Alternative to standard tender?

[CaptainBob]

I've been thinking... my tender and outboard are an awful lot of faff every time I want to visit my boat. And as I posted on here a bit ago, I need to hoist my outboard onto the pushpit each time also because my tender tends to flip in higher winds.

Couple that with the cost of servicing the outboard, having to carry petrol onboard and 2-stroke oil etc, having to stash the outboard in the shed when back on land.

It's a whole lot of faff!

So I'm thinking about something like this as an alternative:

I bet a bit of paddle power could get one of those moving quickly enough to paddle against a fair bit of tide don't you think?

And they're unsinkable, don't require maintenance really.

Only possible drawback I can think of is stowing onboard is going to be awkward - but it's unsinkable, so could I tow it, or will I have problems of it catching up with me and bumping into my transom?

What do you reckon?

 

[kieronriley]

you want to try climbing out of one up to the deck of your boat not as easy as you may think.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Great for exploring once you're at anchor.

 

[CaptainBob]

[ QUOTE ]
you want to try climbing out of one up to the deck of your boat not as easy as you may think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, ok. Major issue? Or is that something I could get used to?

 

[PeteCooper]

My brother has one of these:

http://www.kayaksandpaddles.co.uk/canoe/...ne-yellow-2.jpg

Folds up into a very small bag and is fairly easy to paddle. It seems reasonably stable and is fun.

 

[oldharry]

"... but it's unsinkable, so could I tow it, or will I have problems of it catching up with me and bumping into my transom?"

Yes and yes. It will tow as long as it has a strong enough attachment for a tow rope, and yes it will surf forward on each wave and crash into your transom. It will then stop altogether until the tow rope pulls out to its length. If not properly attached it will then go adrift as the shock load will pul the cleat out of the plastic - unless it has a 'proper' towing point strong enough to take the shock load. Unlikely.

There have been several attempts to solve the problem of a rigid tender crashing in to the parent boat in a sea, none particualrly succesful. You have to find some way of preventing it from surfing on the waves. The most sensible seems to be to have a large soft fender, and secure the tenders' bow tight against it so that it can ride up and down, but cannot move in a for and aft plane.

Standing up in it may not be an issue, but think about it if there is much movement on the water, and you are trying to transfer kit, food, fuel, water and SWMBO all without falling in..... It doesnt look a particularly stable platform for that kind of acrobatics!

 

[Twister_Ken]

When I was young, fit, lithe and used to kayaking, I used to be able to stand up in a kayak in smooth water. If I tried it now it would mean a ducking, for sure.

As for faff with an outboard agreed, so why not row a small rigid tender - what I've been doing for several years now.

 

[CaptainBob]

[ QUOTE ]
As for faff with an outboard agreed, so why not row a small rigid tender - what I've been doing for several years now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was concerned that a rigid tender would potentially sink if it got a bit filled?

Also assumed that with a canoe being long and thin, it'd go faster with less effort?

Would I be able to row a rigid tender against a 2 or 3 knot tide?

Any particular recommendations?

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Would I be able to row a rigid tender against a 2 or 3 knot tide?"

Yes, but you'll sweat. If you have a tidal problem, the more-skiff like the tender the better. At about 7' x 3' mine's real dumpy (like me), but copes with Hamble currents very well.

It tows around quite happily in moderate weather, but if I'm going far I'll leave it behind on the mooring and use the deflatable.

"Any particular recommendations?"

The eBay range of tenders cover every possibility!

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Use a drogue with the dinghy when towing

 

[Twister_Ken]

One more thing about rowing.

I've never had to try it, but I reckon having a pair of 7 foot oars aboard the yacht would be a useful starting point if I ever had to rig a jury rudder.

 

[BlackJacksGaff]

I use this. Surprisingly stable, folds down really small and my lad loves it !

Although I prefer paddling it with a single canadian paddle so I don't get so wet.

 

[CaptainBob]

Interesting. Do you use it as your main tender?

 

[BlackJacksGaff]

I do. But some would argue that you may not need a tender on a Shrimper. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
Use a drogue with the dinghy when towing

[/ QUOTE ] Don't you find just towing a dinghy slows you down enough on its own?

- W

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Yes but you'll have to chose which devil to sleep with.

 

[CaptainBob]

Cheers for the drogue stuff!

[ QUOTE ]
I do. But some would argue that you may not need a tender on a Shrimper. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And how do you find it for getting in and out, with SWMBO and kit etc? Stability when stood must be fairly low no?

I guess with an inflatable canoe it's not the same as the one I posted a picture of do you think?

How fast can you paddle it also? For any length of time, with a single paddle?

 

[William_H]

I have always used a rigid dinghy which is rowed. I am fortunate in being able to leave the dinghy chained up on the beach near the mooring. Many of the tiny sailing dinghies can be got cheaply and row really well. Though you might need a motor if tide is a real problem. I built a couple of Sabot dinghies in ply wood that can be built really light weight.

The dinghy needs to be really light of you are going to carry it on the car top or on your boat.
I think carrying an inflatable for use when you anchor somewhere and want to go ashore is the go. So always leave the dinghy tethered to the mooring.

As already suggested I think you will find the kyak just too unstable though some are more stable than others.

So much depends on where you are moored ,distance and tides for rowing and if you have to carry the dinghy. Rigid has a lot of advantages over inflatable IMHO. olewill

 

[misterg]

As a data point, one of these:

Two-up (one fit, one fat) with double ended (kayak) paddles:

Going like lunatics, maybe 5kn through the water for no more than 30 seconds at a time. (Coming the wrong way through Corryvreckan /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Normal 'sustained effort' paddling, maybe 3.5 kn for an hour, or so at a time, I'd guess you'd be lucky to manage 3kn with a canoe paddle, one up.

I do fancy a fabic covered inflatable canoe on the boat, though....

Andy

 

[Tranona]

If you have been watching the programme on Charles Darwin you will understand why yacht tenders are like they are. The only real choice is rigid or inflatable, and for a small boat that wants to take a tender when cruising, and only have one tender a "conventional" inflatable is the only sensible choice.

Of course anything that floats and can be propelled could be used, but none provides all the features of a purpose designed tender.