How far can you realistically travel across potentially rough water in an inflatable dinghy?
score:11
Sounds severely risky. If you drift out to sea (which you might if the weather or the tides are not what you expect) then unless you can contact land - and don't count on your mobile phone - you could really be screwed.
RNLI guidance is clear: inflatables are great fun in pools but it is strongly advised that they are not used in the sea. If they are, only do so on a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags.
Have you considered just paying a local with a boat (a proper boat) to take you over there and come back later to get you? Try phoning tourist information or the harbourmaster's office and they might be able to recommend a water taxi.
Upvote:5
It depends on what you mean by "dingy". Some of the inflatable crafts, such as the white water kayaks and sea kayaks are quite useful for long distance travel (much longer distances than you mention). But these inflatables are not lightweight, as they are built of heavy duty fabrics. So you would have to deal with transporting them while on the islands (or finding a place to secure them, in which case you could use any paddle craft).
If you are referring to the cheap, vinyl kids blow up boats, then they are not designed for open ocean travel. You need to consider where would you put your backpack (you can't wear it while paddling as the boat will be top heavy and tip over). Most do not have any directional controls (ie no keels or skegs to keep them going in a straight line), so you are going to have to steer constantly to keep on a direct line to the island ... and if there are currents or side winds, good luck. And the cheap vinyl is easily torn by rocks while landing, by your backpack clips, and other such bits leaving you stranded on a wilderness island.
Can it be done ... yes. Is it practical and safe ... not really.
Upvote:5
I'm no expert. I've had 3 people known to me die together in 'interesting conditions' - not in an inflatable boat but in a "dinghy" when a new outboard failed on a test run - where I would not have expected them to die.
I'd say at a minimum you want a rudder - can be quite rudimentary (groan) and still very useful. I had a friend with a kayak who added a rudder and told how it transformed the experience in a cross wind. Plus ...
Some sort of keel or means of reacting side forces into the water (dropboard maybe). And ...
A super marvellous device, a sail. The sail can also be rudimentary and still make a vast difference. I've seen NZ adventure programs where a jury rigged sail using a ground sheet turned an inflatable nightmare paddling journey on a long rough NZ lake into something of a joyful roller coaster. (They don't show you the helicopter stage off waiting to rescue them.). BUT perhaps the most useful add on would be a small electric motor and a battery. You don't specify what wait is tolerable but it meets your 'quit easy to transport' criteria, can be quite cheap if improvised and can be exceeding useful. you can but small electric trolling motors and "Kontiki" motors but cost is usually high for what you get. A suitable quality battery drill is liable to have what it takes to be useful. [I've dismantled and used quite a few for their motors and integral gearboxes. The best are reasonable. The worst are not. ]
You can get purpose built electric people pullers that provide prop and gearbox & motor. You'd probably want to use an external battery. -
A small internal combustion engine will give you substantially better energy density than the best battery except for short runs where the electric motor may be much lighter than the I/C motor. ie a super teen tiny outboard motor.
Related:
People happily Kayak the km or so here Belmont to Rangitoto in conditions I'd not trust. A rubber boat would be "a challenge".
An enthusiastic multi-sports enthusiast used to commute daily to and fro across the Maraetai-Waiheke leg - looks like about 6km. Again - in a kayak.
More post
- 📝 How to search for flights not going through Russian airspace?
- 📝 Inside Airport transfer, China
- 📝 Are masks still mandatory on any German long distance trains?
- 📝 Do I need a transit visa in Melbourne en route to Wellington?
- 📝 My Indian passport is damaged. How can I apply for a new one?
- 📝 Can I obtain an International Drivers license whilst abroad?
- 📝 ESTA visa and return fare
- 📝 Visiting the UK with a Macedonian passport
- 📝 When does Allegiant Air add flights?
- 📝 Bringing two laptops from UK to EU and back, one bought in UK and one in EU Pre-Brexit
- 📝 Should I apply for both B1 and B2 visas or only for a B1 visa for business and tourism purposes?
- 📝 Do I need to submit financial documents for a German transit visa?
- 📝 US naturalization – Is there a gov. agency to contact to retrieve list of all times traveled outside of the US?
- 📝 Transit Visa - Heathrow, London
- 📝 Travelling between the UK and Norway as an Australian citizen on a standard holiday visa
- 📝 Travelling in Taiwan during Chinese New Year? Good or no good?
- 📝 Warrants and travel
- 📝 On what tickets or flights are Flying Blue XP earned?
- 📝 About travelling to Croatia with Schengen visa in invalid passport
- 📝 Would being denied entry be considered to fall under either Removed or Deported on the US visa application?
- 📝 Travel SIM card for Europe
- 📝 Layover Norwegian Air Shuttle
- 📝 How to send the UK visa application in the USA?
- 📝 How to fight a US driving ticket from abroad?
- 📝 How can I apply for an Argentina Tourist Visa from India and which document required?
- 📝 Mexican Travel to Germany
- 📝 How to find out which days the Chinese embassy/consulate in Kuala lumpur is open?
- 📝 Transit Visa Almaty for Indian Citizens?
- 📝 Traveling to USA as a visa-free country citizen with valid B1/B2 visa in my passport - what line to choose?
- 📝 Wizz Air hand luggage size
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How far can you realistically travel across potentially rough water in an inflatable dinghy?
- 📝 How can you travel on a trans-Siberian train when it is fully booked?
- 📝 How can one travel to South Africa after previously having been banned for an overstay, after the ban has expired?
- 📝 How can I change flight plan without using a travel agent?
- 📝 When filling out an online visa application for UK, how can you apply at a consulate different from your current place of residency?
- 📝 Can you travel to Northern Cyprus without a Turkish visa?
- 📝 How much money is needed to prove you can support yourself with ESTA
- 📝 How do you estimate value of jewelry for travel declaration?
- 📝 How can I travel to Japan from mainland Asia by ship?
- 📝 How long before expiration can you renew a US Passport?
- 📝 How can you get the best value when converting American Express points for airfare?
- 📝 How can I travel between San Juan and Fajardo, Puerto Rico?
- 📝 How can I get health insurance to travel through Europe?
- 📝 How long can you wait/hang out at the Oakland airport lobby?
- 📝 How can you know if an airport has a decent shopping area after security?
- 📝 How can an Indian citizen travel to Trinidad and Tobago from India without needing a transit visa along the way?
- 📝 How can a dual citizen of Israel and Russia travel to the "Arab Boycott" countries without getting into trouble?
- 📝 How can a person living in the tropics be better prepared to travel to snowy areas?
- 📝 How can I verify my AirAsia booking made via an online travel agent on the AirAsia website?
- 📝 How can I view all of the flights between two cities across all dates?
- 📝 How long can you stay in the UK if you are supported by non-family UK citizen?
- 📝 How far in advance can I pass security and enter the airside in Schiphol?
- 📝 Can you travel from Northern Ireland to Britain without a passport or driver's license?
- 📝 How long can you stay with a tourist visa in Japan?
- 📝 Where can you travel with a Swedish National ID Card?
- 📝 Can you travel around Lake Vättern (Sweden) by public transport?
- 📝 Can you travel to Ireland with an UK + Schengen Visa (if you are Indian and are travelling from Austria)?
- 📝 How can I travel to India without passport? Passport is being held at embassy in Madrid
- 📝 How can I check current water levels in Lake George, NSW, Australia?
- 📝 UK Issued 1951 Blue Travel Document - Can you travel throughout Schengen without a visa if entering a visa free country?