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Old 07-16-2019, 11:25 PM
 
66 posts, read 89,800 times
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What I want to try, as an occasional weekend entertainment with the wife and kids, is to do some motorized boating. I am new to water activities, so I am still learning. My idea was to purchase a 12’ PVC based dinghy with electric outboard motor and to explore these options: lakes around me: Kendrick pond, Cochituate, Morses, My main question is about going on the Charles. All information I find is about kayaking, sups, canoeing. There are tons of boat ramps for them near me in Needham and Newton, but they don’t mention motorized dinghy specifically. Can I assume that wherever i see a kayak access, I can launch and use my inflatable?
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Old 07-17-2019, 04:30 AM
r_p
 
228 posts, read 219,453 times
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Just get a square stern canoe and add a trolling motor. You can also get into shallow waters without worrying about debris. Radisson has a nice 14' wide transom model that it very stable (no need for stabilizers).

Adding motor means that you have to get it registered. See https://www.mass.gov/boat-registration
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Old 07-17-2019, 09:43 AM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,049 posts, read 12,381,538 times
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Always better to kayak or canoe than motorboat. Leaks all kinds of stuff into the water and disturbs animal habitats. Screws with the shoreline too.
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Old 07-17-2019, 11:21 AM
 
66 posts, read 89,800 times
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Yep, registration would need to be done and taxes payed.

The problem with canoe for me is the space required to store it and also getting it on and off my SUV. It needs to be manageable by me alone. A dinghy deflates and re-inflates, has multiple parts to reduce the weight of any single item (aluminum floor is separate from pontoons, for example), it has launching wheels letting me handle it by myself, etc. From my little understanding, a wide 5.5’ dinghy is going to be a lot more stable for kids and fishing, can be taken out to sea, can be fitted with gas powered motor 10-15hp. It seems a lot more versatile for the lakes and sea, but not sure about those shallows on the Charles though. It was just an idea exploring the river that snakes all over the place around us.

Have you ever seen an inflatable or even rigid hull raft being used West of Watertown ?
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Old 07-17-2019, 12:57 PM
 
Location: Columbia SC
14,224 posts, read 14,642,943 times
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I do not know the Rules and Regulations but in the late late 1950's or early 60's there was a Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show on the Charles River behind Grover Cronins, adjacent to the Moody St Bridge in Waltham. I learned to water ski on the Charles River in the late 60's at the exact same spot.

Charles River (Waltham)
Woerd Avenue
Waltham, MA
Phone:
Fisherman access: Small concrete ramp, concrete pad ramp system or gravel ramp designed for smaller boats and parking for boat trailers. Fish species: Largemouth bass, northern pike, white perch, pickerel, black crappie. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Same place we used to put our ski boat in the river back in the 60's.

Last edited by johngolf; 07-17-2019 at 01:11 PM..
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Old 07-17-2019, 02:56 PM
 
604 posts, read 557,224 times
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Consider joining Community Boating Inc. You can get lessons and a season pass for a sailboat on the charles. Cheaper, easier and less commitment than buying.

Please note there are non navigable shallows and the dams between Waltham and Watertown, so if your intent is to boat out to the mystic locks and back, you'd have to put in around Nonantum Road.
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Old 07-17-2019, 05:06 PM
 
2,439 posts, read 4,818,506 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjimmy24 View Post
Always better to kayak or canoe than motorboat. Leaks all kinds of stuff into the water and disturbs animal habitats. Screws with the shoreline too.
Thank you.
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Old 07-17-2019, 06:05 PM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,049 posts, read 12,381,538 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by missionhill View Post
Thank you.
Just looking out for the ecosystems.
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Old 07-18-2019, 11:17 AM
r_p
 
228 posts, read 219,453 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnyDrew View Post
Yep, registration would need to be done and taxes payed.

The problem with canoe for me is the space required to store it and also getting it on and off my SUV. It needs to be manageable by me alone. A dinghy deflates and re-inflates, has multiple parts to reduce the weight of any single item (aluminum floor is separate from pontoons, for example), it has launching wheels letting me handle it by myself, etc. From my little understanding, a wide 5.5’ dinghy is going to be a lot more stable for kids and fishing, can be taken out to sea, can be fitted with gas powered motor 10-15hp. It seems a lot more versatile for the lakes and sea, but not sure about those shallows on the Charles though. It was just an idea exploring the river that snakes all over the place around us.

Have you ever seen an inflatable or even rigid hull raft being used West of Watertown ?
My understanding was that good inflatable ones are $$$. Pumping air is also a hassle and takes forever with 12v car batteries. For ocean a small flat dinghy would be very uncomfortable. You need something with a V hull that cuts through water and doesn't get thrown around as much.
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Old 07-18-2019, 03:59 PM
 
66 posts, read 89,800 times
Reputation: 27
Good point, r__p.

I am planning to have a dedicated, self powered pump. But you are probably right, even with that it will take forever to inflate.

I am looking at the drawing of the dinghy I want to buy, it appears like a V. What do you think? Not sea worthy? Or it could be on a calm day?


The harbor trips are my pipe dreams, my wife would never allow me I do hope though, this rig would get me out on the lakes with 30 min setup and 30 min teardown.
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