3D Tenders - a question and an answer

[[3889]]

I'm looking at getting one of these (250) and have been reading http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?308259-Has-anyone-used-a-3D-tender
. One thing I have found buried in the brochure http://www.3dtender.com/files/96/2012/2012_seaswift_catalogue_print.pdf is that colour is not merely cosmetic; the grey boats, kinglite, are made of 0.9mm fabric and the black, superlite, from 0.5mm, making the grey boats about 30% heavier (not 20% as brochure suggests) but more robust.
What I would like to know is whether the inflatable floor is removable to favour storage over performance, or is it an intrinsic part of the boat. Any other updates on experiences - good or bad - would also be most welcome.

 

[GeorgeTina]

Hi
I bought a 3d tender in September last year. It is gray and seems to be about the weight as advertised. the floor is not removable. Very pleased with it so far as I can blow it up in my cockpit and launch over the stern with no problems due to the low weight. The oars and fittings appear to be good. The supplied pump is a bit basic but I have an electric pump so no problem in inflating it to the right pressure. 2.5 HP outboard will plane if with one up.

 

[RobF]

I've got the Black Superlight, and the airdeck floor is part of the dinghy and cannot be removed (unless you take a stanley knife to your dinghy!). They fold up pretty small (I can get mine in the cockpit locker of my 20foot trailer sailer and have a backpack style bag for storage.

I bought mine from Piplers marine (no connection, other than as a satisfied customer). They were also the cheapest at the time. Useful URL (including folded dimensions) at http://www.piplers.co.uk/5420/3D-Marine-Kinglight-Inflatable-Tender.html

 

[[3889]]

Thanks both for the floor info. The colour/ weight issue may be a 2013 development as I'd not seen it before.

 

[double_ender]

We bought a black 3d boat in August last year and have been well pleased with it so far. We got it from Duncans, Glasgow with their late summer discount.
We used it for our last 6 weeks cruise on the west coast before laying up on the Clyde. Its lightness is truly remarkable and its stowage volume, it stows in a backpack bag. It tows like a dream, scimming along astern. It has the thole pin type rowlocks which I'm not used to and was my main query about the dinghy, but it hasn't been a problem.
As the blowup floor is integral with the bottom any water swishes around and does not dissapear below like in the separate airdeck type dinghies.
Otherwise the design seems good as does the construction quality
Its still early days but so far we are pleased, and at Ardfern when it was on the pontoon after inflation a chap moved it a bit to get to his finger berth almost fell over, expecting it to the weight of the usual zodiacs etc. He thence wanted all the details with a view to maybe getting one.
The seat slides for and aft to suit but we found it needs a lashing as it did slide right out when emptying rain water out....Luckily it did float ok and was not lost!!!

Malcolm

 

[gavin400]

I also bought a 3D Black from Duncans in Glasgow - had to wait a few weeks as they were sold out due to the popularity.

Mine is the 2 man version as I wanted a lightweight tender to ferry myself out to the boat.

I can say that the dinghy is fantastic - extremely light, rows really well (I was wary of the pin rowlocks but they work fine), easy to pump up, stows into a backpack.
Too early to say how it will stand up to launching from shingle beaches.

I also bought a fibreglass bottomed Waveline with Avon style rowlocks - the rowlock design was my main reason for choosing the model and I can report that the boat is almost unrowable as the rowlocks are absolutely rubbish (oars pop out continuously)