Henshaw Inflatables - advice please

[max]

Does anyone have either a Tinker Tramp, Funsail or Foldaway in the sailing version? If so, what do you think?

I am looking for a new tender for my Westerly Pentland and like the idea of being able to go for an occassional sail as well.

It has to work first and foremost as a tender to traffic four adults from boat to shore but on the other hand if it sails like a tank then it doesn't seem worth the high cost of the sailing conversion.

I have also heard that the Foldaway is less stable than the rest.

 

[Boathook]

Had the foldaway for a few years now and only used the sailing rig a few times. The mast stays go on to the tubes and if not inflated rock hard the tubes deflect as you sail harder. When compared with a proper racing dinghy I found it frustrating but if you have never sailed a dinghy before it is acceptable.
With four in you need the engine as it is difficult to row without knocking knee's or use paddles as I do with 3 people on board. With one on board it rows easily and planes with a 3hp engine.
I would not call it unstable but more tender than other inflateables due to the hard bottom. Once the tubes start to be immersed it seems like any other inflateable and I stand on the tubes to climb in and out!
Build quality seems ok though the blue 'rubbing strake' in coming unstuck all round.
As it is so easy to inflate & deflate I very rarely tow it prefering to stow it each time for the 4 minutes involved.
Would I buy another, I am not to sure but the material is the same as Avons so should have a good life.

 

[max]

Thanks.

 

[Richard_Blake]

Bit late perhaps, maybe you've decided and bought!
Anyway, we bought a tramp with sailing and liferaft gear when I inherited a small nest egg a few years ago. First time we sailed it, two up on the Blackwater, it blew up to top end of force three, and we sailed through a fleet of racing Mirrors. Except when they raised spinnakers, we were slightly faster. We've got the standard rig, not the performance version with the masthead rig.
We found that the mast step was a bit primitive, and the mast tended to turn to flow with the tack we were on, as it were, and then not turn back the other way when going about unless there was a lot of wind. I solved the problem by cutting two rings of plastic (formica would do) to put under the mast. Rigging it is easy, even afloat. Do pump it up very hard.
We don't use a motor. We find it rows well with four. We've used the extra lacing rings for the liferaft canopy to suspend a canvas thwart across the stern - keeps a passenger's bottom dry and makes it easier for the rower to find somewhere for the feet. I made an extra centreboard which only protrudes about three inches under the bottom boards, and its top plate is aluminium plate instead of wood, so you can sit on it. This stops water wetting your behind when you row, and makes the boat even better directionally.
You may want to imitate me in cutting one plastic lip off the oar part of the rowlock arrangement, so you can slide the oar through the rowlock to 'ship' it. If you don't want the liferaft version, it's nevertheless well worth having the liferaft fixing rings along the sides, as you can tie on things like jib sheet jamming cleats on small bits of plywood, for keen single-handed sailing.
As you may gather, I like the boat!
Richard



LowTech

 

[ronniewood]

Used a Funsail for 7 years as a tender and would buy again. Well made, very stable, easy and quick to row, planes with a 3.5 horse outboard with one up and pretty good with the sailing rig to boot.
Only downside is it's heavy to handle on deck but can put up with that for the good all round performance.
I think some of their newer products are lighter without losing any good features - see if you can try one!

 

[billmacfarlane]

I'm on my second Tinker Tramp , having sold the first with my last boat. The new one is lighter than the old one which was 12 years old , which means that one person can now get it inflated , as lifting it out of the locker is much easier. The valves on the new one are better than the old one , the new ones making it easier to deflate , and not prone to leakage like the old ones were. Sailing wise , don't expect dinghy like performance from them. They are OK reaching and running in about 8-12 kts wind but that's about it . The secret is to get the tubes as hard as possible and to make sure the mast is set about 5 degrees forward . If the mast is stepped pointing aft you can get horrendous weather helm. It's the best tenedr I've ever been in , and the sailing rig can be good fun as long as you're not expecting too much. Forget the liferaft package , it's far too fiddly to set up each time you go sailing.

 

[Richard_Blake]

Re: Henshaw liferaft package

I agree with Bill that the liferaft package is fiddly as standard, but if you're short of space for tender AND liferaft I think it's still worthwhile. It can be improved by adding a few plastic or SS snap hooks to the lacing holes (snap on quick and lace up later.) I've used it for single-handed sailing camping weekends, with the canopy rolled up along a float during the day and over me at night. Mark the corners of the canopy so you get it in the right place straight away.
Change the attachment system for the liferaft gas bottles to good quality quick-fasten straps (mine came with hose clips as standard), and even if you don't put the canopy on for a day sail, you can strap the bottles on quick and still have instant partial inflation for an emergency. We treat assembling the FULL liferaft package as something for offshore - like stowing the anchor below and the other safety rituals.

LowTech

 

[max]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice a comment. Wisdom has finally got the better of me ( for now) as my current tender is perfectly functional. But maybe next year................