Inflatable tender size

[Graham376]

We find the 2.9 suits us, two adults + shopping + 2 folding bikes sometimes. I would say 2.7 minimum for OP but don't go for slatted floor.

 

[chrishscorp]

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...

I would crack on with the project before the EA say you cant move that dinghy as its used by nesting birds

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks, the Avon pictured earlier, wasn't actually mine, just one I saw on the Medina.

The swans have their eyes on mine.

 

[chrishscorp]

Thanks, the Avon pictured earlier, wasn't actually mine, just one I saw on the Medina.

The swans have their eyes on mine.

If we have the dog on board anywhere that has swans is a nightmare they seem to have a real dislike of dogs and are very aggressive, not sure i would wish to climb into your dinghy

 

[Hot Property]

I have a Redcrest with an inflatable floor which gives rigidity to the whole boat. I haven't used with an outboard but expect it will perform well. Still a flat bottomed dinghy but floppy floor no more!

New photo by Nick Taylor

 

[Greenheart]

Is your dinghy really a Redcrest, Hot Property? I thought it was the so-called 'Rover' (transom) models that had inflatable floors.

Regarding swans, I grew to trust them entirely, even when they brought their young beside the Avon. I kept small cans of sweetcorn on the yacht, and they quickly learned that my arrival was good news. When I had the Avon alongside to clean the waterline, the swans would give the boat and me close inspection in search of corn. Sometimes I only had a packet of biscuits. I discovered they have teeth, though, so I kept the gloves on if I was feeding them by hand.

 

[Hot Property]

Is your dinghy really a Redcrest, Hot Property? I thought it was the so-called 'Rover' (transom) models that had inflatable floors.

Regarding swans, I grew to trust them entirely, even when they brought their young beside the Avon. I kept small cans of sweetcorn on the yacht, and they quickly learned that my arrival was good news. When I had the Avon alongside to clean the waterline, the swans would give the boat and me close inspection in search of corn. Sometimes I only had a packet of biscuits. I discovered they have teeth, though, so I kept the gloves on if I was feeding them by hand.

I believe so, the floor maybe an after market one though.

£650 to you sir!!!

Avon Redcrest inflatable boat replacement air floor

 

[Greenheart]

That's very interesting...does the floor fit inside the boat, or strap on the outside?

It's a little difficult to imagine an inflated panel placed inside, stretching the Hypalon floor enough to really improve handling.

At a cost of £650 for the floor, I may try making three or four wood floors first. And possibly a carbon fibre one.

EDIT: In see your photo, your Redcrest looks at least thirty years newer than mine, so perhaps the design had been tweaked to include the inflatable floor panel, though it's not obvious how.

 

[stu9000]

We have a waveco 2.3. Anything bigger would not pack away in the seahawks aft locker. I have 3 children, two of whom are teens. In calm conditions I would motor with us all, albeit somewhat gingerly. In a seaway and/or high winds i would limit to two adults and possibly our smallest crewmember.

A bigger dinghy would be harder to store and more awkward to manoeuvre on board or ashore.

In the real world I never face a situation where I need to get high numbers of crew ashore in adverse conditions. If I had to get them ashore from home mooring ( e.g. at end of a weekend) would bring the big boat to the dinghy pontoon hammerhead. This allows us to take off the endless bags, duvets, pillows, teddies, cold boxes and general family detruis. If tide too low or hammerhead not available i would or drop them at the nearby marina outer pontoon where they can grab an uber to the parked car while I battled the elements in the dinghy alone.

In short, a slightly bigger dinghy offers marginal gains and a number of drawbacks.

S

 

[stu9000]

BTW... we did splash out on the airlock floor as more stable and reduced wet sock incidents. But I use ply sheets in my smaller dinghy which is almost as good.

 

[Hot Property]

That's very interesting...does the floor fit inside the boat, or strap on the outside?

It's a little difficult to imagine an inflated panel placed inside, stretching the Hypalon floor enough to really improve handling.

At a cost of £650 for the floor, I may try making three or four wood floors first. And possibly a carbon fibre one.

EDIT: In see your photo, your Redcrest looks at least thirty years newer than mine, so perhaps the design had been tweaked to include the inflatable floor panel, though it's not obvious how.

it fits inside the boat.

not seen another Redcrest like it.....

 

[gordmac]

Can you not just tow a tender behind a sailboat? In which case perhaps a 3m alloy hulled rib would work well?

 

[Never Grumble]

it fits inside the boat.

not seen another Redcrest like it.....

I found that floor whilst googling yesterday, at £650 it would seem a bit expensive just to upgrade my old Redcrest though.