Lightweight tender: recommendations?

[pvb]

I went through this decision process 3 years ago. I was initially attracted to the light weight of the 3D tenders but my local chandler, whilst happy to sell me one, suggested very honestly that longevity might not be a strong point. And I notice that he no longer sells them. In the end, I went for a Zodiac Cadet Aero, which seems pretty bulletproof. Yes, it has to be hauled up out of the cockpit locker, but after that it's a doddle. With a big fold-down bathing platform, I can inflate it easily in the back of the cockpit. Even more importantly, I can deflate it and fold it back into its case in the cockpit. The Zodiac doesn't have a bag, it has a sort of "wrapper" which you fold the tender on to and then wrap it up and secure it as a parcel. The wrapper has sturdy handles which make lifting it in and out of the locker fairly easy.

The newer 3D VIB tenders have a fabric cover which will no doubt enhance their durability, but they're almost as heavy as a proper tender.

For the outboard, I chose a Torqeedo 1003S. It breaks down into 3 easily-handled bits, so it can be put in the tender easily. It has reasonable performance, and considerable endurance if you don't thrash it too much. It's almost silent, and incredibly clean. The battery recharges from the boat's 12v supply.

 

[prv]

Weaver davits always impress me
[...]
A tender on the transom don't look too pretty but is very practical.

You do need a fairly wide transom to make it work, though. If we tried to mount a tender that way, a one-man coracle would be about the max

Pete

 

[prv]

The Zodiac doesn't have a bag, it has a sort of "wrapper" which you fold the tender on to and then wrap it up and secure it as a parcel. The wrapper has sturdy handles which make lifting it in and out of the locker fairly easy.

You can of course buy these Zodiac "bags" on their own to put any dinghy in - as I have with my Bombard AX4 air-deck

Pete

 

[prv]

Getting it out of the locker isn't such an issue. I can lift vertically OK. It's the awkward handling over the side / stern / bathing platform that is more of an issue. That and dropping the o/b o/b

Well, rigging the whole boat (complete with oars, anchor, pump, etc) and engine on the deck, then hoisting it smoothly over the side, certainly helps with both of those. If you run the painter up through a bow cleat and back to yourself at the halyard winch, you can do it single-handed, though it will be more elegant with someone else to guide the boat.

I fitted a high-current power socket in the anchor locker into which I plug an electric inflation pump. Rigging and launching the tender is still a bit of a faff, but I think it's as hassle-free as it reasonably can be on a yacht of this type.

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

Nothing new here, but ...

A friend of mine bought a 3D inflatable and swears by it. He says it's well made, tough and remarkably light.

For an outboard I think a Torqeedo is by far the best solution if you can afford it. Petrol engines for trips to and from the boat are Old Technology.

 

[RupertW]

ooh, interesting idea. What kind of range do you get?

10% used (it has a percentage remaining display) pretty consistently for 2-4 people from boat to harbour wall for a return trip with heavy shopping in the anchorage where I did the measurements - just check my Navionics app and that's a return trip of 0.6 Nm in total. So in theory 6 Nm in calm water, no current, heavy 3m RIB.

That's far too small compared to a petrol tank you have to refill but the difference is that you have a whopping great tank sitting in your boat to top it up whenever you need as the 44Ah lithium battery we got (nearly doubled on current models) is easy to top up from your 12v supply if you really need to do it before you get off motoring again and can charge when underway.

If my mooring was a mile away or often had to beat chop or currents then I'd want something a little bit beefier like our 5hp 4 stroke which has sat on our pulpit, started just once a year for 3 years to check it out, but that's not our kind of use so we are getting rid of the petrol one this Winter.

 

[Laysula]

We have a 3d tender and are very pleased with it. Very easy to manhandle. It's worth buying a pair of fold up wheels for the stern to protect it when dragging up slipways,but it is very easy for us two to carry it about. We power ours with a 3.3 two stroke mercury out board. You can still buy these new in the Channel Ilses at a reasonable price.

 

[doug748]

You do need a fairly wide transom to make it work, though. If we tried to mount a tender that way, a one-man coracle would be about the max

Pete

No problem for the mighty Contessa , here you go:

Courtesy Imgarcade

 

[Gwylan]

What about a folding boat? We have an ancient PortaBote, ticks so many boxes.

Been a really good choice.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

10% used (it has a percentage remaining display) pretty consistently for 2-4 people from boat to harbour wall for a return trip with heavy shopping in the anchorage where I did the measurements - just check my Navionics app and that's a return trip of 0.6 Nm in total. So in theory 6 Nm in calm water, no current, heavy 3m RIB.

That's far too small compared to a petrol tank you have to refill but the difference is that you have a whopping great tank sitting in your boat to top it up whenever you need as the 44Ah lithium battery we got (nearly doubled on current models) is easy to top up from your 12v supply if you really need to do it before you get off motoring again and can charge when underway.

If my mooring was a mile away or often had to beat chop or currents then I'd want something a little bit beefier like our 5hp 4 stroke which has sat on our pulpit, started just once a year for 3 years to check it out, but that's not our kind of use so we are getting rid of the petrol one this Winter.

Um. That's pretty interesting. It's a costly thing to buy, but the turn-on-and-go reliability, silence, simplicity, and relative light weight is very attractive. Also means I don't need to store petrol on the boat. (when can you have too much fuel? When your boat's on fire...)

Might want a second battery. Maybe some man-maths about savings in fuel costs and servicing charge might swing it

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Quite a bit of love here for the 3D tenders. Given that we're not heavy users of anything, it might well suffice.

 

[ashtead]

We have a couple of inflatables and in any form of chop I feel much safer in the heavier Quicksilver with an air deck but it is a two man job to inflate and launch on board even using a halyard to lift and launch. My question would be how stable a lightweight 3D would be going ashore in say Alderney in any breeze for example but maybe limitations on use plus what might be a shorter life is the price to be paid for the lack of weight. I do remember seeing a couple arriving for their first sea trial in the marina with one of these and on their return vowing to put on eBay asap as they felt some concern regarding stability . Clearly just their views but it might be worth trying one out before you buy if you have previously had a more solid version. As has been mentioned fitting a socket in cockpit for the inflator might be an idea as part of fit out provided it's the trolling sort . Are they that much lighter than say a Seago though ?

 

[prv]

As has been mentioned fitting a socket in cockpit for the inflator might be an idea as part of fit out

I suppose it depends on the boat, but trying to inflate a decent sized dinghy in our cockpit would be silly. The foredeck is the place for that, and my inflator socket is in the anchor locker. Do your volt-drop calculations first, though, and you might be surprised at the size of cable you come up with

Pete

 

[ashtead]

Yes good point re cable run but I suppose I just thought the OP might find it easier not to have lug from the large cockpit locker down to the bow and would be launching off the stern as if he had a stern garage to house an inflated Williams jet tender .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Could maybe use the Bow thruster battery to power the foredeck inflator socket...? 2m cable max.

 

[Tranona]

You do need a fairly wide transom to make it work, though. If we tried to mount a tender that way, a one-man coracle would be about the max

Pete

And definitely won't work on the OPs new boat which has a drop down transom. They sell primarily to MOBOs with full width bathing platforms, although of course there are some sailboats with wide sugar scoops where they may work. Would just about fit on my old 37 but the beam of the dink meant it would stick up nearly to the top of the pushpit.

 

[Tranona]

Could maybe use the Bow thruster battery to power the foredeck inflator socket...? 2m cable max.

Think you will find the drop down platform (like mine and that on pvb's 37) will be the best place to inflate the dinghy. In fact this whole discussion has got me rethinking about how I will use mine. Only used it once so far - from the pontoon!

 

[prv]

Could maybe use the Bow thruster battery to power the foredeck inflator socket...? 2m cable max.

That should work nicely.

Pete

 

[prv]

And definitely won't work on the OPs new boat which has a drop down transom.

Ah ha - possibly also makes my talk of hoisting overboard from the foredeck (and siting inflation sockets there ) irrelevant?

Pete

 

[ashtead]

Leaving aside any electric capacity issues I suppose there might be an increased risk of leaks due to cabling but perhaps no greater than other power runs for washdown pump for example . Certainly better having a suitable socket outside though than dangling inflators cables through hatch or having a power pack to supply .