Purely aesthetic question:

[SeaEric]

The PO of my 1966 41 TC added an inflatable dinghy, on chocks, with a cover, mounted on top of the hardtop. It serves NO USEFUL PURPOSE except as a life raft, as there is no way to get it off the roof. To use this thing, the boat would have to sink, which is why the PO out it up there. I intended to remove it when I bought the boat, but I haven't because it has sortof grown on me. Now, it's beginning to be a PIA because it's leaking air, and I have to go up there and re-inflate it every few weeks or so.

The question is: Does it look good enough, does it add anything to the looks of the boat to have it's leaks fixed and keep it? Or should I just get it off there and plug the 16 (!) holes that the removal of the chocks will create.

If I decide that I want or need an actual life raft, I will buy one. For my current cruising on the Chesapeake, I don't think that I do need one.

So what say you? Keep it up there or remove it? See photos, without (Photoshopped) or with the dinghy.

 

[saltshaker]

I like the way it looks without it. I'd get rid of it. It serves no useful purpose and it just one more thing to maintain. Sooner or later it will need to be replaced or removed. I'd get rid of it now instead of fixing it and then sticking it back up there.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

If it can't take you ashore when on the hook without a whole lot of pain, dump it.

Boat looks great, fresh paint ??

 

[Beachcomber]

I vote without.
Looks much cleaner, neater.

 

[Avenger]

If you need a tender, tow it. It would be alot easier to re-inflate that way.

Other than that, it looks like you've got the family truckster loaded for camping.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I will vote with the majority. Take it off.

 

[Boatnut]

I gotta go with the majority. Off it goes.

 

[OBXTucker]

Agreed. Take it down and tow it behind when the opportunity presents itself (we love our dink!).
Boat looks great Eric!

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Beautiful without !

 

[captddis]

Definately without.

 

[holtcl]

Eric,

I'd remove - no point in having equipment you can't really use, that still needs to be maintained. Like you don't have enough things to do

Cheryl

 

[SeaEric]

Boat looks great, fresh paint ??

Thanks! She was painted about a decade ago, when the PO had her. Since new, she has always been shed kept in the upper Chesapeake. Almost like a fresh water boat. I'll have to admit, she does sparkle. I do my best to keep her looking good.

Thanks all for your help on this.

 

[rsmith]

I had a friend with that set up. What they did was slide the dink forward onto the trunk cabin then into the water from there.

 

[Bob Bradley]

When it comes to something she's wearing on top, my vote is always to take it off.

 

[nor'easter]

Agree, say your good byes.

 

[jim rosenthal]

See For Sale section, where the dinghy is likely to appear sometime in the near future.

Concensus, rare around here, is heartwarming. I agree- take it off there, fill the holes (I'll help you do it, I did enough of them on my boat recently), touch up the paint, and Bob's your uncle.