Converting a Dingy into a Sailing Survival Lifeboat

Have you ever thought of the worst thing that could happen while making a passage?

You lose your boat for any reason – be it a whale hit, or running over a container at night, or any other scenario… do you have a plan?

I converted ‘Tansy Lee’s’ 6’8″ Montgomery Pram dingy many years ago which has been a great way to go for peace of mind.

With the outer inflatable inner tube bladder, you get the unsinkable factor of the rubber lifeboats yet with a fiberglass hull bottom you have a craft that can sail to windward.

Also, the floor being a hard surface takes out the worry of possibly slicing the rubber bottom, if you caught a fish or turtle.

Meanwhile, the canopy gets you out of the weather and with the reefable sail. This would enable you to sail to windward into the shipping lanes, to another vessel or land.

This conversion makes good sense, while stacking the odds in your favor and putting your rescue in your own hands… all which promotes the positive reality of ‘hope”.

What are your thoughts?