Proper rowing tender

M

mattnj

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Jul 2007
Messages
1,362
www.red-data.co.uk
Is there such a thing as a proper rowing tender... I rowed my rubbish pile of junk for an hour today and really enjoyed it... I'm wondering if there is a proper tender make/model available all geared up for rowing....
 
The trade off is what you can do with the rowing tender when not using it. Fine on 60 footer with davits, not so easy towing a rigid tender behind a 17 footer.
What is your mothership and what sort of usage do you envisage?
Me I am sticking with my inflatable RIB as a good compromise and rows well enough for me.
 
dunedin said:
The trade off is what you can do with the rowing tender when not using it. Fine on 60 footer with davits, not so easy towing a rigid tender behind a 17 footer.
What is your mothership and what sort of usage do you envisage?
Me I am sticking with my inflatable RIB as a good compromise and rows well emough for me.
Click to expand...
We have a nesting dinghy that rows like a dream. It's does everything pretty well. Sails, rows and 15hp engine. 12'5" assembled. 7' nested on deck.
I have had two ribs from new but would now find it very hard to go back to loving a rib
 
Our Spindrift 11 rows (and sails) beautifully. Haven't tried it with a big engine but buzzes along very nicely with a little 3hp. And has big load carrying capacity- yesterday took six people on a four mile round trip, with 100l of water and shopping on the way back.

Downside is you have to build it.
Upside is it's not that expensive (IMHO)- I was about £800 all in, using Robbins Elite ply, two pack paint, etc.
 
It seems to me that if you are to take the dinghy along to an anchorage then stowage on board becomes the concern. I had a 23ft catamaran where I stowed an 8ft (Sabot) on the fore deck upside down. Light enough I could (then) hoist it over the side to recover. OP might have room on foredeck for small dinghy. If as I do I leave dinghy on mooring when I go sailing this is not a problem. I currently have 10ft ali dinghy. Rows nicely with one on board not so nice with 5 on board.
Anyway to answer OP question any small dinghy designed for sailing (like sabot) will be lovely to row with one on board. (will take more) Just fit rowlocks and long oars .http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?96231-sabot-plans I have built 2 over years in plywood. Can be made very light. Nice shape but a bit tricky to get strakes (chine and keel) bent. Forget cb case rigging rudder etc. You could extrapolate design larger or smaller. ol'will
 
Everything is a compromise.

Years ago we used to tow a rigid "Durafloat" dinghy which had a sailing kit. As kids it was great, sailing and rowing miles up Scottish lochs. Plus able to deal with waves better than an inflatable. But on a 26 ft boat it had to be towed everywhere. And that is not to be recommended. We towed on a very long line in following seas (NW Scotland) and it could still surf past us. Plus if it inverted it turned into a drogue. Don't go there.

We also had an Avon which rowed less well but very much better than these modern oars and rowlocks provide.

I have considered removing my modern rowlock fittings and adding solid rubber Avon rowlocks and proper oars. I have modified my rowlock from the very weak originals with a conversion kit for the plastic bit that holds the pins (Plastimo type).

Agree that without deck space or davits it's a hard problem to solve. And even with davits, do you want a lump permanently hanging off the stern? Might depend on how and where you sail and where you could keep a solid tender on board, floating or ashore.
 
If you want a tender which will deflate and store on board, then look for a 2nd hand Tinker Tramp. They row (and motor) far better than modern inflatable dinghies, and come with proper wooden oars, rather than flimsy aluminum/plastic jobs. However they do tend to be heavier, and larger to stow when deflated. You can also get the sailing rig for them (look out for a Super Tramp if you particularly want to sail, easier to rig the mast), for quiet exploring of rivers etc.
 
Supertramp said:
Everything is a compromise.

Years ago we used to tow a rigid "Durafloat" dinghy which had a sailing kit. As kids it was great, sailing and rowing miles up Scottish lochs. Plus able to deal with waves better than an inflatable. But on a 26 ft boat it had to be towed everywhere. And that is not to be recommended. We towed on a very long line in following seas (NW Scotland) and it could still surf past us. Plus if it inverted it turned into a drogue. Don't go there.

We also had an Avon which rowed less well but very much better than these modern oars and rowlocks provide.

I have considered removing my modern rowlock fittings and adding solid rubber Avon rowlocks and proper oars. I have modified my rowlock from the very weak originals with a conversion kit for the plastic bit that holds the pins (Plastimo type).

Agree that without deck space or davits it's a hard problem to solve. And even with davits, do you want a lump permanently hanging off the stern? Might depend on how and where you sail and where you could keep a solid tender on board, floating or ashore.
Click to expand...
Its no fun towing an upside down dinghy, as i discovered in the Menai Straits caught in 65mph gusts. Funny thing was whilst wondering how to get it back right a big wave flipped it right again :)
 
I realise this not what is wanted here but my 2.8 metre Quicksilver Airdeck rowed very well. In quite a big wind in sheltered water I rescued another rower who was totally unable to make progress rowing an inflatable. I towed him 100 metres upwind back to his boat. His embarrassment was such that he said not a word, although his wife thanked me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Irish Rover
Bilge pump for tender recommendation
Replies
18
Views
374
Irish Rover
Irish Rover

Share this page

Top