bshep
Member
When we had the Formula 45 we liked having the tender along on some of our weekend trips to get to shore from a mooring or to explore the shallows. Now, with the 430 SSC, there is no possibility to keep a tender onboard and I don’t think I’d like to tow all the time. So, I bought an inflatable dinghy (True Kit Navigator 3.0m) and an electric outboard (ePropulsion) to store in the equipment area. I got a chance to try out the storage yesterday and here are some pics of how everything fit into that space in case anyone is considering something similar.
The first picture shows the empty space. The next shows the life raft, ePropulsion battery backpack, and the electric inflator for the dinghy along the port side and the ePropulsion drive unit in its bag tucked into the forward section. The True Kit dinghy is in the center at the bottom of the storage area. I did a test inflation of the dinghy in my garage over the winter so this is how I can realistically deflate It and roll it up - not nearly as tight as from the factory. The third picture shows the True Kit accessory bag with a couple of PFDs and an anchor included, on top of the dinghy. Also you can see the gangway in its case at the stern-end of the compartment and, to the starboard side, the bag for the cockpit sunshades. In the last picture I dropped in the cockpit filler cushions and the bag containing the forward sun shade canopy and rods.
It all fits! And I can get to the life raft in a hurry should I ever need it. The two rechargeable items are also easily accessible for charging.
Now the next test is to see if I can actually inflate and assemble the dinghy in the limited space on the swim platform! And then can I bring the dinghy back aboard, clean and dry it, and then deflate it and pack it all back away! I’ll have wait for some better weather to try all that.
The first picture shows the empty space. The next shows the life raft, ePropulsion battery backpack, and the electric inflator for the dinghy along the port side and the ePropulsion drive unit in its bag tucked into the forward section. The True Kit dinghy is in the center at the bottom of the storage area. I did a test inflation of the dinghy in my garage over the winter so this is how I can realistically deflate It and roll it up - not nearly as tight as from the factory. The third picture shows the True Kit accessory bag with a couple of PFDs and an anchor included, on top of the dinghy. Also you can see the gangway in its case at the stern-end of the compartment and, to the starboard side, the bag for the cockpit sunshades. In the last picture I dropped in the cockpit filler cushions and the bag containing the forward sun shade canopy and rods.
It all fits! And I can get to the life raft in a hurry should I ever need it. The two rechargeable items are also easily accessible for charging.
Now the next test is to see if I can actually inflate and assemble the dinghy in the limited space on the swim platform! And then can I bring the dinghy back aboard, clean and dry it, and then deflate it and pack it all back away! I’ll have wait for some better weather to try all that.