Dinghies.

Loading and unloading at the wharf or a beach: The first thing to remember about dinghies is that they are all cranky and unstable, but some are better than others. In general, the bigger the better.

Boarding and alighting at the wharf or a beach:

Try not to step on a thwart. Thwarts are the athwartships (crosswise) seats that the oarsman sits on. Step into the bottom of the dinghy if possible and keep your weight as low as possible. Never jump into a dinghy. Make sure it is made fast. The oarsman steps in first, sits amidships, and places the outboard oar in position. The first passenger boards and sits amidships aft. The second passenger boards and sits amidships forward. The third passenger boards and sits aft. Only one person stands at a time!!!

Never board a dinghy carrying gear - hand it to someone already aboard. The outboard motor is most easily mounted by bringing the stern into the wharf, with a mooring line secured, and the bow pointing offshore. Unloading at a wharf - use the reverse of the loading sequence. To load from a beach, draw the bow up to the shore and board over the side of the dinghy, near the bow.

General handling:

Never rock the boat. The most stable part is the stern. Always board over the stern when attempting to board from the water. Lowering the centre of gravity increases stability. All people on board should sit as low as possible. When coming alongside a larger vessel, keep the nose pointing in the same direction as the bow of the larger (or parent) vessel. Ship the oars and remove the rowlocks. Hold fast to the larger ship's gunwale until your first passenger disembarks, then have the painter made fast. Dinghies have a shallow draft and will have little grip on the water. They tend to bob about and may damage the ship's stern or quarter. A fender should be used to stand off.

In rough water head into the weather. If you must travel with the weather then head into it, but go astern and use the oars or the motor to head the bow up. Slow down and cross heavy wash at right angles. A dinghy should be towed on the crest of the second stern wave. Secure the paddles or oars and raise the outboard. Dinghies are best towed with a bridle, especially an inflatable.

Consider these essentials:

A dinghy should be:
- Light but durable
- Self buoyant
- Able to carry three adults safely in rough weather
- Robust enough to stand up to constant use
- Easy to row

Overloading is the prime cause of accidents...

Safety by all Means.

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