Do I need a tender in the UK?

[BetweenBoats]

Coming back to boating after a hiatus.

Had four good seasons in the UK about 10 years ago. Mainly in marinas, sometimes on a mooring buoy. Never had a tender.

On a practical level, never missed having one.

If I want to get all that I can out of my next boating adventure, should I budget for a tender? What magic will it bring?

Will mainly be doing south-coast / Solent with channel islands and channel crossings.

Thanks

 

[gjgm]

Coming back to boating after a hiatus.

Had four good seasons in the UK about 10 years ago. Mainly in marinas, sometimes on a mooring buoy. Never had a tender.

On a practical level, never missed having one.

If I want to get all that I can out of my next boating adventure, should I budget for a tender? What magic will it bring?

Will mainly be doing south-coast / Solent with channel islands and channel crossings.

Thanks

Not alot of use in the big tidal ranges in France, IMHO, as half the time there is no water. Had some small use around CI's, popping onto the beach.
Use it alot for the beach, more Devon / Cornwall and a bit Solent. Might use it in Dartmouth if you are on the east side of the river.
Only of use if you can store it inflated, I think.
2.4metre is about £500, or £1k so if you want an ever lasting one. 2.4 is practical for two people for the use I just said, or very short trips with 3.
In any wind or current over almost any distance , you will need an small outboard.

 

[BruceK]

As above, ours is invaluable to getting to those secluded beaches difficult to get to from land. Plenty of those where I am in North Wales, not sure about down where you wish to be. Also getting to and from mooring (pontoon but not marina) when water taxi's have limited hours off season

 

[Bandit]

If you want to anchor in Bays for an afternoon or overnight and go ashore, pick up a buoy in Alderney harbour, Essential.

If you are doing Channel islands and bay of St Malo ie Cherbourg to Brest get one two people can carry up a beach or put wheels on it.

 

[davedpc]

Always good to know you have somewhere to go if you have a FIRE

 

[jrudge]

I never really used ours much in France, but use it all the time in the Med. Depends on how much you anchor and how simple it is to deploy!

 

[henryf]

I think a tender is essential in the Solent.

It gives you total flexibility in terms of where you moor. Even somewhere simple like the Folly - downstream from Cowes you aren't reliant on the Ferry running to get you over to the pub.

Newtown Creek - Essential to get to the pub for dinner.

Beaulieu - Allows you to use the mid river pontoon past the marina.

Lymington - allows you to use the mid river pontoon close to the Town Quay

Bembridge - allows you to get over to the village

Chichester - Essential for pretty much all the nice mooring spots

The Hamble - allows the use of the mid river pontoons as you enter the river on your left hand side (near Warsash)

Poole - Allows you to moor around Brownsea Island

Cruising West you can use the various bays, Dartmouth, Dittisham, Salcombe, Fowey, Yealm etc, etc, etc.

I almost see it as a bit of a failure if we have to pull into a Marina these days. We all have systems on board to be self sufficient so use them. I would say a genny is also essential.

Henry