Inflatable yacht tender

[curious]

I am looking for an inflatable for easy use as a yacht tender. It needs to be relatively light in weight to ease launching inflated off a yacht: pack up small to stow easy on the boat and will take 4 blokes + outboard + bits and bobs. For this I guess 450kg capacity is about right. Most of the time it will be tucked up in the yacht. Looking at max. capacity labels of various makes seems very inconsistent however in matching load v length v tube dia. Then I see one that looks lightly loaded that turns out to be so rated for use in open seas up to a 6. Is this Brussels offialdom fogging it up again? Any ideas as to how to make sense of these conflicts and more to point, what size would be a good compromise? PS. I see that another site on a similar topic has developed into a slagging of China but not here please. I am happy to buy a used dinghy in good nick - just sensible views on size please.

 

[awol]

Your criteria match mine quite closely. I have just got rid of a YAM230 because it was heavy, was restricted in deflated size by its solid transom, could carry only 3 in discomfort and was next to impossible to row with its plastic oars when loaded. Its replacement is a 2nd hand Avon Redcrest that is bigger, lighter, packs down smaller, carries 4 easily and rows reasonably well. FWIW.

 

[colvic987]

Try doing a search on some auction sites or on the buy and sell on this forum, there are plenty on offer, or if you require a new one look at the yam ad on this site, interest free offers seems to look ok...
I would expect you are looking in the region of 2.6 metre up to 3.10 metres to get that many people and goods on safely, but if you are willing to do a couple of trips then 2.6 metre might be big enough.
It all depends on where the yacht is moored and how far you have to go and the type of water between the launch site and the boat (sheltered, river, lake, open sea).
The size of yacht and the space you have to free up to store the tender.
once you have decided on the size, would a used or new one suit you...

 

[morgandlm]

An Avon Redrest was my answer to a specification fairly similar to your own. I'd like to have floor slats in it but have avoided them so far because of the weight and space penalty. But it rows well (I have wooden oars, lovingly revarnished) and an old Mariner 2-stroke that pushes it along well and is actually quite good fun. It also seems to be as tough as old boots. There may be something better out there - others will tell you.
Morgan

 

[capt_courageous]

Go for a Redcrest.

 

[Bajansailor]

I will second (or third) the opinions re an Avon Redcrest! Excellent dinghies. Row reasonably well, fairly indestructible (by average inflatable standards), however 4 blokes would be a bit of a squeeze in your cold waters. We have had 4 heavyish people in ours, but not an awful lot of freeboard left - fine in sheltered warm water in the tropics, maybe not so fine in chilly waters.
The new cost of a Avon Redcrest at SBS last year was (I think) about GBP 1,300 (probably plus VAT on top), but maybe you can find a 2nd hand one somewhere.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Don't buy a Chinese one, they're rubbish.

 

[yoda]

The Redcrest may be OK but 4 blokes plus stuff is quite a load, I do have a Redshank however which is bigger and will cerainly do what you want. There is always a compromise between performance and weight and any round tailed inflatable is going to be limited to small engines and relatively low speeds. The more you do to improve this (floorboards, etc) the heavier and more difficult to stow it becomes.

Yoda

 

[graham]

Depends on how big your boat is. No point in having a huge inflatable that wont fit anywhere when stowed away.

Avon may be expensive but will last donkeys years.If you only use now and then a cheaper breed will do.

Solid transom ones are heavier and bigger when deflated.Allegedly they are more stable when motoring and less chance of the motor banging against the hull.

I think about 2.9 m would be ok.We have a 2.3 suitable for 2 or 3 people maximum .