Many
years ago when Jan and I were just beginning to think about cruising
our friends (indeed, mentors) Bob and Kay Jack came motoring up in
their new dingy. We expressed admiration. He said that it was an AB
brand and that there was not a better dingy on the market. This was
a true statement. Then he said something that I have lived to
regret. He said to buy the biggest dingy that would fit on the fore
deck. Dutifully, I measured out 11 feet between the baby stay and
windless, and I ordered an 11 foot AB fiberglass RIB (rigid
inflatable bottom) dingy from Triad Marine in Kemah, Texas. Thus did
Habanero come into our lives.
Habanero
was a great dingy. She was stable and carried great loads of
supplies, water, fuel, laundry, guests, and suitcases between the
dingy docks and White Pepper.
However, she was heavy and slow being under powered with our 8 HP
outboard. Getting her on board in a breeze was a tricky enterprise.
Jan ran the spinnaker halyard from the coach roof while I was on the
fore deck wresting the wind driven monster ever in danger of being
flicked off the deck.
Moving
about on the fore deck with the dingy on board was a trial with every
spare inch of the fore deck occupied. The anchor drill was always
compromised by the presence of such a large dingy.
Also
she leaked. The first leak was only a year out when we were on the
Chesapeake. I was so proud of Jan for taking charge with a bottle of
soapy water and the repair kit. However, the leaks became more and
more routine. To be fair, Habanero
suffered grievous damage when improperly stored for two winters at
Deltaville Boatyard. Then she continued to suffer when exposed to
the Florida sun while stored at Green Cove Springs Marina.
Eventually, we took the poor dingy to a professional—Arnis
Zvirbulis at the Fair Winds Boat Repair in St. Augustine, FL. He
found 8 small leaks at $75 per leak. He told us not to bother to
come back. Habanero
continued to leak very slowly for the 2014-15 season. However, when
we returned this March to Green Cove Springs she would not hold air.
Jan emptied the repair kit and applied every patch left in the can.
It was obvious that the very fabric of Hypolon was deteriorating.
She was in human terms--dying.
I
ordered a new dingy from Defender Marine. It was another AB, of
course. But the new dingy was only 9 feet long and only 4 feet wide.
It was made with a thin aluminum bottom which is the new fashion and
only weighs 75 pounds. We can carry it easily with one on each end.
It has not been on the fore deck yet but should greatly help access
to the anchor gear.
We
have placed Habanero
with a new owner (no charge) who promises to look after her and maybe
address the leaks with an internal sealant. Then he will let the
grand kids play with it on the St. John's River.
However,
I have regrets and guilty feelings about letting her go. First of
all, I regret believing the hype that Hypolon was some sort of
magical fabric that resists the sun and abrasion. It does not. I
will carefully cover the new dingy with a tarp whenever we store it.
I will not let the new dingy lie along side for extended periods
bumping and abrading the fabric. Rather I will let it ride astern.
Finally, I will not the take the dingy ashore if possible. The new
fashion is to anchor the dinghies in 1 foot of water and wade ashore.
This spares rubbing the fabric on the sand.
Jan
has named the new dingy Hananero2. Here's
to hoping she brings as much service and enjoyment as the original!
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