Before you shortlist
- What is the davit or lifting rating, in writing?
- What is the largest opening the boat must pass through when packed?
- Who lifts this boat when it is just the two of you at 6am?
- Will it be covered, or live in UV?
- How far is the longest regular run — 200 m to a beach, or 5 km across a bay?
On the specification sheet
- Hull weight AND your calculated ready-to-use weight.
- Maximum HP and maximum engine weight.
- Shaft length required.
- Tube material and fabric specification.
- Number of air chambers — more chambers is more safety margin.
- Warranty length and what it actually covers.
On the dealer
- Is this brand nationally distributed, or a single-importer arrangement?
- Where is the nearest tube repair specialist?
- Can you get a replacement tube, floor or transom in five years?
- Is the specific model you are quoting locally stocked, or an indent order?
- What has the dealer got in the used yard from the same brand — and why is it there?
Before you hand over money
- Inflate it fully and leave it overnight. Pressure loss now is cheaper than pressure loss in the Whitsundays.
- Sea trial it loaded, not empty. Two adults and 40 kg of shopping is the real test.
- Check it actually fits — on the davits, on the foredeck, through the locker hatch.
- Get the measurement certificate if it is a racing sailing dinghy.
- Confirm what is included: floor, oars, seat, pump, bag, wheels. The gap between boats is often $800 of accessories.