Thread: Dinghy size?

We've just bought a place near the lake in Taupo and I'm on the lookout for a dinghy, which will be used for trout fishing (jigging/spinner and fly) aswell as duckshooting. It'll be primarily me and my 2 boys aged 12 and 7, aswell as a Labrador or 2.

How big should I be looking at? I've been looking at boats ranging from 2.5 - 3.5m, and currently have my eye on a wee Quintrex 2.5m. Not too phased about speed, more stability.

Cheers

3.5 is more useful. Really good economy with a 15hp.
15s not too heavy to lift off too

A 10 footer is way too short for that sort of load.I,d recommend a 12 footer hooked up to a 15 ponies

13foot fryan is just about perfect...any bigger it gets heavy...and smaller the stability in rough water isnt as good...mine has a deep V hull so cuts into waves very well,the 12 ft fran we had first was much flatter in hull and would rock around much worse as did the 10ft version we tried...13ft allows Dad to sit on rear,one kid or mum up front and other in the middle,you all got just enough space and the dog goes wherever it likes.....the fat close cell foam squares like giant jigsaw puzzle bits you see on playgrounds keeps the cold off floor very well.

Cheers guys, any issues with the riveted parkercraft and fryan type hulls?

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Cheers guys, any issues with the riveted parkercraft and fryan type hulls?

Yep they corrode and or loosen up and leak.
Old ones can range from minor leaks to pretty constant bailing!
Look for a newer welded hull version if you can.

and if you do get leaks...MS1 is your friend..... the 12 ft we had was terrible,if yo utipped it upside down you could see pin pricks of light from underneath it.....it went back to seller and we got the 13 soon afterwards....MUCH MUCH better boat and has seen a hell of a lot of trout . it will get a work out in 2 weeks time,full to brim with decoys and gear and the 15 will still get it honking along,too well with a big load,scarey if I pop it up on plane with four people and gear in it.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Cheers guys, any issues with the riveted parkercraft and fryan type hulls?

Have a 8ft Parkercraft for duck shooting, was used as tender Lake Taupo from new, I've only had it in fresh water. No sign of corrosion, so if you can find local with fresh water use only. You can never have a too bigger boat on Taupo.

If you are looking to fish out of it, go plastic. Alloy boats spook fish as they are really noisy in the water.

Although those Chinese Quintrex hulls are welded seam,rather than older leakprone eg Parkercraft,they are rice paper thin gauge alloy beefed up with OTT swaging which frankly doesn't cut the mustard.Wont last the distance like most junk from The People's Republic.I,d recommend deep V contemporary kiwi built welded
seam eg Fyran Ullrich etc with battleship gauge Tiwai Alloy

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

If you are looking to fish out of it, go plastic. Alloy boats spook fish as they are really noisy in the water.

another advantage of the foam matting.... but think about it for a second...all them jetskis,jet boats,water skiers,pleasure cruisers ski biscuit boats are all on water at same time...the trout get used to boats and banging going on...they sure as shit get put off by all the whizzing going on (stick your head under water next time your on a busy lake) so surely a little bang or three you will make it no different to all the others going on.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

another advantage of the foam matting.... but think about it for a second...all them jetskis,jet boats,water skiers,pleasure cruisers ski biscuit boats are all on water at same time...the trout get used to boats and banging going on...they sure as shit get put off by all the whizzing going on (stick your head under water next time your on a busy lake) so surely a little bang or three you will make it no different to all the others going on.

@Micky Duck on opening weekend, will you be walking around in the open outside your maimai or letting your dog run around or swim through your decoys while you are calling in the ducks? (Damn sure I wont be )

If no, why not? Ducks are used to seeing people walking about and dogs swimming so surely a couple of extra walkers will make no different to all?

Fish are no different to any other game species that experiences predation - the more camouflaged you are and the quieter you can be the better your results. If you are fishing in the shallows (which you would choose to do to be away from all the noise of other water craft), a plastic boat IS MUCH QUIETER than an alloy one and helps give you an edge, if fishing is a key objective.

That is why kayak fishing is so effective - stealth.

A Smart Wave 3500 would be a good option, 4500 even better. Good stable platform for three people

dog swimming through decoys has been known to be the best attractant known to mankind.
agree quiet is good,but Im saying its not be all and end all.... the amount of fish we catch prooves to me the alloy boats still work fine.

Thanks all for the feedback and advice, bit the bullet and bought a welded hull 12ft Fryan with a 15hp 2stroke mercury. All seems pretty tidy and the boys are keen as to try it out tomorrow.

that will go like a cut cat......
91 octane should run smoother and start easier...the 98octane from BP will scorch along quite a bit faster but will possibly be harder to start and may run a little bit rougher.....its amazing the difference it makes in small engines.

have fun and dont forget to take some photos to share with us.