Outboard for tender necessary for a Flotilla holiday - Peloponnese

[kevinbrady]

Dear all - My first question on this forum I think... I hope it's in the right place?
My family (2 adults, 2 teenagers) are going on Sailingholidays flotilla in two weeks - Argolic/Saronic/Peloponnese Coast - for 2 weeks onboard. We have done 2 flotillas in the past with Neilson (S & N Ionian respectively) and never bothered inflating the tender on either, instead using a paddleboard, but mainly mooring at Quayside & Marinas. I wondered if this trip might be different, and if it would be worthwhile taking an outboard for the tender - it will be an expensive weight if I don't end up using it much, but if we are constantly moored on long lines then it might be handy for trips into town. I'm reasonably active/fit so don't mind rowing a bit every now and then. I guess if it was essential then it would be recommended/included, so perhaps I've just answered my own question. But if anyone has an insight and the time to advise that would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

 

[mjcoon]

Dear all - My first question on this forum I think... I hope it's in the right place?
My family (2 adults, 2 teenagers) are going on Sailingholidays flotilla in two weeks - Argolic/Saronic/Peloponnese Coast - for 2 weeks onboard. We have done 2 flotillas in the past with Neilson (S & N Ionian respectively) and never bothered inflating the tender on either, instead using a paddleboard, but mainly mooring at Quayside & Marinas. I wondered if this trip might be different, and if it would be worthwhile taking an outboard for the tender - it will be an expensive weight if I don't end up using it much, but if we are constantly moored on long lines then it might be handy for trips into town. I'm reasonably active/fit so don't mind rowing a bit every now and then. I guess if it was essential then it would be recommended/included, so perhaps I've just answered my own question. But if anyone has an insight and the time to advise that would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

If SH are not offering the option (amazing!) the dinghy may not be suitable. Also we find (in 40+ years of flotillas) that the lead boat are often up for doing a bit of taxiing/towing if there is difficulty e.g. because of an unexpected breeze. BTW are you expecting to get as far S as Monemvasia? We made it there last year for only the 2nd time, since 1987. Worth a visit...

 

[Clancy Moped]

Dear all - My first question on this forum I think... I hope it's in the right place?
My family (2 adults, 2 teenagers) are going on Sailingholidays flotilla in two weeks - Argolic/Saronic/Peloponnese Coast - for 2 weeks onboard. We have done 2 flotillas in the past with Neilson (S & N Ionian respectively) and never bothered inflating the tender on either, instead using a paddleboard, but mainly mooring at Quayside & Marinas. I wondered if this trip might be different, and if it would be worthwhile taking an outboard for the tender - it will be an expensive weight if I don't end up using it much, but if we are constantly moored on long lines then it might be handy for trips into town. I'm reasonably active/fit so don't mind rowing a bit every now and then. I guess if it was essential then it would be recommended/included, so perhaps I've just answered my own question. But if anyone has an insight and the time to advise that would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

Do you have the route/itinerary that flotilla is going to take?

 

[ridgy]

I've done the Saronic flotilla before and we were on the quayside every night except two. One night we sailed independently and anchored off Spetses and the other night the flotilla anchored behind an island and had a party in a cave. In this instance the lead boat had a large inflatable with an outboard and ferried the crews over although it was only 100m or so anyway.
I don't remember that our boat even had a dinghy.

I certainly wouldn't take your own outboard unless you have different information.

 

[Biggles Wader]

"No" is the short answer to your question.

 

[kevinbrady]

Thanks everyone for such quick and helpful replies . Re-reading my own question it was poorly worded and I apologise. An outboard IS an optional extra offered by SH as an extra. I was querying whether I should pay for the option, but I see my question reads as though I was contemplating 'taking 'one with me on the flight!
I think I'd much rather stick with the oars and enjoy the exercise.
To answer Clancy, I think the loose route is south along the coast from Astros toward Monemvasia (then possibly making the final trip if conditions agreeable), then across to Spetses, Dokos and maybe even Poros, before heading back to Astros.
Thanks again everyone - great forum!

 

[newtothis]

When offered an outboard for the tender when chartering I always say no. I can row if I need to.
But what I've found on a number of occasions is that the outboard is already on board on a bracket, and no one bothers to remove it when I decline to pay extra for it.
And then I don't have to row. Or pay.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Have fun!

 

[Daedelus]

You certainly don't need it but teenagers enjoy bombing around in dinghy with outboard and disturbing the peace and in general making a thorough nuisance of themselves. We had moored in Beaulieu river when the female member of the crew met up with her grandchildren. The other crewman and I went for a long walk and afternoon tea and left them to get on with it, they had a wonderful time zooming up and down the river for the afternoon and probably gave the outboard a good de-coke.

 

[ridgy]

That's a good point about entertainment for the children. I would get one for that purpose.

 

[mjcoon]

That's a good point about entertainment for the children. I would get one for that purpose.

Unless of course they are extremely sporty and would turn their noses up at the idea of power... what are the chances? I note their opinions were not considered in the original query!

 

[kevinbrady]

I note their opinions were not considered in the original query!

Yeah, I'm not about to let them loose with an outboard motor! Paddleboard and manual tender for the good of everyone else sharing that part of the Aegean!

 

[BobnLesley]

That's a good point about entertainment for the children. I would get one for that purpose.

Entertaining the kids or pissing off the neighbouring boats? We once spent a weekend anchored at some island off the west side of Italy (might've been Ponza) and were fortunate to find ourselves anchored quite close to the largest in a flotilla of motorboats that arrived. All the adults gathered to party on this the largest mobo in the bunch - some very attractive and scantily clad ladies amongst them - whilst their kids turned almost the whole anchorage into a boogie-board slalom/racetrack with their half dozen ribs and outboards; the only area being deemed off-limits for their noisy, top-side clattering and wash-creating entertainment was the area around the mobo which their parents were on.

 

[Tomaret]

Yeah, I'm not about to let them loose with an outboard motor! Paddleboard and manual tender for the good of everyone else sharing that part of the Aegean!

But consider the possibility that there may be other teenagers on other boats with access to tenders with outboards, disturbing the peace anyway.

 

[ridgy]

Unless of course they are extremely sporty and would turn their noses up at the idea of power... what are the chances? I note their opinions were not considered in the original query!

No teenager turns their nose up at power and even if it was somehow beneath them they are always free to ship the oars.
A sporty family could find various uses for an outboard powered dinghy besides tearing round the harbour, not that there is much tearing to be done with the typical outboard supplied here which is probably 3hp.
For instance dad could drive two sporty teenagers over to the rocks outside the harbour so they can engage in some sporty snorkelling which is probably too far to row. Rowing an inflatable with 2 or 3 people in under the blazing sun gets old pretty quick.
Even if tearing was desired, there are many empty bays and beaches to be passed where one could stop for lunch and tear away without fear of upsetting someones drink.
Apart from Poros and the start/finish ports most of these harbours are very quiet, not much for teenagers to do, and probably not many other teenagers to do it with.
I would get the outboard.

 

[kevinbrady]

No teenager turns their nose up at power and even if it was somehow beneath them they are always free to ship the oars.
A sporty family could find various uses for an outboard powered dinghy besides tearing round the harbour, not that there is much tearing to be done with the typical outboard supplied here which is probably 3hp.
For instance dad could drive two sporty teenagers over to the rocks outside the harbour so they can engage in some sporty snorkelling which is probably too far to row. Rowing an inflatable with 2 or 3 people in under the blazing sun gets old pretty quick.
Even if tearing was desired, there are many empty bays and beaches to be passed where one could stop for lunch and tear away without fear of upsetting someones drink.
Apart from Poros and the start/finish ports most of these harbours are very quiet, not much for teenagers to do, and probably not many other teenagers to do it with.
I would get the outboard.

Okay, so this has taken a turn, from not needed but good fun anyway. After reading the above post and also from Daedalus, SWMBO has accused me of being a boring **** for resisting, so it now looks like we’ll add it to the trip! Gotta keep the crew happy.
I’m sure we’ll make the use of it when long-lining ashore…and the kids can have some fun exploring, never used one myself so a bit cautious tbh…
Thanks everyone

 

[John the kiwi]

4 Flotillas with SH now and I think they are a great company, but actually my biggest beef with them is the extra price for the dinghy outboard.
I have taken the option every time cos i hate rowing inflatables and you don't know in advance if you are going to be on a quay or longlining or swinging on anchor.
Some flotillas it has scarcely been used. Others it has been very useful. Funnily enough we used it a lot in Monemvasia earlier this year when we tied to the quay! There for two nights and it was a bit of a walk around to the boat on far side of marina, so dinghied across for shopping and dinner and even laundromat. In defense of our laziness we did make it to the very top of the fortress as well.
Over 4 flotillas i have paid SH half the new price of the outboard and probably used them for total of under 4 hours. .
In my opinion they should just include them as part of the equipment to be used or not as needed.

 

[BobnLesley]

...Over 4 flotillas i have paid SH half the new price of the outboard and probably used them for total of under 4 hours. .
In my opinion they should just include them as part of the equipment to be used or not as needed.

But without the margin/profit made on those outboard hires, the headline/charter price for everyone would need to be increased to recover it making their offerings appear less competitive to the majority and thereby reducing their market share; it's no different to the baggage and other 'extra' charges levied by the budget airlines who fly most charterers out there in the first place.

 

[crewman]

Pretty sure SH only use the Honda 2.3. Whilst noisy it will not power the dinghy very fast

 

[Laysula]

Pretty sure SH only use the Honda 2.3. Whilst noisy it will not power the dinghy very fast

Not sure which is worse, when your relaxing on board with your G and T. A fast dinghy or a noisy one.