Seems like there should be a thread on this, but if so, my poor search skills didn't find it.

Has anyone dinghied from Manchioneel Bay to Lee Bay to snorkel the Rhone? If so, can the dinghy be tied to one of the NPS buoys. Looks like about 1.56 NM, and should take 15 to 20 minutes in relatively calm seas. Or is this just a bad idea?

16 days to wheels up <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />!

Thanks.

Like everything else on the water, " it depends", and that can be minute to minute.

You could have a glass-calm trip out there, take a ball, get ready to go over the side and within minutes be wishing to god you'd never thought of doing it.

It could be glassy calm in Manchioneel and a totaly diffferent story once out of the lee.

Better advice is to check with the dive shop at Cooper and try to arrange a trip with them.

It isn't something I ( or crew I travel with) would plan on doing by dinghy.

We did this trip in March with no problem. There is a dinghy line at the rhone to tie up. We did have a hand held radio just in case and a 15 hp dinghy so we could make pretty good speed. Also stopped and snorkled the big rock at the end of Cooper on the way back.

If the weather is nice it's not a problem. There is a dinghy tie off area that is right next to the stern. It's usually slower and rougher coming back with the prevailing wind. Normally I would just take your boat there.
G

Only thing I think of when I see people going this far in the dinghy is how much it would suck to have an engine issue. You could have to row a long way!

I've never had a dinghy engine fail on us, but its always a possibility.

If you are willing to take that risk, then its certainly doable in the right conditions. But really no reason not to just move the big boat. If you are concerned about leaving the mooring and want to hold it, you could always leave the dinghy tied (locked preferably) to the mooring ball after paying for the mooring.

I once made a successful dinghy run from Scrub to Trellis to buy cigars, the small engine hated me and the current <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> once we had a pull cord break when trying to start the engine, luckily we were still tied to the boat! and another time a fuel line cracked and sprayed some of the crew, had some duct tape handy! i'd say if conditions are good and you plan for what if's, go for it! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Maytrix -

Precisely the issue. So Cooper Island is okay with me getting and paying for a ball in the morning, and then leaving the dinghy on the ball for the 2-3 hours we would be over at Salt just after lunch? If so, then there is no reason to dinghy over.

Others -

And, there is certainly the outboard failure issue. My most memorable was in 2007 in the Tobago Cays. No way to row against the current, and I was headed out to sea. Fortunately, my then 25 year old son on the beach was able to persuade Claudia, a very attractive and tanned all over young woman off a very large French yacht, to come rescue me, leaving her boyfriend Franc on the beach with my wife and daughter-in-law.

As they got closer, I could see that my son didn't know quite where to aim his eyes so that I would not see him looking at what was coming at me (if you get my drift)! I learned later that back on the beach, Franc was pragmatic: "I've traded one for two!"

Recalling that story is good for family laugh at least once a year.

Thanks for the advice. Big boat it is.

I don't see why they'd have a problem with it if the ball is paid for.

The reliability of charter dinghy engines is certainly marginal at best but in this location it would be a inconvenience not a safety issue if it quit. Don't get me started however on some places where I have seen people making open ocean runs in a dinghy. Even a 10 knot wind is impossible to row against.
G

Is it acceptable to pay for a ball and leave your dingy there while you snorkel with the big boat? I hope so because it to me makes sense.

Many have said yes to your question.

For several trips now, I have asked the Cooper Island staff if I could leave the dink, no worries, I ask when I pay for for the ball. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

It makes it so much better knowing you have a ball, we have gone diving, then gone for an extended sail knowing all was secured. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Just make sure you and your crew all discuss the procedure, I have seen epic failures with the whole process. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />