Round tail or wooden transom?

[uxb]

I'm looking for a new tender and have only one firm condition - it must not have those stupid pin type row locks so that narrows my choice down.

I can't decide on a round tail or wooden transom, I recon a round tail would be lighter but that's about the only thing I can think of.

unless the collective knows better?

 

[Tranona]

Round tails have more space for the length and roll up to a smaller and lighter package. Row about as well as a hard transom if they are both flat bottomed. Not so good under power. Avon Redcrest style has not been improved upon significantly except for the addition of inflatable floor which adds weight and cost but improves usability. Much more variation in styles and features with hard transoms.

 

[PlankWalker]

My prime consideration is which can be easily put in its bag and stowed in a locker.
The round tail wins hands down.
Plank

 

[colhel]

another consideration is the engine would be lower on a transom thus more stable, but your legs would get wetter when you launch it.

 

[prv]

another consideration is the engine would be lower on a transom

Not sure that's true - I once used a charter boat's round-tail dinghy that put the head of the engine almost in the water.

Pete

 

[DoubleEnder]

If space is tight get a round tail. AvonRed things were great, not sure about moderns...

 

[Seajet]

uxb,

I have a Zodiac 240 roundtail, it stows smaller than a modern hard transom dinghy despite having much larger tubes.

My Zodiac is 25 years old and still brilliant, much better quality - and much more freeboard than modern jobs.

Modern Zodiacs are rather expensive, but if that's not a problem I'd go for one.

When looking at dinghies compare tube diameter, and if a slatted floor, a lot of thin slats will roll up much smaller than a few big sections.

 

[uxb]

uxb,

I have a Zodiac 240 roundtail, it stows smaller than a modern hard transom dinghy despite having much larger tubes.
.

I'll check but I think all the new Zodiacs have the pathetic pin type row locks.

 

[Seajet]

uxb,

I forgot to mention, but I changed my Zodiac to ( tough plastic ) rowlocks and standard oars years ago, partly because the original oars were stolen and I didn't fancy the Zodiac replacement price !

Not difficult at all.

 

[VicMallows]

I have no problem at all with the 'pin-type-rowlocks' ...... I do have a problem with the holes in the supplied oars being located in a stupid position so that the oars overlap in the middle by about 8 inches!

 

[Pleiades]

Round tail or transom

I think the fixed pin type oars are an obscenity. Firstly they are notoriously weak and often not in the right position for rowing. When I want to come alongside, give a gentle push off or use the oar as a paddle to keep her pointing in the right direction as I start the engine, the oar should come to hand instantly and not have to be unclipped from the fixed mounting. I keep a spare 2 piece oar onboard in case one breaks or I loose one overboard - what do you do if the mounting pin breaks on the fixed type? You could be up a creek with one oar and one paddle - not a recipe for good progress.

Choice of round tail or transom is as mentioned determined manly by space/ weight. I have an Avon Redcrest which easily fits in the cockpit locker and is an easy lift singlehanded for launch and recovery to deck. I also have a Tinker Tramp which has a transom and also a fitted folding floor.It is far to big to fit in the locker and almost twice as heavy so the lift back onboard is a bit of a lumber. It has to live folded on the foredeck.

Other considerations are what you want to use the tender for. If for use with an engine, the round tails can only support the smallest of engines safely as there is not enough buoyancy aft of the engine. The transom jobbies have the pointy inflation tubes running aft of the weight so they can take a few extra horses and lbs. The round tail brackets put all the weight out on a limb aft of the stern tube. As an example, my 1 1/2 HP Seagull is great on either dingy. My 4 hp Seagull however is dangerous on the Avon - it could easily tip a helmsman overboard horse over tipt. On the Tinker, the 4 hp really zips it along and it has much better sea keeping and load carrying capacity.

Some of the low price pvc small inflatables like the Seago have decentish rowlocks (copy of the Avon design) , a hard transom and folding slat floors. They offer tremenduous value for money compared with the astronomic cost of a new Avon and as they roll up and fold up reasonably small might just fit in a cockpit locker if that is a requirement. Inflatables are generally dogs to row - particularly the round tails without any floorboards on a windy day -but with a hard transom and removable or fitted floorboards they are ok- ish even if nothing like a proper rowing boat.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[Twister_Ken]

New round-tails are a bit few and far between. Most ranges now have transoms. When there are rounders, they'll be the smallest deflatables in the range

 

[simonfraser]

I have an avon round tail, rows much better than previous hard transom job.

I do some fairly bumpy rows across tide / wind, 15 mins rows, not a problem keeping speed on, just get wet at times.

It did flip once whilst trailoring it in a breeze, landed upside down in the gloop, kitbag uderneath

 

[uxb]

uxb,

I forgot to mention, but I changed my Zodiac to ( tough plastic ) rowlocks and standard oars years ago, partly because the original oars were stolen and I didn't fancy the Zodiac replacement price !

Not difficult at all.

I thought about doing that with my old dink but, was afraid of destroying the poor thing trying to cut/saw/slice off the old mounts ( and maybe the odd finger too)

Seems the choice is and old Avon or Zodiac - or a new Seago.

I refuse to buy a new Avon since greed consumed them and they sold their employees jobs abroad.

Edit: looks like they only make fancy ribs now anyway.

 

[V1701]

I paid £260 for a very good Redcrest, it folds small, is relatively light & tough as old boots. Money well spent IMO, a Wetline or Seago 230 roundtail will cost at least £100 more...

 

[GrahamM376]

Have a look at Marathon Leisure site, Weveco & Waveline, some sizes are round tails.

 

[VicS]

I'm looking for a new tender and have only one firm condition - it must not have those stupid pin type row locks so that narrows my choice down.

I can't decide on a round tail or wooden transom, I recon a round tail would be lighter but that's about the only thing I can think of.

unless the collective knows better?

If rolled upsize and weight are important factors then a round tail may be the best bet.

If you will be using an outboard, especially if you will be mounting it or removing it while afloat a solid transom will be a better bet. The extra length in the side tubes will give it more stability with less likelihood that the motor will be dunked and that you will go ass over apex into the drink with it.

 

[Seajet]

I've used a roundtail for 25 years with 2 & sometimes 4hp engines without bother; though that was a Zodiac with larger tue diameter than usual.

A few years ago I was given an XM hard transom 2.3 metre dinghy; despite being about half the boat size of my Zodiac when infllated, it was impossible to stow where the Zodiac goes under my cockpit so I quickly sold it on.

Of the budget ranges, I've been most impressed with the Seago 230 roundtail, looks a lot better quality than the XM ( which isn't difficult ! ).

 

[Oldhairy]

I'll check but I think all the new Zodiacs have the pathetic pin type row locks.

They do indeed. The crappy set up is easy to by-pass.
Remove the hinge pin in the rowlock. There is a plastic locking ring with a knob that goes into the pin. Gently spring this ring partially open. You can now slide the hinge pin out. Lead a line through were the pin was and tie into a loose loop, insert the oar into the loop and spin it to form a snug figure of 8.

 

[uxb]

Splashed the cash on Monday and went for a Seago 240 with wooden transom.

It looks to be well enough put together and NO pathetic pin rowlocks.

I'll get a chance to try it out this weekend and see how it rows.

It cost, brand new, about £100 more than all the ancient Avon's for sale up and down the country...
what price quality?