4 people in it in calm water without concern. If you are running at high speed, the L-9' does need some type of barrier under the outboard mount (I use a sponge) to prevent water coming up under the engine and into the boat. Running at slow speeds, this isn't an issue.

Having said all of the above, I don't go to the Bahamas where open water and long distances are facts of life. If that's where you will spend most of your time, the L-9' will do fine but you will need to be prudent.

Tom

Tom and Amy on 36041 have a reinforced 9 that they apparently like, but I haven't heard any updates on the issue. I hope you don't mind my posting your blog here, Tom.
http://www.theconchhorn.com/DreamCatche ... gston.aspx

Though that may be the company and not the product. Don't know.