Phil, With Griselda's (M17 fixed keel) 39" draft, a dinghy is a necessity for going ashore in many places. I have a "Fatty Knees" lapstrake dinghy (another Lyle Hess design) that has been used with Griselda for many years. One thing I have found to be important is to keep my weight in the center of the Dinghy when steping in and out. "Thumbelina", (the dinghy) is very stable, rows and sails well and tows with very little drag. I have had a couple of inflatables over the years and they were never very pleasant to row. Give me a hard dinghy for sheltered water "gunkhole" cruising and an inflatable that can be deflated and stowed for offshore. Ron M17 #14, fixed keel Griselda

Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 16:31:51 -0400> From: srelt@iclub.org> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Dinghy> > For a dinghy I am torn between an inflatable kayak and a solid one. > However, I am not close minded on anything. Do those of you who use a > dinghy find getting from an M15 into one of them is just too > difficult--(too tipsy)? I see in our pics that some of you use narrow > bottomed prams, dories, and kayaks. They are about as wobbly as any.> Phil> Qui-1> > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/