Wheels on Dinghies for Mexico

We think dinghy wheels are a good idea, although you’ll probably use them more in Mexico than anywhere else in the world. For example, you’ll almost never use them in French Polynesia. That’s John and Gilly of the Catalina 42 Destiny showing how to ‘wheel it’ at night in Punta Mita, Mexico.

Another option some cruisers like are the Aussie-made ‘sausages’ that you place in front of the dinghy sequentially, and on which you then roll the dinghy up the beach. Sorry, but we don’t have a photo.

You do, however, want to be very careful when using a dinghy in areas where there is surf, which is most of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. The one photo shows Greg Retkowski borrowing the Wanderer’s dinghy for a trip out to a boat. As smart as Greg is, and he’s one smart dude, he misjudged an oncoming swell. Fortunately, the worst of it was that he and his crew got a shower.

Greg was able to power through the swell. Lots of others haven’t been so lucky, and back-flipped with serious injuries. 

All entries in the Baja Ha-Ha will receive a free guide on how to operate a dinghy safely in Mexico.