Basic tender advice sought - relative newbie

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philipm

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I have just moved our boat from the river to the north wales coast and am seriously considering purchasing a tender for the first time.

A couple of queries:

1. I take it that a tender is useful not just as a convenience but also as a life boat if the worst happens at sea? In that sense, am I daft not to have one at all?

2. Any advice on davits for the swim platform area - I don't have any davits but presume there are several kinds?

3. Any other thoughts on a tender for a 9m boat - 2 adults / 2 kids?

Cheers
 
I have a 2.3mt Seago inflatable on snap davits which works well. I run it with a 4hp Yamaha which is a bit heavy to handle and is to be replaced shortly with a 2.5hp.
 
Snap Davits are probably the easiest solution unless you already have reinforced davit pads on your boat. Anything from a 2.3 to a 2.7 m inflatable tender will probably fit and engine size depends on how much you want to lug about but probably a 6hp max (you have to remove it when using snap davits so need somewhere to store it). Lots of different makes and quality of tenders out there.

A tender might get you out of trouble at sea but remember that it is an open boat so no shelter, and size will matter depending upon how many people you have onboard. Probably okay for coastal cruising, which is what you are likely to be doing.
 
philipm said:
I have just moved our boat from the river to the north wales coast and am seriously considering purchasing a tender for the first time.

A couple of queries:

1. I take it that a tender is useful not just as a convenience but also as a life boat if the worst happens at sea? In that sense, am I daft not to have one at all?

2. Any advice on davits for the swim platform area - I don't have any davits but presume there are several kinds?

3. Any other thoughts on a tender for a 9m boat - 2 adults / 2 kids?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Where are you based in Wales Phil , Bruce will be along soon .
 
For 2 adults and 2 kids I would think you are looking at something round and about 2.8m. The bigger the better within the bounds of your boat.

As a liferaft it is better than nothing but outside of a hole in the hull causing you to sink on a nice day I would be sceptical it will do much - however given the alternative is treading water in a life jacket anything is worth a go.

If push came to shove you have to launch it and keep it tethered whilst you get in , but not so tethered it is dragged down by your sinking boat.
 
seastoke said:
Where are you based in Wales Phil , Bruce will be along soon .
Click to expand...
Just to explain Bruce is not an anchor
Some years ago We (forumites) did a cruise in company in North Wales
One of the newer members diid abandone to the dinghy with his wife and two children
Smoke was billowing so it was pertinant to do so
Conditions were calm and nobody got hurt
Rescued by another forumite and the boat was towed by the Beaumaris ILB to Caernanrfon
A few days later we towed the stricken vessel to Menai Bridge for recovery
jrudge however is quite right to comment as above
It is rare to use the dinghy as a liferaft
To enjoy the area and all its nice bays etc a dinghy is almost essential
Big as you can securely stow/mount
Small and light an engine as you can find
Personally I would go for a 2 or 2.5 two stroke.
Used obviously nowadays but plenty out there
 
I,d like to know what type of boat the “9m “ is first ?
Either a D or P boat space will be critical @9 M .
If a P then depending on how easy it’s to plane as is ......adding more Kgs tender ( biggest one that fits advice + same for the OB ) might depending on the Hp available and pre disposition to prop fouling in North Wales might knacker it’s ability to get up and plane .

Gold std would be a small life raft stowed in a suitable place for the 4 of you .More as a wife + kids insurance/ confidence....comfort in the knowledge etc etc .....going out to sea .
Then weight permitting a small slat type inflatable , to get the family on to many lovely beaches up there .
Something light enough it can be family handled and simply put on the back somewhere when motoring .
Or left packed up if planning to visit a local marina / wharf .

Difficult to be specific with out a pic of the boat tbo .
 
Kawasaki said:
Just to explain Bruce is not an anchor
Click to expand...

Cheeky git. I know exactly what you meant, dont deny it!


My twopence. If you dont have a tender in N Wales you're going to be living life as a Marina Queen. Doing the same old 3 hr circuits each weekend until you are fed up and sell the boat. I dont have enough fingers or toes to count the people that fell into that trap.
N Wales has big tides and 50% of beaches you'll land on will have shingle or rock. So you want a light tender you can easily carry two up and a motor to suite. Dragging it will kill it in short order. Remember, if it's a sand beach it has a shallow gradient. Beach at HW and you'll be carrying this tender 200m to the water at LW. 2.80 is the sweet mark if your boat is wide enough. Davits are essential as nothing sours a destination quite so much as arriving, breaking out the beers, gin and pina coladas only to be faced by trying to inflate a tender which is small on the ground but F"£$%$ massive in the cockpit of a small boat. Clear the cockpit of all glass and drinks first. Deflating it is somewhat easier but not much.
If you dont mind a bit of extra weight a inflatable keel with aluminium deck is best, then air deck and last slatted floor which you should only consider as a last resort and hell bent on cockpit inflation and locker storage. With the first two a bit of extra fun can be had with a 6-8hp 2 stroke on the back. Go-karts on water, knee boards and ski-ing on a paddleboard. But engine stowage on board can be an issue. Big tubes rock unless you like having a wet bum. Your missus wont.
It's worse than useless as a liferaft unless it's inflated and can be dropped in the water in seconds. There after it is pretty useless in all but benign weather as any white water will tip it or swamp it. Try beach launching in a small shore break. We've had loads of fun on that score on one amazing beach where a small shore break develops +-2HW. Sits like glue on the water in most other situations and is a fall back but not a replacement as a liferaft.
 
Edit. We go quite far shore hopping in our tenders. A 5 mile trip out and 5 back is not unreasonable if you have a quiet anchorage and dont want to lose your spot to some raggie, and need to go fetch guests / shop / explore etc. So err on as big / heavy/ powerful as you can manage with your expected crew.
 
seastoke said:
Where are you based in Wales Phil , Bruce will be along soon .
Click to expand...

I'm always on the recruit for more pirates to join our jolly band of reprobates. Fun by numbers and all that. So if you are going to berth anywhere near between Conwy Bay through to Caernarfon Bay, enjoy anchoring, happy to share your booze stash, dont mind wet kids and dry dogs, think beach BBQing does not include hamburger patties and hot dog weiners, eager to get some local knowledge on where when and how.... then dont shmooze Roy [Seastoke]. He'll just try and teach you karate Mr Miyagi style. Wax on, Wax off. Wax on, Wax off.
 
At last I have got bilge clean , what type of wax should I use.
 

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BruceK said:
Edit. We go quite far shore hopping in our tenders. A 5 mile trip out and 5 back is not unreasonable if you have a quiet anchorage and dont want to lose your spot to some raggie, and need to go fetch guests / shop / explore etc. So err on as big / heavy/ powerful as you can manage with your expected crew.
Click to expand...
A “ Y “ Amlin based insurance policy would refute a claim leaving your boat ( if insured with Y ? ) like that unattended @ anchor ,Well that’s what Amlin told me ....”.line of sight + no more than 1/2 hr rtn time ) .I went or the broker went back to Amlin and copied me in to the answer of the Q .

Not saying you won’t win the refute , just saying they will refute .

Zurich based ( currently) have it’s ok the leave it unattended @ anchor with no provisos if it’s anchored or moored on a buoy in a recognised anchorage , marked on a chart or pilot book .

Anyhow for the OP presume you will need a different policy to the “ river “ one .........so double check it’s gonna be suitable for the intended new use age pattern .....some of which may include leaving the boat unattended @ anchor while everyone wonders ashore .
 
Although in so saying it is also not uncommon for two boats emptying for a half day jaunt while a watch is kept from a third.
 
Make sure it's hypolon (sp?), avoid pvc at all costs. Even this noob knows that!
 
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