Another what Tender Question

[CharlieAlpha]

I know we've had various discussions recently on tenders but this may have a slight twist. I'm looking for something to replace the Variant 270 (in picture below) but want something a bit more comfortable [ie proper seats] for SWMBO and myself to explore rivers and sheltered spots (Poole, Keyhaven, Beaulieu etc etc).

I thought we had hit on the boat in the Brig F300T+20hp at 2.9m x 1.65m but because of the buttress on the T44's bathing platform the extra 20+cm is seriously encroaching on the entrance steps. The Passerelle is good for 200kg. So could we make the Brig fit by overhanging the tender off the back of the platform to avoid the buttress and thus get the extra 20cm on the stb side or would this put too much stress on the bathing platform (leverage), if so suggestions for sliders to use to support the tender.

The very new Williams mini rib was also a possibility (even if it might bust the budget) but possible overkill for our needs or is there another fun packed tender at <2.8m ?
Budget 8-12k .

Thank you in advance oh wise collective.

 

[Wavey]

I presume you're looking for something that will take an engine larger than 10hp which seems to be the limiting factor on most sub 3 metre ribs with bench seating/console?

Edited to add this link. The 280 will take a 15hp. Smaller 260 limited to 10hp.

http://www.piranharibs.co.uk/luxury-rib-tenders

 

[Nigelpickin]

It's a shame the brig will not work

I'd now call bcu and see what they can do to tempt you into a mini jet.

I wouldn't compromise for something that just about planes, you'll spend the whole summer eyeing up every tender in the marina....

 

[jrudge]

From what I understand you are looking to move the tender aft using the paserelle to support it in that position.

I doubt that the platform would mind, but from a practical point of view i dont think it would look that good, and when mooring you have just got longer!

It is not heavy so you are not really going to suffer from weight moving the centre of gravity and so on.

The other alternative I suppose is to move it back and then mount the tender vertically some how, but I suspect that will look equally poor and be tricky to recover ( and need the engine removing each time)

 

[CharlieAlpha]

.......I'd now call bcu and see what they can do to tempt you into a mini jet.
...

I expressed an interest with my bcu sales manager the day it was announced at LIBS but would have to wait until very late in the season, and still struggling to justify I'd get the use out of it as 30kts+ up the Hamble might get me a fine. But you make a fair point

 

[CharlieAlpha]

From what I understand you are looking to move the tender aft using the paserelle to support it in that position.

I doubt that the platform would mind, but from a practical point of view i dont think it would look that good, and when mooring you have just got longer!

It is not heavy so you are not really going to suffer from weight moving the centre of gravity and so on.

The other alternative I suppose is to move it back and then mount the tender vertically some how, but I suspect that will look equally poor and be tricky to recover ( and need the engine removing each time)

Yes the idea is electric start/trim so its click and go so needs storing flat., Mentioned the Passerelle purely for lifting out of water ie 200kg is my limit.

 

[jfm]

I think you would e ok with leverage/stress on the bathing platform, if you designed the chocks well

However, do you mean overhanging so far that the STARBOARD pointy tube of the rib is abaft of the starboard T44 buttress? If you do, then surely the overhang will be so big that you will find your passerelle isn't long enough to left the rib without catching/rubbing/getting caught under the chock overhangs. You'd need some clever chock design to overcome that problem. All depends on the detailed dimensions I suppose

I think I would get a walker bay genesis 310 console (pic below) and take it to a RIB specialist and have them fit an extra tube divider within the starboard tube, level with transom, so creating a separate inflation chamber that is just the starboard pointy tube bit. And a dedicated valve for this chamber, of course. Then you deflate JUST the aft starboard pointy tube of the RIB so as to allow you to park the RIB's transom right up to the buttress. This preserves the inflated look of the rib and it would be a quick job inflating just that little section after launching. Picture of 310 below, and takes 30hp. Or, if you love the Brig, then buy that and have a RIB specialist cut off both the two after tube ends and discard the GRP mouldings, and make normal "pointy" ends, the starboard one having a separate inflation chamber as above. A RIB specialist could do these mods very easily.

WB genesis is the RIB I had a few years ago on a sq58, Hurricane had it till recently, and Whitelighter now has. It's a nice boat. But the concept of modding a RIB to allow deflation of just the aft starboard quarter can be applied to any RIB really and would get the rib perhaps 60-70cm further forward that your proposal of cantilevering it a long way off the back. (In the pics, the girl wears kill cord and the guy apparently doesn't. Might be on his ankle I suppose )

 

[jrudge]

Clever. Would never have thought of that ?

 

[Wavey]

still struggling to justify I'd get the use out of it as 30kts+ up the Hamble might get me a fine.

Being Solent based where can you use something like this (to actually go somewhere rather than blatting around just for the sake of it. Don't all the harbours have strict speed limits?)

Did also notice the mini jet is 199kg dry.

 

[jrudge]

We have a 325. When used as a tender we just plod along ( mostly) as the distance is typically small.

But we can explore in it, head to another bay, go for a blast ( and believe me they can blast) water ski behind it and so on - so you can do a lot with it. I do go out to sea with it but you need people in the front to do that as if not with one on board it is to bow happy and becomes untenable at speed even in a slight sea.

It depends what you want if for. In the Uk I dont know how much you use a tender - but in the med it is deployed pretty much every single time we anchor - or if in a marina we will sometimes drop it off as we enter so we can go have a play.

Horses for courses as to what you want to do with it. However they are expensive so if you dont want to do all of that there will be cheaper ways of doing it that could well be more suitable.

Jeremy

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Thanks jfm very useful feedback as always and given me food for thought, I'll update on the progress.
Wavey: agree but I drive a car that can do well over twice the UK speed limit but enjoy the acceleration, and towing some toys would be fun, Yes Mini Jet 199kg dry but we will still be in 10% of limit fuelled up. The kids will only waste their inheritance anyway

 

[jfm]

Remember the 200kg rating is fully extended. If you can lift the dinghy partly extended it might translate to 250kg. It all depends on precise dimensions, and then you do a bit of maths (proper maths not man maths) to work out how much higher than 200kg you can go

 

[Wavey]

Let us know what you decide to go for. It might help me make my mind up

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Let us know what you decide to go for. It might help me make my mind up

Will do, currently seeking out a Walker Bay dealer around the Solent and going to the Motor Boat show @ Swanwick on Sat.

 

[NGM]

- or if in a marina we will sometimes drop it off as we enter so we can go have a play.

Jeremy

I'm intrigued how you/others work the logistics. Sometimes we also enjoy a day using the tender only, especially when visiting other marinas. However, when stern to and packed tight, the tender is pretty hard to access. We could take the boat out tie the tender up and return the boat, but it's an effort and sometimes means bring the boat back single handed. The same challenge when returning - tie it up somewhere (hopefully will be safe), tie it under the bow (never easy getting back aboard) or go to the effort of bring the boat out again. Am I missing an easy trick ?

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Thanks to the BMBS @ Swanwick I think this is the way to go, but SWMBO fell in love with the Williams 285 as liked on the stepping places [easy boarding] and seat back rests (with will not be on the new mini rib) but at 300Kg will need to do some research on platform strengthening and offsetting the lift from the passerelle if we go that way.

 

[michaf]

Have a look at ab inflatables http://www.abinflatables.com. The aluminium model beats everyone in terms of weight. We've got the the Alumina 12 (3.6m) and its 140kg without engine. It's a serious tender, you can stand at the helm and the finish is impeccable.

 

[jrudge]

Most of the time we drop the platform and float off the tender.

We then Just push and make a gap for us to get through.

This won't always work in which case you drop the tender before we berth but usually pushing works well!

You only need a small gap !

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Have a look at ab inflatables http://www.abinflatables.com. The aluminium model beats everyone in terms of weight. We've got the the Alumina 12 (3.6m) and its 140kg without engine. It's a serious tender, you can stand at the helm and the finish is impeccable.

Thanks for the feedback I will try and find a Alumina 10 ALX to look at in the flesh.

 

[michaf]

Generally on the small dinghy/large outboard combo. I would always install a 5º wedge. They make a huge difference. Keeping the nose down is not only good to get on the plane, it's also about using the bow to cut thru the chop. Once you trim all the way down you can feel the engine working harder pushing the bow down, bit what a difference in the ride in choppy waters. A total must.