New Tender - Best budget buy or best on test?

Stemar

Stemar

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My Zodiac is at the end of its life, so I'm looking for a replacement. It won't be another Zodiac 'cos I want to be able to row the thing occasionally (see the Exploding rowlocks thread)

In the recent test of rubber ducks, the Best Budget Buy was the Seago Eco230 at £260. with varnished slats etc. The Best on Test was the Excel SL230, with an inflatable floor.

I want something sturdy that will last. SWMBO has limited mobility, so good big tubes to add stability are also a requirement. and I'm not as young or fit as I used to be, so light weight would be a big plus. I also like the idea of an inflatable floor.

The ability to plane one-up with a 3.5HP OB would be a bonus as I'm likely to go from Hardway to Haslar occasionally

Any comments about either, or another recommendation?

In particular, is the Excel worth the extra money? With Yorkshire blood on my father's side and Jewish on my mother's I am, shall we say, careful with my money. I'm well aware of the old adage, buy cheap, buy twice, but buying two Seagoes wouldn't be a lot more than one Excel
 
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I have a Yamaha (made in France) which has a real quality feel, mine is 2.2m with fat tubes and planes one-up with jerrycans,provisions etc on 3.5hp. If it gets nicked I would get another the same,cheers Jerry.
 
Just to add to he confusion ........ we have found our Seago 260 with slat floors excellent, and our one rows well with good solid rowlocks.
However, looks like there are now three versions / levels of Seago - wih Eco being the lightest material. Ous looked closer to the ranger spec
 
My wee Seago 260 is a good boat for the money although it does have a very slow leak- so slow I can't find it. I'd definitely get an airdeck floor and for extra rowing ability I've been experimenting with a length of 1 1/2" plastic drain pipe with a slice sawn off one end to give the bottom of the boat a bit of a keel when placed under the air deck prior to inflation. I haven't decided if this makes a difference or not, certainly looks like a bit of a Vee in the bottom...
 
I have a seago ecolite 260 with slated floor. Planes easily with my 3.5 hp Johnson and me (14 stones) It was very cheap and to be honest It's not that light and the material is very thin. I've had 3 punctures already this year and I'm not that impressed. My old avon took a lot of punishment running over rocks and up slips etc and never gave any trouble. I now know I have to be very careful with this one.
 
FishyInverness said:
Biggest tubes available are on the Honda, nice and stable, very good quality tender - but not cheap....
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I bought a Honda 2.7m with an inflatable v-floor and unreservedly recommend it.

When the floor is inflated it really is like using a RIB.

When I bought it I was concerned about weight - and it is heavy at around 35kg, but next time round I shan't worry and do the same again, because its better to have a good performing, dry, stable, tender and have to use a halyard to get it on board than have an easily lifted tender that doesn't perform to well.
 
Have 2 friends with Seago tenders, they are very disappointed with them as they've both suffered from punctures and one also has a detached rowlock. I've had good service out of Wavelines.
 
Excel SD260 - a good tender while it lasts but think twice if away from the UK

I have had a BLUE Excel SD260 for 13 months here in the Mediterranean. I was very happy with it until I left it upside down on a beach for 4 hours. It now has three leaks from stern cone seams at the bottom. I purchased an Excel because the seams are guaranteed for 5 years. The snag is that you have to return the tender to the UK for seam repairs. This is not practical when the tender is in constant use a 1000 miles away.
The manufactures have been slow to respond to my requests on how best to repair the seams without returning the tender to the UK.
The tender has a cover which I do not use when the tender is ashore.
So my advice - if you are away from the UK buy a tender that has an international support service and avoid dark colours.
If you see a man with a tender pump in a bag over his shoulder, you may have found the Selkie Dancer.
 
selkiedancer said:
If you see a man with a tender pump in a bag over his shoulder, you may have found the Selkie Dancer.
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That sounds like my current tender. :)

I'm unlikely to be going abroad with Jissel. SWMBO's approved vessels for crossing the channel all have Brittany Ferries on the side, and all the people I'm likely to go in such a jaunt with have 38 footers, so a Snapdragon 24 is well beneath their dignity.

However, the thought did cross my mind that East Head on a hot afternoon can't do a flubber any good, so I'll go for a light colour if I've any choice.
 
I bought a Seago 230 round tail with airdeck last year - my wonderful Zodiac 240 is getting very long in the tooth now - but I haven't used it yet, taking this season off for health reasons.

Of the economy dinghies this stands out as best spec / value, I simply couldn't justify the silly price of modern Zodiacs + I've heard plenty of stories of them not being anything like as good now - and being round tail is important to me as it takes up less space when deflated - but I'm rather alarmed by these tales of Seago fragility !

Will find out next season...

Stemar,

You should be fine cross Channel in your 24, just don't be too proud to motorsail to keep speed up; crossing with 38 footers would always be problematic but there must be more suitable boats you could go in company with, someone from these forums for a start ?
 
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Seajet said:
Stemar,

You should be fine cross Channel in your 24, just don't be too proud to motorsail to keep speed up; crossing with 38 footers would always be problematic but there must be more suitable boats you could go in company with, someone from these forums for a start ?
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I've no worries about taking Jissel across the channel - I've already done it, just not that keen on doing it solo. I reckon she's just as capable of dealing with weather as plenty of the overblown marina hoppers out there and with 28, admittedly rather aged, horses under the bonnet, I can keep up a steady 5 knots, so no worries about ability. The owners of the 38 footers would rather go on their comfy big boats than my little one, so I end up going with them.

My experience of channel crossings is that, provided you chose your weather window and keep your eyes open, the biggest danger is boredom.
 
[h=2]New Tender - Best budget buy or best on test?[/h]
At the end of the day you have to buy the tender that suits your needs. It can be the best on test, the best budget buy, the best dinghy in the whole wide world for somebody; but if it isn't what you need, or want from your dink then it isn't worth the money.

My advise will always be the biggest and best dinghy/outboard you can afford or store on deck easily, nothing else really matters.
 
Ariadne said:
[h=2]New Tender - Best budget buy or best on test?[/h]
At the end of the day you have to buy the tender that suits your needs. It can be the best on test, the best budget buy, the best dinghy in the whole wide world for somebody; but if it isn't what you need, or want from your dink then it isn't worth the money.

My advise will always be the biggest and best dinghy/outboard you can afford or store on deck easily, nothing else really matters.
Click to expand...

So very true! We sold our dinghy with air deck and keel, the reason being with 5 air chambers to inflate most of the time we just could not be bothered with the faf. We now have a Zodiac with two chambers and a slatted floor, and it gets used!
 
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