Looking for a tender...

matt13

matt13

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after last year when we met friends at Whitecliffe Bay and they had to swim to us while we were at anchor ive been looking at buying a cheapish tender, has anyone any experience of the Waveco or Wetline 2.3m tenders, force 4 do one called Windward 2.3m? Im thinking about getting one for next year but as my boat (26ft Sportscruiser) is short on space I am after a small one, the 2.6m might be too big. It probably wont be used a great deal but I dont want it on davits on the bathing platform so it will be kept in the bag when not in use in the midcabin. Any recommendations?
 
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matt13 said:
Thanks Paul, do you find 2.3m big/safe enough, would like 2.6m but think it might start getting a bit too big and heavy when packed away?
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Even the 2.3 will seem huge and unwieldy trying to blow it up in the cockpit, so definitely no bigger than that. Also, if you need to manhandle it in and out of the water, get the lightest you can find, preferably less than 20 kgs.
 
There is a review in this months YM of this class of dinghy. The Waveco 260 with airdeck got a recommended lightest at 22kg and cheapest. Achieved by lighter weight fabric, but still big tubes and high carrying capacity. The extra length over a 2.3 is very noticeable in practice.
 
matt13 said:
after last year when we met friends at Whitecliffe Bay and they had to swim to us while we were at anchor ive been looking at buying a cheapish tender, has anyone any experience of the Waveco or Wetline 2.3m tenders, force 4 do one called Windward 2.3m? Im thinking about getting one for next year but as my boat (26ft Sportscruiser) is short on space I am after a small one, the 2.6m might be too big. It probably wont be used a great deal but I dont want it on davits on the bathing platform so it will be kept in the bag when not in use in the midcabin. Any recommendations?
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I think our Tohatsu is 2.3-2.4m and it seems huge til you get in it ;) Big tubes should keep you dry. Small tubes probably means everyone is wet by the time to get to the beach.
Even that is pretty big and heavy folded up.. you might want to wonder if you can get it in and out of that cabin as these things never pack down to the original size again.
You also need to think about pumping it up and down. As Nick says, it is going to fill your cockpit when doing so; and you want either an expensive electric pump, or a cheap pump and a good foot pump.
Seems fun pumping it up as you are off to the beach. A little less entertaining trying to deflate the damn thing and roll it up.
I think we did that twice and then decided we would have to keep it pumped up on the swim platform from then on. The risk is that you cant be bothered in the end to get the damn thing out.
Next you will be needing that little outboard too, as a bit of current, tide and the 5 cases of beer in the tender make it a bit heavy to row ;)
 
Thanks for the input, I think as many have said the 2.6m would be too big (even though that Waveco 2.6 seems very light). I will have a look at 2.3m and as you say gjgm have a look for a little outboard, 2.5hp should be fine for what I need it for, I will just have to do lots of trips for the cases of beer :D
 
I have a Plastimo 240L with a Tohatsu 5Hp 2stroke for sale, (2007)
tender for our 28ft trailable boat, (very compact and lightweigt)
this combination served us very well during 4 x 4weeks Croatia holliday
still in very good condition, as it has alway's been stored dry in our warehouse,
PM for pics or more info
 
matt13 said:
Thanks Paul, do you find 2.3m big/safe enough, would like 2.6m but think it might start getting a bit too big and heavy when packed away?
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Yes it's fine. Most of the time it's me and my 2 young boys. Some times we pop as a family to the pub, it's tight but still plenty big enough.

We have a Tohatsu 5hp 2 stroke on it and with 1 or 2 up goes like a stabbed rat!! :D
 
matt13 said:
Hi Anton, that looks nice and the black would go with your (and mine) boat! I wonder if the black would absorb a lot of the heat, oh hang on we dont get the sun here anyway so shouldnt be a problem!
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so if the black absorbs a lot of heat we should just fill it with water...... nice and warm paddle pool for kids or bubble bath for swmbo:D
 
matt13 said:
after last year when we met friends at Whitecliffe Bay and they had to swim to us while we were at anchor ive been looking at buying a cheapish tender, has anyone any experience of the Waveco or Wetline 2.3m tenders, force 4 do one called Windward 2.3m? Im thinking about getting one for next year but as my boat (26ft Sportscruiser) is short on space I am after a small one, the 2.6m might be too big. It probably wont be used a great deal but I dont want it on davits on the bathing platform so it will be kept in the bag when not in use in the midcabin. Any recommendations?
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_n...raw&geo_id=32231&keyword=europa+dinghy&crdt=0

We bought one of these a 270.Very good quality.Goes well with a 5hp mercury and 4 up.
 
We bought and used a 3D250 all last season. Very light and work as well as any other flat bottomed tender we've had. Well made, fold easily and very light at 14kg! My 3.5 OB weighs more! No connection, just impressed with how robust they are. Not the cheapest mind, but the lightest we could find. We had a black one as they were apparently a bit lighter than grey for some reason. Only neg is that with relatively small tubes and no splash guard, in a little bit of chop you get wet if you try to go over about 3 or 4kn.
 
matt13 said:
It probably wont be used a great deal but I dont want it on davits on the bathing platform so it will be kept in the bag when not in use in the midcabin. Any recommendations?
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Out of interest why wouldnt you want it on davits?

Snap Davits are IMO great and you will find that with the right installation (making sure that it takes up virtually no swim platform) you will find that you use the dinghy loads, which adds another dimention to boating in general.
 
Aigua said:
Out of interest why wouldnt you want it on davits?

Snap Davits are IMO great and you will find that with the right installation (making sure that it takes up virtually no swim platform) you will find that you use the dinghy loads, which adds another dimention to boating in general.
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Im just not keen on having it on the platform with the size of boat I have, perhaps on a bigger boat I would. I'll see how it goes in a bag first, seriously interested in those 3D Tenders as they seem so light.
 
Aigua said:
Out of interest why wouldnt you want it on davits?

Snap Davits are IMO great and you will find that with the right installation (making sure that it takes up virtually no swim platform) you will find that you use the dinghy loads, which adds another dimention to boating in general.
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I know what Davits are, but what are the snap davits....
Cheers
 
These are weaver snap davits...

IMG00009-20091108-1511.jpg
 
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