Lightest tender

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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After coming back to my mooring I have to drag the tender vertically up the sea wall. I was just wondering if anyone knows what the lightest inflatable (or other) tender would be (excluding pool toys). The tow to boat is short and in protected harbour from the steps.

Any other suggestions of how to make the haul up the wall easier gratefully received.
 
I have a 3d tender. They are light but no, they are not robust. Dragging up a wall is a no-no.
On the robustness to weight continuum I prefered my 30 year old Avon.
 
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There was a hoisting problem, one chap was seen pacing the quay and stroking his chin in a mysterious sort of way. He turned up next day with a small steel pipe davit which dropped into a drainage hole. If you could have some such, then a block and a counterweight which is the same as the tender, up or down with no effort. I used to land fish with a block lashed to a lamp post, rope back to the boat winch.
 
They do a lightweight range. I got a 2m one with an inflatable floor that weighs less than 20kg - far less than my old Zodiac Cadet 240. Unfortunately, they got the light weight/Strength balance wrong, so I've just had to spend £120 replacing the towing eyes and bow handle with properly robust ones.

Not impressed
 
We recently bought a Highfield Ultralightweight tender. Very well made in Hypalon, rigid alloy bottom. Easily liftable by two children and liftable by one adult although the size makes this difficult.

The Hypalon version is horrendously expensive, of course, although for non-Med / Carib usage the PVC version would probably be just as good and a lot cheaper.

See online for full range.

Richard
 
pvb said:
The lightest inflatables are made by 3D Tenders - www.3dtenders.co.uk

However, I don't regard them as being particularly robust, so dragging them against a wall might not be a good idea.
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Has anyone got any experience on how good they are to row?
In particular can the oars be rotated as I once had a cheap dinghy where the oars were locked in the vertical position and it required a new (poor) rowing technique.
 
Looking at the photos on the website, they have the common pivoting stud arrangement which goes through the aor. Yes, rowing requires a different technique when you can't rotate the oar, but a change in the timing of the stroke makes it more effective - but still not elegant.

Rob.
 
Anchoring in the Vilaine river recently in the dark we were surprised to see a half-submerged man approaching through the mist. Several more came by during the evening; quite alarming when you first see them.

Next morning revealed that they were some kind of tiny inflatable chair, with the user's legs dangling in the water; anglers use them. They propel themselves by paddling with their feet.

Maybe one of these would solve your problem!
 
rob2 said:
Looking at the photos on the website, they have the common pivoting stud arrangement which goes through the aor. Yes, rowing requires a different technique when you can't rotate the oar, but a change in the timing of the stroke makes it more effective - but still not elegant.

Rob.
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Hi Rob, you say 'more effective', do you mean it is actually better or as good as feathering the blades as you would with conventional rowlocks - how is the timing of the stroke changed ?
Thanks
Paul
 
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