Dinghy/Tender

Challenge you will have is getting it packed back to the advertised size as there is nowhere on board that is flat! A reversible pump helps to get all the air out, but make sure you allow wriggle room to get it into the locker. Fortunately my boat has a drop down bathing platform/transom so I always manage to get my 3D back into its original bag. With my old Redcrest, I had a teak grid platform on the coachroof to take the deflated dinghy.
 
I cruised with an Avon R280 with an air floor and a 4hp outboard. It rolled up well enough to fit in the stern locker of my 34 footer. Did everything I needed of it, still have it, stowed in a container and haven't used it since I bought a bigger boar and a Avon 310 rib.

I liked the air floor for ease of rolling, and two up we could just get it on the plane.
 
You might look at seeing if those hooks which go on the side would enable you to hinge up on stern. With a sugar scoop on our Bav34 we used to sit the dinghy on sugar scoop cross ways when inflated lashed on for short trips- I have seen one Bav which used to hoist vertically using pulley off backstays. Looked awful but for downwind sailing might give you a an option if short dinghy.
 
KompetentKrew said:
As I wrote in another thread recently, I've used a 2.4m dinghy with 2 other adults a couple of times in and IMO it's been too small - I suspect 2.4's are used often with this loading but we were crowded and I didn't like it. The 3rd person had to step carefully into the dinghy, and then there was no room to move. However if you only expect it to have to carry one or two people, I'd think a 2.4 would be adequate.

The extra foot or so of a 2.7 makes a huge difference, because the extra length is all in the middle, and I love my Honwave 2.7IE airdeck. However it does not pack down that small, and it is bloody heavy. I rarely do pack it down, because I have a 40' boat and davits.

I'd think that if you had a Centaur then you'd definitely want the 2.4m inflatable over the 2.7 to try and save as much space as possible, but I don't know how much room you have on your 34.

I know my mate can plane his 2.4 when using it alone, so I would think that consideration and the size of your outboard would drive the purchase. A 2.4 that planes would be far superior to a 2.7m that does not. If you don't have experience, to try borrow a tender to see what a huge difference planing makes. You don't need it just to get to shore, but you'll be able to explore much further if you can plane. Not sure if a Torqeedo can manage this.
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I would like to do more with it - the chances of having 3 people in it is about 2% of the time - 2 people in it 70% of the time the rest of the time just 1 person - I get what you are saying about getting it to plane - good point.

I've experience of bigger tenders on 62ft yachts with davits - its just the smaller ones I am quering - looking at the packed size its the challenge. My locker in the cockpit can be empty - but yes 38KG is a lot to yank out


Athomson said:
"dinghy/tender" is not really the same thing, you'll have to decide which you want. You've not going to get quality and size for taking it out in the solent and compact and being able to easily put it in a locker in the same boat.

If you want a locker tender get as small as you can get away with in a thinner material. There are some with 30cm tubes and thinner material so can find well under 30kg.

If you want higher quality the material makes it heavy and a size to go boating in it you want at least 2.9m then its over 40kg and not easy to put in a locker at all. Unless you're very fit and the locker is very large.
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I am not planning on going anywhere mental on it - but bumbling around a bit would be good. I won't have much time in it with the battery life so a consideration
 
pyrojames said:
I cruised with an Avon R280 with an air floor and a 4hp outboard. It rolled up well enough to fit in the stern locker of my 34 footer. Did everything I needed of it, still have it, stowed in a container and haven't used it since I bought a bigger boar and a Avon 310 rib.

I liked the air floor for ease of rolling, and two up we could just get it on the plane.
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Okay - this is positive, so the 270 would be fine - challenge is - I am a 250 mile round trip from the boat and the local chandlery so I wanted to get as much info before I go in to save time.

ashtead said:
You might look at seeing if those hooks which go on the side would enable you to hinge up on stern. With a sugar scoop on our Bav34 we used to sit the dinghy on sugar scoop cross ways when inflated lashed on for short trips- I have seen one Bav which used to hoist vertically using pulley off backstays. Looked awful but for downwind sailing might give you a an option if short dinghy.
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This might work - would for the 240 more than the 270
 
ashtead said:
For 2 people start off with a Seago 2.4 maybe ? Just look at weights but as said above those 3D ones might be a shade too light when afloat.
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Yeah not a daft view at all and makes sense - don't want too much space, might get unwanted visitors - I guess I really just need to see them side by side.
 
djr said:
I am not planning on going anywhere mental on it - but bumbling around a bit would be good. I won't have much time in it with the battery life so a consideration
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I spent all day with a friend in a 2.9m sib yesterday and it was only just big enough. I had a 3.5hp tohatsu 2 stroke on tickover which is not noisy at all but I had some extra power if needed. I'm glad I didn't go electric but that said i've not tried a proper one like the toquedo
 
djr said:
View attachment 114119

This is the back of it.



It's a 2005 - so sadly not new.



I am liking the idea of the Seago Hypalon - I am thinking 2.7m just need to know if it will fit in the locker
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One of the problems of PVC is folding it regularly when cold, where the material, and particularly seams, take a lot of stick; so I think you are wise.


I have an Avon 2.8 and a Redcrest and find no real difficulty in handling either on a smaller boat than the Rassy where stowage is in the quarter berth. I am neither particularly young or strong.
They are different, the Restart, though lighter, is difficult to get into it's bag and forms a big amorphous lump which is tricky to get hold of. The transom stern 2.8 is heavier and bulkier but forms a definite shape like an ironing board so is easier to get a grip of and handle. The bag helps, it is of the "nappy" type where you place the rolled dinghy into the flat bag and then bring up the sides and ends and swig them tight. Excellent
I would say that once you were used to it a 2.8 would be fine though a vertical pull out of a locker is not the best thing for bad backs. It might be possible to get a simple tackle around the boom?

.
 
Okay so an update - I think a Zodiac 270 Aero Cadet is the one of choice for me - but the outboard - I've got the option to buy a torqeedo 1103 CS for ~1650 inc VAT - am I making a huge mistake not getting the epropulsion instead?
 
I've just bought the torqeedo. It is a really good piece of kit (ok there are those who will say they prefer petrol ones but this works for me and what I will use it for - if you think range is an issue you can always get another battery). I'm sure the epropulsion is also good (i have a friend who has one on a Frib) but it only splits into two parts (battery and the rest). The torqeedo is split into three so you can just remove the tiller when going ashore (very light).

I'm also thinking about a new tender and like you are moving towards the Zodiac cadet 270 aero - again on a 34 foot boat.

I don't think any setup is perfect - its all compromise so best to go with what you feel suits you.
 
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