Should I get a tender ... what sort?

gdallas said:
I'd be interested in knowing more about your light weight rigid tender. Can you tell me where it came from?
Thank you
Graham
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As Zagato has said I got it from Fyne Boat Kits. They made it for me. Photo in post #16.
 
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dylan said:
Zegato
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http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/makehistory/166,0/makeHistory.aspx

images_zpsa68836cf.jpg


The most beautiful thing on the planet, apart from a Heard 28 of course. He didn't always get it right, made a real pigs ear of redesigning the Jag XK150 - well you would design the XK120 if you wanted to improve on that wouldn't you ;)
 
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Have a look at the Sevylor Super Caravelle range. They come in a variety of sizes. They come between beach toys and proper inflatables that are heavy and bulky. The Sevylor ones are rigid enough in calm water and pack up into little space. I've had one for a few years. It's what I would go for in your situation.
 
I always take an inflatable with me, but not a big one. I got a Bombard AX2, it's only big enough for 2 and a small amount of gear.

We used to tow it behind the First 18



but if going any distance it was deflated and stowed under the cockpit sole:


Towing is not advised in any breeze as an inverted dingy seriously slows you down and is a pain to right.
It's just about possible to inflate the dinghy on the coach roof or sometimes on the foredeck, pic taken on the 20' Harrier, it's stowed under the cockpit sole on there too.

 
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maxcampbell said:
I think the only thing I can stow on board would be the kayak, so other than that it would be a choice between towing something or, as you suggest, going through the palaver of taking dinghy plus mother ship to shore and storing dinghy there (I'll probably be single-handed quite a bit, too). How bad is towing a dinghy? I don't mind losing half a knot (while sitting here, anyway), but twizzling, filling with water, surfing into your own a**e...
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If you are at Brightlingsea, you would probably have trouble finding shore storage for a hard dinghy, CYC dinghy parking has a waiting list I believe, anywhere else andit will get nicked. Go for inflatable 2.3m minimum, round tail probably best for on board storage.
 
An intermediate solution of sorts is chest waders which will easily allow you to get ashore through over a meter of water. A suitable pole is a useful accompaniment if wading across uneven surfaces or through strong curents. I use them as an alternative to a tender on my home mooring (drying) though don't carry them when away. I've just bought a 3D tender which seems to be the lightest/ most compact 'proper' dinghy, though it is yet to get wet.
 
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maxcampbell said:
I'm hoping to get my tiny weekender onto a mooring next season, rather than trailer-sail.

I normally do round trips of 3 or 4 days, and so far most nights afloat have been in a marina. I do want to do more anchoring, and we have picked up an empty mooring a few times, but I haven't felt the need for a tender at our destinations. The boat herself, at 6m and 650Kg and drawing a metre, is small enough to park on a landing pontoon for a brief stop.

There's a good HM-run water taxi (it's Brightlingsea) that runs at least office hours even out of season.

So, should I get a tender to allow more flexible use at the mooring, particularly bearing in mind that it's not allowed to leave a dinghy on a mooring, so it would have to come with me, in which case should I tow something? The only alternative would be the smallest possible inflatable kayak, which deflated would take up a big portion of my lockers (though not impossible), and require inflating (without use of electricity).
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Have a look at Searush's thread :

http://www.vads.ac.uk/images/DCSC/large/7734A.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj..._id=880000500F

PS the second link doesn't seem to want to work here but it does in his thread.
 
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Thanks all for helping me crystallise thoughts.

No-one has suggested I don't bother with a tender and just live within the water taxi regime, which is a real choice.

I now reckon if I do get a tender it has to be inflatable and fit in the locker when de-flated. I need to see some of the options "home" deflated - ie not packed with expertise, but: - Searushes pic shows something far too big; the Super sevylor dinghy is worth a look (or another "beachtoy" dinghy-shaped thing), but it may come to the kayak. If it does, I'll give Zagato a tug, thanks.
 
In order to make it fit in a locker deflated then get a good electric inflator/deflator and learn how to fold it while it is being deflated.
 
We brought an old Avon to row out to swinging mooring on the Crouch. Useless, blown all over the place and flipped when towed. Lived for a year within the water taxi regime which was doable. Looking at a used Bic 8m plastic job now and then leave it on our mooring so we have a slighty longer window when water taxi stopped.
 
Max, the company called last night to see if I still wanted it. It's cheaper by about £40 than anywhere else but you would have to get it posted I suppose! They are a company that sells motor homes next door to Lansdale Marine 01243 512374 it's a good Kayak by the way, packs into rucksac size, strong material outer against abrasion.

You can get little 14KG proper tenders made by excel/XL I think (have to search recent past tender threads!)

Does it have to go in a locker, can it not be tied to the pushpit, on the deck, or simply left on cabin floor etc I don't suppose you will be using the cabin much maybe when sailing!

I thought also about our taxi service but it only runs April to October 9.00 - 6.00 so it would limit my sailing.
 
For about five years I had an Avon inflatable and a Campari toy inflatable, I almost always used the Campari, lighter easier to inflate, rowed as well as any rubadub, bit fragile but could be patched with waterproof plasters and could be lifted one handed on to the boat.

Won it in a raffle but similar things seem to sell for about £35 now.

Not reccomended for serious use but did me.
 
Vara said:
For about five years I had an Avon inflatable and a Campari toy inflatable, I almost always used the Campari, lighter easier to inflate, rowed as well as any rubadub, bit fragile but could be patched with waterproof plasters and could be lifted one handed on to the boat.

Won it in a raffle but similar things seem to sell for about £35 now.

Not reccomended for serious use but did me.
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I think you could do worse than a cheapo

although it might be an entertaining row

the other thing you culd do at brightlingsea is is to find some-one who would let you borrow theirs

at wells and at Aldeburgh I had an arrangement with locals to use their tenders

I only used the tender to row to the boat and then I would tow it back and put it where I found it

I had my own oars and rowlocks.

At brightlingsea there are also lots of poeple around - a proffered bottle of decent ale will often secure a lift to the boat

D
 
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