Goodbye to Tinker inflatables ?

Real shame - I have a 30 year old one still going strong. They will no doubt become very sought after items secondhand.
 
Very sorry to hear that news. Have had a Traveller for 25 years and love it-makes it even more "precious" now. I loved the inscription on the transom which stated that it was built by xxxx-made it feel like a Rolls Royce, which I always considered it to be of tenders! But, more importantly, am glad the workforce is still employed.
 
I went over there about 9 months ago. From Reception through to the MD, coffee, quick tour of the factory; learned that if production has gone well, they give everyone the Friday off. Happiest small business I have ever been into.

Yes, my Traveller has it's little 'birthday" label and maker's name on the transom, too. The MD even told me where she was now working - many years after she had left !" A real family feeling about the place.
 
Last edited:
I had a Tinker for a while. It was the only small roll up inflateable I've owned that kept me reaonably dry.

Down here in the sun, PVC inflateables tend to last about three years before the seams blow ..... and of course they are very difficult to repair. Trouble is people just buy the biggest dinghy they can for the $$ rather than quality ..... but then that is true for most things I guess.
 
I've never used one, but they look awfully low in the bows to cope with the slightest wave without becoming a submarine.

Prehaps their owners put up with such foibles like the owners of Morris Minors and Baby Blakes.:p
 
michael_w said:
I've never used one, but they look awfully low in the bows to cope with the slightest wave without becoming a submarine.

Prehaps their owners put up with such foibles like the owners of Morris Minors and Baby Blakes.:p
Click to expand...

Never had the slightest problem of submarining. In fact they are rated as liferafts. The bouyancy chambers have internal second chambers to keep the boat afloat if the main chamber leaks. All in all a remarkable product.
 
Hermit said:
Real shame - I have a 30 year old one still going strong. They will no doubt become very sought after items secondhand.
Click to expand...

I've got a good one for sale if anyone is interested. Bought it for my grandchildren but no sign of any appearing anytime soon so its got to go as its taking up valuable storage space.
 
glassbottom..

Shame to see them go. Mine is one it´s last legs but one bonus of having a ply floor is that with a free offcut of lexan and some sealant you can have a little window into the wonderful undersea world :) Anchored off a reef it´s like fishing in an aquarium watching the little ones steal the bait.

P3270037.jpg


P3280045.jpg
 
TradewindSailor said:
In fact they are rated as liferafts.
Click to expand...

Are they? I know they used to make canopies and inflation sets for dual use as both liferaft and dinghy, but when I looked at getting such a thing a couple of years ago I could find no mention of them new. I was led to believe that they had stopped claiming liferaft capability because the boat wasn't really up to it compared to modern rafts.

If I had the space I'd still have one as a good dinghy though.

Pete
 
prv said:
Are they? I know they used to make canopies and inflation sets for dual use as both liferaft and dinghy, but when I looked at getting such a thing a couple of years ago I could find no mention of them new. I was led to believe that they had stopped claiming liferaft capability because the boat wasn't really up to it compared to modern rafts.

If I had the space I'd still have one as a good dinghy though.

Pete
Click to expand...

It has much to do with your sailing area what could be regarded as a liferaft. However I would much prefer a boat that could make way through the water in a desired direction than a raft that will only go where the wind blows. As for quality of build of the tinker, it would hold it's own against the best purpose built raft.

Some people seem to believe that liferafts are some magic floating island that would preserve their wellbeing until help arrives. Not true. I've heard that 5 minutes inside one feels like 5 hours when actually used in a real life threatening conditions ..... mainly because the passengers have no control over their destiny.
 
Conachair said:
Shame to see them go. Mine is one it´s last legs but one bonus of having a ply floor is that with a free offcut of lexan and some sealant you can have a little window into the wonderful undersea world :) Anchored off a reef it´s like fishing in an aquarium watching the little ones steal the bait.

P3270037.jpg


P3280045.jpg
Click to expand...

I'd say that yours has a good few years left in it yet-as does mine, hopefully!
 
michael_w said:
I've never used one, but they look awfully low in the bows to cope with the slightest wave without becoming a submarine.

Prehaps their owners put up with such foibles like the owners of Morris Minors and Baby Blakes.:p
Click to expand...

Another submarine vote, we got fed up with the craft filling up in any kind of chop. Still, some people still love their CQRs as well:rolleyes:
 
Liferaft details included here...

The original Tinker was designed by Fred Benyon-Tinker (so now you know where the name came from). The Tinker class of sailing dinghies was initially developed by Henshaw Inflatables Ltd. over 25 years ago. The Tinker has been evolving ever since, including a liferaft option with automatic inflation and inflatable 'tent'. The hull shape of the Tramp and Traveller was updated in 2001. The most noticable changes are the higher bow profile and the narrower exit profile of the stern. The takeoff point for the jib is further forward on the new boat.

There are four basic models in the Tinker range:

• Traveller - (12'/3.66m long, 59ft2/5.45m2 sail area)
• Tramp - (9'/2.75m long, 52ft2/4.83m2 sail area)
• Foldaway Rib - (9'/2.75m long, 59ft2/5.5m2 sail area)
• Funsail - (10'3"/3.15m long, 52ft2/4.83m2 sail area)
 
On the "liferaft" bit, Avon sold a similar set up based on a Redcrest. However, they are not accepted as survival liferafts - they are just dinghies with an inflatable canopy. Some argue that chances of survival might be greater in a boat that can be controlled, and a dual purpose dinghy/liferaft is a good compromise. However, they end up being heavy and bulky which compromises them as tenders, and do not have the ultimate survival capabilities claimed of "real" liferafts. Also they ended up more expensive then a dedicated tender and liferaft, particularly when prices of both fell.

So, they never caught on in abig way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

geem
Raymarine Axiom running Lighthouse 4
2
Replies
21
Views
511
geem
geem
I
Sadler 32
3 4 5
Replies
93
Views
3K
Mark-1
Mark-1
A
Angelo Lavranos Holiday 34 / L34 by Robertson (SA) - grade of aluminium of mast
Replies
3
Views
203
Neeves
N
H
Foul gear Typhoon TX 3
Replies
1
Views
159
lustyd
lustyd
Chiara’s slave
Aesthetics. The eye of the beholder?
Replies
19
Views
514
Minerva
M

Share this page

Top