A good dinghy is first and foremost one that corresponds to the maximum size of your multihull and the robustness of the davits. A "large" rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) powered by a 10 or 15 HP outboard motor (preferably a 4-stroke, less polluting and requiring no oil mixing) is ideal: you won’t get as wet as with a smaller boat in any chop, you’ll go faster and above all have a greater load capacity. The entire crew will be able to get aboard. All that remains is to manage the weight on board, which is the number one enemy of multihulls. Naturally this is of concern to smaller multihulls, whereas those over 50/55 feet can take on board a larger dinghy - with a bigger outboard and a steering console. Now let's take a look at how to use it:
The essential checks
Once your dinghy is in the water, make sure you have your fuel tank (full is better!), oars, a bailer, the kill switch, and you might need a small anchor. On board your multihull, you must have a pump that works, and if possible, a dinghy repair kit.
Safety first
If you’re alone in an anchorage or on your multihull, ensure you put the kill-cord around your wrist. In the event of falling overboard, your engine will shut down immediately. And if the water is cold, put on a lifejacket, auto-inflating or otherwise.
A waterproof bag can be very useful...
To ensure that your trip ashore goes smoothly, put your phones, cameras, credit cards, etc. in a waterproof bag. On the dinghy, there might be quite a bit of spray...
Starting your engine
Once your engine is in the down position, connect the fuel supply and unscrew the air vent on top of the fuel tank. Pump the priming bulb until it goes hard. Pull out the choke, put the throttle twistgrip at the start setting, and pull the starter cord firmly. Once the engine has started, quickly shut off the choke and always drop the revs before engaging gear.
Approaching the shore
Choose a calm spot to approach, so as to avoid any surf. As few waves as possible on the beach and preferably no rocks. A careful prior examination of the chart won’t be a waste of time!
Arriving on the beach
Lift the engine before beaching. You can continue slow ahead with the outboard leg just flush with the water. Otherwise, turn off the engine and row the last few feet or jump in the water and pull the dinghy ashore.
Secure the dinghy
Bring the tender far enough up the beach, especially in strong winds. Think of the tide... The ideal is of course to tie up to a rock, or a tree...
Lee shore...
If you moor your dinghy on a dock or pontoon, avoid aggressive surfaces (rocks or barnacles) and make sure to secure the dinghy on the downwind side.
On the davits
During long passages, it’s best to hoist the dinghy out of the water. Then there’s no risk of it turning over in a rough sea and especially, you’ll have less drag, both under sail and under motor.
Towing
For very short trips in fair weather you can always tow your tender so it’s ready for use. Observe the behavior of your dinghy with both a long and a short tow. Preferably use a floating line to avoid the risk of getting it caught in your propellers when going astern.
