Lightest 2.4 - 2.6 inflatable with inflatable floor + transom

[philip_stevens]

As the title, what is the lightest, and not that expensive?

At present, I have a Lodestar 2.6 with inflatable floor that weighs - in at 31Kg, that we would sell. I am finding it too heavy to lift about.

We did have a Bombard AX3 Aero, that I wish we had kept!

thanks

 

[Dipper]

The lightest is the 3D Tender. A 2.5 metre one weighs 13.9 kgs. Even less if you take the seat and oars off before you lift it on board. Unfortunately it isn't cheap.

http://www.piplers.co.uk/3d-marine-superlight-inflatable-tender.html

I've just bought the 2.3m version. How long it will last I don't know but build quality seems very good. I can easily lift it on board and relaunch it single handed.

 

[ninky]

IF you can go to 2.3 metres, Seago do a rountail one that comes with a removable transom mount (so if you are happy to row it is even lighter) http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/99169084/seago-ranger-tender-dinghy-2-3m-round-tail

 

[Georgio]

The lightest is the 3D Tender. A 2.5 metre one weighs 13.9 kgs. Even less if you take the seat and oars off before you lift it on board. Unfortunately it isn't cheap.

http://www.piplers.co.uk/3d-marine-superlight-inflatable-tender.html

I've just bought the 2.3m version. How long it will last I don't know but build quality seems very good. I can easily lift it on board and relaunch it single handed.

It's a shame they are black, they are going to get very hot to sit on in the summer.

 

[Ripster]

It's a shame they are black, they are going to get very hot to sit on in the summer.

Echo all the 3D comments. We have a black 250 and its very light, seems robust and this is its 2nd season in use. We tow it and fold it up and its OK so far. Yes it does get a bit warm in the sun, granted, but even recently, not hot enough so you can't touch it. They do a grey one now I think, which may not suffer heat so much but, I believe it is a bit heaver. With a 2.5 Suzi engine on it, it does about 8kn flat out with two of us. It can be a bit skittish in currents and winds as the air floor is flat.

 

[Nigel-in-Oxford]

Is it Hyperlon or PVC?

 

[Dipper]

The 3D Tender is made from a German manufactured PVC. It's glued rather than welded which I think is unusual.

The black does get hot so you need to be sure it's not pumped up too hard if it's going to be left in strong sun. The grey version is heavier but still quite light.

 

[MoodySabre]

My Wave Eco 2.3 is on the edge weightwise and as I'd had a few twinges last week I hoisted it up on deck with spinnaker halyard attached to the D-ring. In fact, my wife winched it up quite easily whilst I guided it over the guard-wires.

 

[Ripster]

My Wave Eco 2.3 is on the edge weightwise and as I'd had a few twinges last week I hoisted it up on deck with spinnaker halyard attached to the D-ring. In fact, my wife winched it up quite easily whilst I guided it over the guard-wires.

Neighbour of mine uses a Topping lift (I think it is) via his wife using the winch, same principle to lift the weight of dinghy whilst he guides it onto the deck.

 

[maby]

I'll second the recommendation for 3D tender - we have a grey one that we bought just over a year ago and it seems to be lasting well enough. Bearing in mind that it is less than half the weight of other tenders of comparable size, something has got to be different and I'm not expecting it to outlast an Avon, but we can use it without hurting ourselves whereas the previous one hardly ever came out.