Inflatable tender size

For a Centaur sized boat on a swinging mooring hard to beat the combination of a 10' or so GRP stem dinghy for ferrying out to the mooring and a Redcrest for taking with you. You could buy both for less than the cost of a new decent 2.7m airdeck. I think one has to accept that with such a relatively small boat as a Centaur you really don't have the space to carry anything bigger than a 2.7m, and if you use it for getting out to the mooring then the temptation is to tow it rather than deflating and carrying on board. Too much of a compromise to expect one dinghy to do both jobs - ferry to mooring and the odd trip from anchor to beach.

As for getting things stolen, my only insurance claim in over 40 years was a Redcrest from the dinghy rack and that prompted me to go the hard dinghy route for ferry to the mooring and leave the Redcrest on board. Now in a marina berth and only me to cater for so I carry a 3D roundtail but would not recommend that for hard use with a family.
 
I've deliberated long and hard about a new dinghy since recently moving to a swing mooring. The last few times I've been using my old slatted floor 2.4m Zodiac and it's definitely too small. I'm only on Windermere but any amount of wind or chop means you get pretty soaked. With two adults and luggage it's definitely at the limit. I decided to go for a Honwave 3m with aluminium floor in the end. Can just about man-handle it into tender rack on shore and the stability (with much bigger tubes) is very welcome (haven't rowed it yet though!)

My main criteria was around stability and being able to get 3-4 adults in with luggage and shopping so I don't have to do two trips to the mooring...
 
For the record I was curious to weigh my Avon Redcrest (9ft,) (as I'm loading aboard today prior to the weekend, not coz I'm a sad git? :):)). Including oars, pump, seat, inflatable thwart and outboard bracket my scales gave 26.5kg. Just the dinghy and inflatable seat and a damp painter gave me 20kg.... and it rolls up small.
Internet suggests 48lbs .....22kg
 
I like my old Redcrest and Redstart very much; they're tough and pretty basic, but I think they row well.

Having said that, motoring across Southampton Water in August, I suddenly realised I was being overtaken by paddleboarders.

We're thinking of taking the smaller Redstart, camping in July...put a tarp over it, and fill it with water in one corner of the big tent. SWMBO doesn't want to have to use shared facilities.
 
Admittedly, it had been my suggestion that a couple of those solar-heated shower-bags (maybe mixed with a hot kettle-full) would be best for keeping clean, but if it gets as hot as last year (or 2019) was, a cool bath might be just the thing.

We never get mozzies inside the gauze inner-tent, but if they do form a colony I'll take notes.
 
I used a Redcrest which was fine for 2 adults and 3 children. The round tail gives an extra foot of internal space compared to a transom but does limit the engine power as the tubes will distort under power.
I later changed a 240 transom for a 230 roundtail to keep on a 26' boat as the 240 was too short inside for me to row effectively. Sooner or later you will always need to row so best to try it out before the engine fails and with 4 occupants this can be a challenge.
For trips out to the mooring my 270 with inflatable floor is ideal for up to 4.
 
andsarkit said:
Redcrest...round tail...does limit the engine power as the tubes will distort under power.
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Plus, without floorboards, the only hull shape you have is your own derriere or knees or feet pressing into a flat floor.

I'd like to get (make) floorboards for mine, but the Redcrest will still be a better boat under oars, I think.
 
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Hmm, it was bolt upright before it was running. It's only thrust versus flexibility, that pushed the prop so far ahead of the engine.

I'm reluctant to put high pressure into such an old inflatable, lest a seam separates or an unseen worn patch bulges and blows-out. When I motored across Southampton Water in the Redcrest, I was tempted to tow the Redstart as a lifeboat. :sneaky:
 
dancrane said:
Hmm, it was bolt upright before it was running. It's only thrust versus flexibility, that pushed the prop so far ahead of the engine.

I'm reluctant to put high pressure into such an old inflatable, lest a seam separates or an unseen worn patch bulges and blows-out. When I motored across Southampton Water in the Redcrest, I was tempted to tow the Redstart as a lifeboat. :sneaky:
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If you launch straight after inflating the tubes, they will go soft as the pumped air will get cooled, hence reducing the pressure. I normally add extra air to bring the tubes back to full pressure.
 
dancrane said:
Hmm, it was bolt upright before it was running. It's only thrust versus flexibility, that pushed the prop so far ahead of the engine.

I'm reluctant to put high pressure into such an old inflatable, lest a seam separates or an unseen worn patch bulges and blows-out. When I motored across Southampton Water in the Redcrest, I was tempted to tow the Redstart as a lifeboat. :sneaky:
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That's impressive cognitive dissonance.
 
Oddly, I envisaged the Redcrest's forward compartment going flat, leaving the engine fully supported but rather less easy to use.

Actually I'd pay to see a race performed by Avon Redcrests with their front tubes deflated. Reversing would not be permitted.

For some reason my Redstart doesn't have the lower bracket-loops on the tube, so it's in no danger of being motored to bits.
 
Our club's annual cruise-in-company/picnic/piss-up involves 'sports', one of which is inflatable dinghy racing, any propulsion allowed other than rowing or engines. The dads get very competitive.
 
I could happily spend months planning a technique to win that. Lying over the tail, kicking in the water wearing fins?

I seem to remember Avon did sell a sailing kit with the Redcrest...leeboards and a frame for the mast which could only have been as stiff as the rubbery thing it stood on. I'm not surprised I've never seen one, nor even a photo of one since the brochure in 1982.
 
Yes a grp dinghy is the way to go to row /motor out to a mooring -find a small set of wheels to go on the dinghy to wheel it to water and leave it on the mooring/upturned on pontoon between trots - it’s the way we always used to do it sailing a centaur off the Folly. The seagull never seem that reliable so rowing all the way but far easier than in any Avon .
 
I'm late to this thread, I have an old redcrest without a floor, for the first time last week I tried to use it with an outboard, but it was awful under power didn't seem to have any control over manoeuvring, I'm wondering whether to bight the bullet and sell it buying a newer inflatable tender with inflatable floor or whether to give making a ply floor a go and see if it is any better. I did notice that the inflatable seat tube created a bulge in the underwater shape as no doubt did my feet. I also dont have a seat across the top of the tubes. be interested in views on this.
 
It wouldn't be fair to expect the flat floor of a Redcrest (aside from human knobbles pressing through the rubber) to show impressive directional stability. But mine seemed to me to steer fairly predictably.

Vital to remember that the only steering you have is the effect of the engine kicking the stern in the opposite direction from where you want the nose to point...so it's something like reversing a car with flat tyres on a very loose surface. It'll never be precise.

When I have a free day or two, I plan to spend a few quid on good 9mm ply to make the Redcrest floorboards. I think everything will improve with a hard floor - no puddles forming around solid objects (like knees or feet) and a far more secure feeling when standing to move between Avon and yacht or pontoon. And better for the boat, than stowing an anchor on the rubber floor, tough though it is.

Avons are heavy and cumbrous to store, but also admirably robust and long-lived. I won't be surprised to see this one on Ebay...

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My parents had an Albin Vega when I was a kid (27ft) ... Avon Redcrest 2.7m fitted on the foredeck with the front half deflated - but most of the time it was towed. Was just big enough for a family of 5 and had a Seagull as propulsion. Today's equivalent would be a 2.7m with a 3hp outboard ... wouldn't go any smaller. Boat was on a mooring for a while, any smaller would have been impossible - for the summer hols, dad would bring the boat into a nearby marina to load/unload as the dinghy option was too difficult in anything other than flat-calm. Airdeck, solid floor, inflatable floor are all a matter of personal choice if you are not looking for speed IMO.
 
stoursailor said:
I’ve just bought a Westerly Centaur which is moored on a swinging mooring, and am looking for an inflatable tender. We are a family of four (children aged 6 and 4). Any guidance on what size inflatable I should be looking at please? I see quite a lot of 2.3m dinghies for sale second hand but wonder if that would be big enough for us.

Thanks in anticipation of your help!
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My view is that a 2.3 will be too small. Been there, done that. Myself and my wife find a 2.7 is just comfortable for the two of us. The tubes get bigger as the lengt increases and it gives a drier ride.
 
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