Inflatable Kayak as tender?

[calkin1]

My first time on this forum so apologies if I waffle on a bit:

I'm looking to replace an old Narwhal inflatable tender. My boat is a small Varne 27 so space is limited. The Narwhal is a pain to row in anything other than flat calm. I'd like to avoid the hassles associated with an outboard motor and wondered if an inflatable kayak would be practical alternative.

Boat spends most of its time tucked up on pontoon berth in a marina, therefore I don't need the tender to transfer a large amount of kit and stores, just two people to and from shore with safety gear in tidal conditions doing a stopover on a pick up mooring.

Does anyone out there use a similar kayak on regular basis - if so what would you recommend?

A search through the forum threads for inflatables threw up a link to 'SeaEagle'. They are based in the states, but would prefer to see something first hand UK before spending any money

Thanks David.

 

[andy_wilson]

You may have some difficulty getting in and out of a kayak when in an anchorage.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Saw a chap and a large dog (relatively well behaved) transfer from boat to kayak to shore from a swinging mooring in Fowey with no problems, landing on a beach in surf might be interesting. Not shure about the durability.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Came across a couple of Blue Water sailors from BC in West Scotland who used 2 kayaks instead of a dinghy. They enthused on light weight, compact size, ease of inflation, speed, no necessity for outboard and ease of "parking" ashore without an outboard. Was impressed, but have not ventured that way myself!

 

[dedwards]

Nauticalia sell 2 or 3 different models. I had a squeeze of them at the last southamton boat show and was pleasantly surprised how solid they feel. But, as previously mentioned, the doubt is whether they are stable enough to clamber out of them into your boat afterwards. If I could cure that doubt, i'd definitely buy one 'cause swmbo and I are much better kayakers than rowers.

 

[duncan]

welcome to the forum!

simple obvious answer is that everything has a use - after that it's a compromise.

Our first 'tender' was a 'ringo', kept 2 people out of the water but got them wet, rowed (paddled) awfully and surfed in with the slightest waves depositing everyone on the beach in a pile. Getting in and out at the boat was also 'tricky'.
At the other end of the scale we now have a quicksilver 310 - step in and out from bathing platform, dry in almost all conditions including surfing in and carries 5 plus some gear (cool boxes, BBQ, etc etc..........) - oh and we are 25ft........

inflatable kayaks would be a great option for a couple who wanted to use kayaks to explore creeks as well as ship to shore - limitation on boarding as already raised.

overall I would get a nice (inflatable floor/keel) small tender and inflate/deflate unless you are into kayaking...

 

[FullCircle]

We lopoked at the latest crop of inflatable kayaks at LIBS. I was impressed, and would have splashed the 300 quid, if it was not already earmarked for Alternator Management system. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We will be getting one, a 2 seat with extra stowage fore and aft, but it will be supplementary to the rubbadub/outboard combo, as we will never be able to fit folding bikes in it.
Cant remember the name of them though.

 

[Spuddy]

I'd had similar thoughts as to viability of inflatable kayak. Done some sea and white water so aware of possible snags - my roll is not bombproof. However, saw someone at Arisaig a couple of years ago with one on the slip; he'd got the accessories to turn it into a sailing trimaran and was headed for Eigg with lots of camping gear. So multifunction possible but more expense and impossibly fiddly to assemble on foredeck I expect.

 

[BlackJacksGaff]

I saw some of the Sevylor range at the Beaulieu Boat Jumble. They look very impressive with inflatable tubes inside canvas outers. Unlike plastic kayaks I am assured they are pretty stable. Sevylor Colorado
Quite pricey though. Would be interested to hear from anyone who has one.

 

[FullCircle]

That was it - Sevylor. They did look fit for purpose, well made. Dunno who has got one though.

 

[calkin1]

Many thanks for the advice and comments so far.

At least this is not such a crazy idea after all. If I can find something suitable then will definately opt for a kayak.

If the Kayak has strops robustly fitted fore and aft then my plan would be to tie up along side and use a spare emergency boarding ladder to help make the transfer between boat and inflatable a bit more stable.

Unfortunately missed the LIBS this year. Have tried using their web page to search exhibitors and products - but no success yet. I'll keep on searching!

 

[Drascomber]

A couple of Drascombers use Inflatable Kyaks as tenders and swear by them and I have seen other guys use them to get out to bigger boats. Drascombes have low freeboard so boarding is not a problem. Though if you are comfortable with a kyak it seems like a good plan to me.

Sevylor looked good in Nauticalia where I have seen them but I am sure there must be cheaper places to get them - have a Google around and try EBay.

Like you I don't have to get out to a mooring so I have a lightwieght el-cheapo fishing inflatable from EBay with longer than standard oars so it goes like a train.

 

[markstirling]

I'm planning on trying this myself for the same reasons but in a canoe not kayak (maybe thats what you meant). My only real concern is getting in and out of the canoe as it wont be as stable as a dinghy. I recon the Stearns canoes look more robust than Sevylor and appear to have higher freeboard (do you call it that on a canoe). They're also much cheaper in the USA if you can manage to personally import one. There are very cheap makes available on ebay, but I think you get what you pay for.

 

[vyv_cox]

We just bought two Sevylor singles, the yellow ones that are flat, like a surf ski. We still have a dinghy but expect to use the canoes as you say, for exploring and hopefully for most visits ashore. Have taken them to the boat but not yet used them.

If you buy, look carefully on Ebay first. We did a good deal with a company in Hereford, lowest price we could find anywhere and significant savings on paddles because we bought two.

 

[NorthernMonkey]

If you are going to use a kayak, then spending some money on good paddles is definately worth it. Don't use metal shafts, they are cold and heavy

 

[rob2]

Hi David,
What a coincidence - I've been looking at canoes, too! Maybe we'll have a race around Braye Harbour later this year?
Rob.