Bigger tender?

[gtmoore]

On Saturday, I have, for the first time in anger, tried out my inflateable tender (a Valiant 2.4m - got it with the boat) and my new Yamaha 2.5hp 4s engine. It's my first time driving an inflateable and although the engine was extremely quiet and economical, I can't say that we we're exactly flying along. During my 'trials' up and down the Itchen, I noticed that going with the tide things were quite a bit quicker than going against which is understandable. The thing is, with 2 people on board (dingy is slatted floor and rated for 3), sitting too far forward made us very wet and two far back the engine seemed to be doing more water churning than propelling. Now I'm not after a planing speed tender but I think I will need to ferry at least two passengers at a time. With my results from two up against the current during neaps I don't think I'll have much of a chance with 3 on a strong spring tide. If I switch the tender to something like a Wetline 2.9m with inflateable deck and keel, would my engine fair better and be more efficient or am I looking at a bigger (and heavier which is the reason I went for the 2.5) motor too.

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[dulcibella]

You might consider getting a Tinker Tramp. They motor (2hp Yamaha in my case) and row excellently,and can be fitted with sailing and liferaft extras. They are expensive new but can easily be found secondhand. They are also very tough and, with occasional TLC, will last forever.

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[vyv_cox]

When I began cruising, I was given advice to buy the biggest tender that I could manage. At that time there were four of us tendering more than half a mile along an exposed tideway. I bought a Zodiac 310 with inflatable keel and wooden boards. It was excellent for its purpose, although we still got very wet on occasions, but as a yacht tender it was a pain in the bum. Too big to carry on deck, quite impossible to assemble and inflate on board, we were committed to towing it everywhere. We had several epics as a consequence.

So I bought a Compass Kudos to carry on board, retaining the Zodiac for the journey to the mooring. The Compass is a 240 that has small tubes and an inflatable floor. In anything more than a F4 with two people on board it is more like a submarine. In light winds with one on board and a 2.5 HP motor it will just plane.

I have now given the Zodiac to my son, put the Compass into storage and bought a Quicksilver 270. This has large tubes, inflatable keel and floor and weighs about the same as the Compass. It is reasonably easy to assemble and disassemble aboard, although we have yet to try it in anger. It fared well in the YM test a couple of months ago. Hopefully this will be the answer.

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[Talbot]

I am also in the process of buying a new tender. The first decision is how heavy a boat can you manage - If it needs to be below 20 kgs then you will have to have a slatted floor version - least successful for faster motoring. Above that weight the choice then comes to inflatable floor with or without an inflatable keel. The inflatable floor will add rigidity to the boat, and thus aid the speed. The keel will provide much better performance in bumpy water, and directional stability. I looked for a while at the Plastimo 230i which is a lightweight boat with an inflatable floor, but didnt like the build quality. The Quicksilver 260 is very nice, but for that little bit more the Zodiac of the same size seems to be built that bit better. My old tender is a zodiac and it has lasted very well, so it gets my vote.

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[timevans2000]

I have a Tinker Traveller. Great boat! Tough, very sea worthy and incredibly dry. It is 11 foot 6 inch long. Planes easily with 2 adults and a 3.5 hp motor. We have had 7 adults in it and it still moved us along suprisingly well on the engine. The down side is it a 35 kg and doesnt store well. Even rolled up it is a big lump. The weight doesnt seem to be the issue is it the length that seems to make it go well.

I guess it spreads the weight of the occupants better so doesnt dig into the water and make drag.

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[andy_wilson]

I find slatted floors and weak transom mountings for the O/B tend to cause dinghies to deform into a very inefficient shape when the power is cranked up.

After much research I traded our Bombard (design as above) for a Suzumar 265 - as found 'Best Value' in a number of more recent tests in the yachting press. In common with other engine manufacturers products it is priced to sell HP (thats Horse Power not credit facilities) rather than produce profit. As well as being well priced for the size this model

Has inflatable floor and keel
Has a spray rail and rope all round the top
Carrying handles @ front and each rear quarter
Tow bridle d-rings
Rubbing strip all round and on keel
Spray deflectors on top edges of transom
Has the largest tube diameter for it's size

Few others have all these features.

As a result it rows well, planes with one up and my old Johnson 4hp (3.3 in new money) Ultra long shaft O/B (far too much leverage on the transom but this dinghy is rated to 8hp I think). Rows well, stays dry in all but crossing a medium wake or bigger (unless you throttle back). We have (over)loaded it up with 4 adults and mad dog, two adults being non-boaty outlaws in their 70's and unfortunately all made it to quay (and back) without loss.

It is slightly heavier than most for it's LOA because of tube diameter and is as much as I can manage to inflate on the foredeck and launch alone. Realy needs two, 'specially to recover.

Only real drawback that I can see is the white colour!

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[vyv_cox]

I agree, the Suzumar looks very good. I would have bought one but I was told that there is not a single one in Europe until at least November! So we bought the Quicksilver, did only marginally less well in the YM trials. Has all the features that you mention, not quite sure whether tube size is the same or smaller but they look huge compared with the Compass.

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[gtmoore]

Thanks for everyone's responses. Can I just clarify though - in peoples opinion if I went for say the Suzumar 265 with the inflatable floor and keel, would I get away with my existing 2.5 Yamaha or do I need to upgrade it (after < 2hrs running time!!). It's a lovely little motor but is the struggle to push us along due to power or the dingy.

Thanks again

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[LadyInBed]

I would say that the problems that you had with a 'light' load were more due to setup than the boat and engine.
You say moving the weight forward caused a wet ride, a symptom of under inflated tubes, and too far back the engine seemed to be doing more water churning than propelling, a symptom of incorrect engine tilt angle, which could also be caused by under inflated tubes.
If the tubes aren't rock hard, it is like pushing a soggy Lilo through the water, and you will need more engine power to move it. A 2.5 hp engine should be adequate for a four-person inflatable. If you go for a larger boat, I would choose one with the largest tube diameter on offer, as if anyone is sitting on the tube, their bum is that much higher out of the water! Any other features are a matter of personal preference and cost.


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[duncan]

having had a Plastimo Pi265, a quicksilver 300 , Yam 2hp/2 stroke. Mariner 4 2 stroke and Mercury 4 hp 4 stroke this year (in my efforts to keep up with tleaves............) I would endorse the above comments wholeheartedly.
Inflateable floor and keel enable smaller motor to push along the tender fine but a 3.5 makes it a lot more comfortable easier to progress with a load. The 4 stroke is very nice but the extra 7 kg over the 2 stroke is significant in handling.
Given a blank sheet of paper (and some availability for the Suzmar!) I would have that or the Quicksilver 270 with a 5hp 2 stroke Merc/Mariner (same 20kg as 4hp).
Finally I would go to boatsandoutboards.com and buy secondhand unless a dealer was prepared to make me a good end of season offer including taking my 2hp in px!
best of luck and happy boating

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