Bruce Bingham, there's my man . . . I love his sketches . . . I have his odds 'n ends boat projects book, forget the name . . . Wish I hadn't let my "MAIB" subscription slide, so I wouldn't have missed the Robb White series! My Flicka partnership plans to put our '78 model back in the water this Spring: It'll be the first time since the Fall of 1999!!! Bruce Bingham and Lyle Hess: Two of my heroes . . . ----- Original Message ----- From: <chbenneck@juno.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 11:13 AM Subject: Inflatable Dinghy's Craig, "Small" boat owners have been trying to solve the dinghy problem since Day 1. Doug's folding dinghy is one example. Then there is the dinghy that is built in two parts and nests; so that it fits on board. Or the dinghy built with a slot at the bow to fit around the mast; Each is an attempt at solving the problem and none are ideal. You can only come up with a solution that is satisfactory for you; for your cruising area; for the distances you travel; for the weather you will encounter; and what you are willing to live with............ When Bruce Bingham and Kathy Burke got their Flicka, he had also designed the Trinka dinghy and that became their always towed behind, solution. He wrote several articles about improvements to dinghies: self bailing devices; rugged towing attach points; floor boards; dinghy equipment (anchor + rode; bailer; spare oar lock; spare oar) and their stowage; and proper towing techniques in the open ocean. So they were resigned to always tow their Trinka dinghy and made the necessary improvements to do this successfully. Last year Robb White wrote a definitive treatise on dinghies in Messing About In Boats. Those articles should be made into a small book for everyone to appreciate. He covered each type of dinghy; their strengths and weaknesses; what you really need, and why; oars; sails; outboards; the dinghy as your life boat, and what is required of a life boat and what equipment it should have. I just wish I had been able to read that 40 years ago, I wouldn't have had to reinvent the wheel, and go through the same learning process that he did. Oh, just in case any of you are towing a dinghy that has a centerboard trunk please make sure that when you tow, that the centerboard trunk is closed and firmly sealed. You will be amazed at how much water can squirt out of an open centerboard trunk; and then you will discover what a wonderful sea anchor a filled dinghy can be. Been there: done that! Connie _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats