Jet Ski towable dinghy

I recently purchased a couple of new jet skis and I would like to build a tow-able dinghy to haul things out to our beach location. It needs to be big enough to handle one of those E-Z Up tents, a loaded cooler, maybe some folding chairs and a few other miscellaneous items. I estimate maybe 500lbs of cargo capacity and still have sufficient reserve buoyancy - just to be safe.

I saw what could be one the best options structurally. It was a Livingston boat. It looked like the jet wash would easily go right between the two hulls. However, that option is too expensive, so I was thinking about building something that would be light enough that my girlfriend and I could lift into the bed of a truck or on top of a SUV. Oh, and the rescue sled option isn't financially feasible either...

Anyone have any ideas of what I could build to suit these needs?

Sorry if this has already been discussed. I tried searching the forums but the word ski produced something like 70 pages of results.

Thanks, Tom

 

Try looking for an old jet ski hull with a trashed engine. There already waterproof, and pretty light.

Otherwise take a look at a canoe, or kayak you could grab cheap.

 

Get a tractor inner tube, cut some plywood just bigger than the center opening but not bigger than the outside diameter of the tube. Drill holes in the ply around the 8 to 12 and get some parachute cord and lash the tube on going through the holes and around the tube. Inflate and tighten lines and tie off. Deflate for transport. Inflate when needed and put your stuff inside, ply side down. It should travel well but if you go too fast for conditions you can flip it, so lash everything down. (Ofcourse, you couldflip anything probably). I've had stuff and 10 people on such a contraption for float trips.

 

Great discussion about this here:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/pontoon-powered-sea-doo-jet-ski-34586.html

Eric, that made the pontoon did an waesome job.

Also look around for a used "shuttlecraft" They turn up on Boat Trader and E Bay from time to time, just what you're looking for.

Steve

 

A few years back I almost bought a shuttllecraft, but didn't because I'd also have to get a jet ski, I bought a Sea Ray Sea Raider instead, now it's out of the yard. I've been reading the jet threads and see the common problems with them and not sure there was much difference in efficiency to a prop boat of equal size.

This thread does bring up an interesting concept, at least to me. I have made the tube hauler and even covered it in left over Hypalon from my cuddy top and it looked pretty good and worked well, kids loved being pulled in it. The hard bottom protected their tails on the rivers.

But going further, I'm now wondering if something like Little Cindy, that small micro cruising sail cat wold work with a jet ski cut in the aft deck? There would have to be sufficient space between the hull of the JS and the cat hulls for water to pass through, there probably would be, but then how would it sail, very sluggish I'm sure, but would it sail? I'm sure it would be a compromise as all things but Having both on a cruise would be ideal entertainment and a safety issue as far as having two crafts. How would you modify such a rig to give almost acceptable performance? Not to change the topic, but it would be a hauler and camper as proposed here.....

 

Find an older hobie 16 and build a deck onto it.