Assembling the New Dinghy

On Tuesday I spent about 2 hours wrestling with the new inflatable dinghy trying to assemble it on the foredeck.  In the end I had to give up on my goal of a complete assembly due to the short space between the life raft and inner forestay, the heavily curved deck, and worst of all, those two bollards along the center of the deck.  I managed to fit floor sections 1 and 2 at the forward of the dinghy and  sections 3 and 4 at the aft end, but could not come even close to lining up sections 2 and 3 so that I could snap them into place. 

I do not want to sail long distances with the assembled dinghy either on deck or towed behind the boat, so my plan is to assemble the dinghy on deck with only sections 3 and 4 of the aluminum floor.  This will be enough to support me on a ride to shore, where I will the fit sections 1 and 2.  With the dinghy fully assembled I'll then return to the boat to pick up Brenda and whoever else may be sailing with me.

In the forthcoming cruise we won't need the dinghy until we reach Koombana Bay, Bunbury.  I'll then assemble the dinghy and we'll tow it around the short distances of Geographe Bay.  Then on our second visit to Koombana Bay I'll ship the dinghy, break it down, and stow it for the long sail to the marina at Mandurah.

If this plan works the reward will be a large dinghy with a super strong aluminum floor, capable of getting us to our destinations with dry bottoms, dry cargo, end even dry feet.  ... IF!