Has anyone used a 3D tender

We are on the point of buying one - based on the extremely light weight. They have most of the range on display at Gillingham Marina Chandlery - we went along to have a close look. They seem well made, but the obvious question is how long the very lightweight material will last. The price is very reasonable, so I will not be so terribly disappointed if it only survives five years.
 
Thanks Maby. I think I first learnt about these dinghies from one of your inputs to another thread; glad to see that you are likely to go ahead after seeing one.

I think I will go for one later in the season. I'd be interested to hear how you rate its performance when you get it. I've got a heavy zodiac at the moment which I will be keeping to get to and from the home mooring. This has fantastic directional stability and rows really well. I don't expect the 3D to perform as well but I'm far more likely to inflate it when cruising afar

Steve
 
Jim@sea said:
Looks like a good bit of kit. I would like to see how small a bag they pack up into.
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The smaller ones come in a rucksack type package - show me another tender that you can realistically carry on your back! The smallest one - only really suitable for a single adult - I can comfortably carry with one hand.
 
sheyes said:
Thanks Maby. I think I first learnt about these dinghies from one of your inputs to another thread; glad to see that you are likely to go ahead after seeing one.

I think I will go for one later in the season. I'd be interested to hear how you rate its performance when you get it. I've got a heavy zodiac at the moment which I will be keeping to get to and from the home mooring. This has fantastic directional stability and rows really well. I don't expect the 3D to perform as well but I'm far more likely to inflate it when cruising afar

Steve
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I'll let you know - may purchase one today if we have time to get round there.

We're marina based at home, so our only use for a tender is when away. Our current tender is so heavy and bulky that the thought of inflating it in the cockpit and then manhandling it over the side is terrifying! Hence it hardly ever gets used.
 
OK - follow-up - we shelled out for the 230 size - about £500 from Gillingham Chandlery.

Haven't had it in the water yet, so cannot comment on handling, but the construction looks good. It's the middle size which makes it a bit heavier, but I can still easily lift it on my own. It's two chambers plus an inflatable floor. Comes with a decent quality standard foot pump, oars and repair kit.

I inflated it yesterday in the living room and it was easy - I didn't count, but it felt like probably around 50 strokes on the pump for each chamber - only took a few minutes and I'm not particularly fit! It looks nice and is comfortable to sit in/on. The fabric is certainly lighter and thinner than that on our old, heavy dinghy, but looks likely to survive a fair few years.

Repacking was very easy - even on my own. You lock open the three valves and press out most of the air, then attach the foot pump reversed and pump out the remaining air to shrink it right down. It's then quite easy to fold it in on itself and then fold it in four length ways to fit the bag.

Negatives? Well, yes - the bag is made of quite flimsy material and I managed to tear it! It has strong webbing straps that run round it length ways, but no reinforcement round it sideways. Lifting it out of the cockpit locker, I must have tipped it too far onto its side and the weight started a tear along one of the longitudinal webbing straps that quickly ran the length of the bag. I called the importer yesterday who were apologetic and told me to return the bag for a replacement. I'll get a couple of lose webbing straps with buckles to put round the new bag and take any strain in the future.

Overall, I'm pleased. Seems to be good value and we can realistically hope to be able to launch it and recover it from the cockpit without killing ourselves. Not sure when we will have a chance to get it afloat, but I have no doubt that it will perform adequately.
 
Jim@sea said:
Looks like a good bit of kit. I would like to see how small a bag they pack up into.
Click to expand...

The 230 comes in a bag that is about 1m long by 50cm by 30 cm approximately. It folds up small enough that that bag is lose on it.
 
Just bought a Bombard AX1
These are 18kg
Bought mainly because it rolls up small enough to fit in the cockpit locker of my small Hunter.

It does (just) fit in.

Not tried inflating and using in anger yet.
 
What colour is the 230?

I think they look quite smart in black, but have heard that the smaller ones are grey in colour?
 
gavin400 said:
What colour is the 230?

I think they look quite smart in black, but have heard that the smaller ones are grey in colour?
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I believe that all sizes are available in both black and grey. We would have opted for black if it were available, but Gillingham only had the 230 in grey and we were not sufficiently worried to wait.
 
Just bumping this post to see if there is any feedback yet on using these tenders. I'm seriously tepmted by the 250 Airdeck at 13.9kg compared with my Quicksilver of about the same size which weighs nearly three times as much. Any thoughts or experiences welcome!
 
Cspirit said:
Just bumping this post to see if there is any feedback yet on using these tenders. I'm seriously tepmted by the 250 Airdeck at 13.9kg compared with my Quicksilver of about the same size which weighs nearly three times as much. Any thoughts or experiences welcome!
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We still don't have the outboard - weather has been so grotty that the idea of spending any significant amount of time in a tender has not been very attractive. The 230 lightweight is still pleasing us and customer service was very satisfactory. Fine for rowing short distances - probably ok for longer distances if you are not as unfit as I am! :(
 
Captain Haddock said:
How are these Tenders? I'm on the verge of buying one (the 270) does anybody else have any more experiences to share, especially on the water?
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Still no significant experience, I'm afraid - combination of bad weather and work has limited opportunities to use it. My impression remains that they are as well made as any other tender at the budget end of the market and a lot lighter than anything else around.
 
We've got a Wetline 265AD which is quite heavy (Approx 45kg) and I had difficulty getting it onto the foredeck of our Bav36 - until I discovered the spinnaker halyard.

Just lift up the front with the painter, clip the halyard to the towing eye and haul away. It's up on deck in no time and easy to lower into place and secure.

Launching is easy as the air-deck is pretty solid with a substantial rubber strip down the centre - lift it up and slide it over the side (remembering to secure the painter first :))

It rows nicely, and goes great with a 6hp outboard - but the seat is a bit heavy and seems slightly too narrow, pulling on the straps which secure it to the tubes (the seat usually gets left in the cockpit locker).
 
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The problem with heavy dinghies goes beyond simple launching off the deck - our cockpit locker is deep and I was hurting myself simply getting the packed dinghy out of it!
 
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