Inflatable tenders

[Barrowboy]

I'm in the process of looking for a new tender/outboard combo for a 29' Sadler...we'll mount the outboard on the pushpit and stow the tender in the cockpit underfloor locker but I wondered whether members of the forum would be willing to share their experiences of good/bad/ugly tenders and outboards..?

Is two stroke preferable to four stroke at this level bearing in mind the type of treatment an engine in this environment will receive? Any particular manufacturer better than another? Do people have a view about inflatable keels versus wooden slats, etc? Are the top of the range tenders worth the extra money, that kind of thing?

Look forward to your responses...

Tony

 

[bruce]

the day of the 2 cycle are ending, 4 cycle are smoother, but weigh more, over here 2 cycles will be allowed to die out but arn't sold anymore except for left over dealer stock. inflatables can 'fly' when being towed, dunking the motor or worse, would vote for keel.

 

[Talbot]

You say that you want to be able to stow the boat down below in a 29' boat. That rules out the solid floor boats. The weight issue may resolve whether you want a inflatablefloor/keel or just slats. The 2.6m boats with just slats are in the region of 18kg, whereas the inflatable floor/keel boats normally weigh twice that.
However, the inflatable floor keeps the water inside the boat from getting your feet wet because the floor keeps it away, and in conjunction with the inflatable keel provides a boat that is much asier to motor and to row, but takes up a bit more space when folded.

as far as the engine is concerned, I went for the Tohatsu 3.5 - it is a nice light engine with plenty of grunt, and would even push your sadler if necessary. The mariner/mercury etc 3.3 is the same engine at slightly more money!

 

[starboard]

I have a 2.4mtr slatted floor Zodiac. Tow it every where, does'nt slow me down and only gets a little twitchy in over 30kts of wind. As for the O/B I row every where, by the time the O/B is on I am ashore with the oars. As for 2 or 4 stroke, 2 a lot lighter but 4 quieter and cleaner. The little Honda a peach of an engine with no cooling watr or pump to worry about (Aircooled).The only problem you need to store a certain way or upright due to valves.

Good luck

Paul

 

[brett01]

Talbot has it about right - the only addendum is get the largest tube size you can - we are on our third inflatable after 15 years of lving aboard, the last hypalon based is 14 years old and still going strong - our new inflatable the Dutch designed, Korean built - but the hypalon version. If you want one to last buy hypalon - none of the others ever last for serious long term use. Also the largest you can fit as you load them more and more and then everything gets wet

 

[Stemar]

I'd give another vote for the Tohatsu 3.5. Light, robust and reliable. Also not fussy about how you lay it down like at least some 4 strokes.

We also have a slatted floor Zodiac, but if I was buying another and funds would allow, I'd get an inflatable floor, because the ob doesn't quite get me on the plane with the slats, but should with the better shape of the inflatable floor.

I agree about going for the biggest you can fit, but trying to fold it up on deck or in the cockpit on a cold day, you'll never get it anywhere near as small as when you take it home from the shop, so allow for this!

 

[Talbot]

The 3.5 wont put the Zodiac 2.6 fast roller (inflatable floor and keel) onto the plane either with me in it. Comes very close with my son on his own! But it is a lot faser than the old 2hp yamaha - abt 6-8 kts.

The Fast Roller is MUCH easier to row than the old slatted floor version, and has much better directional stability, plus a considerable improvement on the ability to handle waves, its also a lot more money!

 

[roger]

Do look at weight. Some of the inflatables are very heavy indeed and getting the tender out of the locker or the water will be very hard work.
Look at the inflation system and valves. The zodiac with the inflatable floor has two different valve sizes, totally detachable valve bodies you can lose and a nozzle adaptor ditto. Otherwise it is for rowing or motoring a vry nice dinghy.

 

[reeac]

The discussion seems to have strayed away from the essential. ie. the inflatable needs to fit into the space under the cockpit of a Sadler 29. I've faced this problem myself and can say that a rigid transome, slatted floor dinghy of 2.3 m. won't fit the space. I find that an old Avon Redstart [flexible floor and all-round inflated tube] does fit the space. I find it a great advantage to store the dinghy there rather than in a quarter berth and this dinghy weighs only about 18 Kg.

 

[daveking]

Hi,
I bought a Yam 2.6 with inflatable keel and wooden floor + SH Yamaha 3.5 Malta
the pair are great for dodging about but would need a 5hp to make it plane, other than that I can't fault them both the 3.5 is an fantastic engine that starts at the laziest of slow tugs on the stringy thing so even SWMBO can get us back to the mooring
regards
Dave

 

[Becky]

Year before last, now, I had my own boat; Moody 27. I hafd a big cockpit locker, and I bought a second hand Avon Redstart (about 18 years old). Avons are made from hypalon. This is pretty indestructable, and consequently they have a very good resale value. BUT, I couldn't lift the thing, it was too heavy. So I took it back and bought a new Bombard inflatable and a 3.3 Mariner (almost, the same as Mercury) 2-stroke engine. I was aware that 2-strokes are falling into disfavour, but they are still legal in Europe, much lighter for equivalent power, and now very reliable. The dinghy was fast and exciting. But I sold that boat with the engine and dinghy. With our present boat, I bought an Avon dinghy (we plan to go to the Caribbean) and a 5hp Mercury 2-stroke. The 2-strokes are lighter and more powerful weight for weight than a 4-stroke. They can be stored more easily, because 4-strokes need to be kept upright, or nearly so because otherwise the oil from the sump might end up in the cylinders, which I understand could be very bad. So, if you want longevity, buy a hypalon dinghy, an Avon. Otherwise, get any of the other well-known makes, which are hugely cheaper and lighter. The engines are easier; a 2-stroke is lighter and easier to lower/lift to/from a dinghy, and is just as reliable. It is easy to store, either on the pushpit, or lying down in a cockpit locker. I have a Mercury now, a 5hp, and it is excellent.

 

[whisper]

Unfortunately the 2.3 Honda is bleedin noisy, because it is aircooled. Wish I hadn't bought mine, though it is about the lightest engine around.

 

[Barrowboy]

Thanks for taking the trouble to let me have your thoughts/opinions guys; some very useful stuff I would never have considered...adaptors/valves to lose, etc.

I'll let you know what we decide!

Thanks

 

[fireball]

Well - if your looking to sell it - send me a PM!