Piratas Aderivavideo
⚓ REVIVING THE DINGHY CHALLENGE – EPISODE 2 | The story behind our Fatty Knees
28 February 2026 · 11 min · 716 views
White rowboat floats on calm water at golden hour
What this video covers
Jorman trades his 2.5-metre Zodiac 250 inflatable dinghy for a rigid Fatty Knees tender to gain durability and load-carrying capacity for full-time cruising.0:10 While the Zodiac offered speed and light weight, its PVC construction proved fragile and limited in internal volume.2:53 Designed by Lyle Hess in the 1990s, the Fatty Knees features a rigid hull capable of rowing long distances, carrying heavy provisions, and landing on rocky beaches without the risk of punctures.3:54 The transition reflects a shift toward a more robust, low-maintenance auxiliary that functions as a reliable primary vehicle for liveaboards. The current project involves a full restoration of the Fatty Knees, including the removal of damaged gunwales and delaminated fibreglass sections.6:48 Challenges include extracting poorly installed, filed-down screws from previous repairs, which requires extensive cutting and subsequent structural reinforcement.7:35 Despite the weight of the rigid hull, integrated wheels allow for single-handed transport across beaches.9:28
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