Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

CD22 & Nutshell
In Response To: Best dinghy? ()

Darden,
I think the Nutshell would be a wonderful companion for your CD22 and I would be happy to tow such a tender. Did a lot of cruising with a friend with an Alberg 23, so I know where you're coming from. He bought a new dingy just before a club cruise, I think it was about a 9' pram style hard dingy. Of course we had to christen it, so overnight, we all threw a bag of garbage in it.
Personally, I tow an inflatable that's too big (10+ ft), but when we bought it we wanted it to carry four - legally. Now I know no one cares. Regret not having a smaller one. Inflatables are nice and stable, but forget about rowing them. Except for Avon, the oarlocks are a joke. So, you're into an outboard - probably a 2HP Honda for another $800. The nutshell you can row happily.
The only time not to tow is in big following seas. The dingy will flip and give you grief - or else hit you. You'll have to go with a short rigid painter or get it on deck. This goes for hard or inflatable. But you're not going offshore in a CD22, are you?
Another + for a hard dink: the mice aren't going to chew holes in it and give you a $400 repair bill.
Hope this helps..

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