Suggestions for a tender

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sgreenway

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Hi there,

I have just had my old old tender catastrophically fail. Was OK last year, pump up a little each day when in use. Now manages about 20 mins before deflating completely!

So I am on the lookout for a replacement tender. Ideally for at least 2 people and an outboard, plus some small shopping amounts.

There are so many on the market that it is baffling. So suggestions welcome.
Primarily to be used for going ashore when cruising, as based in a marina, so either compact and light or foldable, I'm guessing.

Secondly, I have just bought a Torqueedo 1003 outboard, so would be good to have a tender that is good under outboard as well as rowing. My old one, before dying had a turning circle of about 30'!!!

Finally, any suggestions how best to secure the replacement tender and Torqueedo from being "borrowed permanently"? when we go ashore?

Steve
 
Would suggest getting one of the fairly cheap inflatables knocked out by the usual suspects e.g. seago 2.3. £260 http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/99391003/seago-eco-230-tender

Even if it is knicked it's not a huge bill.

Lock the outboard to the tender to stop that being stolen. Little point in locking the tender to a pontoon - simply take kill cord with you to stop joy riders. Someone who really wants it will take it anyway even if it means cutting things. Smart water / UV marking and visible stickers make scrotes look for easier targets - especially with cheaper goods so if they only want one or two might over look yours.

If looking for one that's good under outboard avoid roundtails. RIB / airdeck are better but cost more. I have seen a suggestion of using a swimming noodle under the floorboards to imitate an inflatable keel - no idea if it works but one forumite swears by it.
 
sgreenway said:
Finally, any suggestions how best to secure the Torqueedo from being "borrowed permanently"? when we go ashore?

Steve
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I've been wondering about that. Best I can think of is to remove the tiller/control panel and shove it in a rucksack/under your arm - it's very light. The Torq is useless without it.
 
In the last six years we have had 4 tenders. Each had different attributes and shortcomings. All were secondhand exept the Walker Bay which came at a very good price new. That is the only one we did not break even or make a little on. The ones we sold went easily on EBAY.

First was a Caribe hard floor rib. This was by far the fastest, dryest and most seawothy. It was, however too big and heavy-11 feet.

Next was a Wetline 2.6. It was-when used with the same 3.5 Johnson-slow, wet and wobbly on getting in and out. I improved it a little with a custom made board for the floor in the bow but still not quite what we required.

Next was a Walker Bay Genisis 2.6. This was by far the best. Built in duckboards and storage compartments for the outboard tank and bits and bobs, folding transom and good oars and seat. Again, it was too big and a little heavy. It was also a real slug compared to the Caribe. The Walker Bay dealer told me it needed a big-10 to 15hp-to make it plane with two aboard.

We now have a Honwave inflatable floor 2.4. It was used much last year on our 1500 NM cruise and is exactly right.

This one is a keeper.
 
I have wondered whether it is more cost effective to go the inflatable route and pay a medium amount, or go for something like a porta-bote at a lot more money, but more resilient?
Again concerns about being "borrowed"
 
seumask said:
Repairs to inflatables are not that tricky. is it possible to repair it, especially if its old Hypalon. If its deteriorating PVC then it may not be worth it.
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I did consider that, but thinking that the tender was in excess of 6 years old, as it came with my boat, there was a chance that a couple of repairs or even failed repairs would cost more than it was worth, or to get a replacement
 
sgreenway said:
there was a chance that a couple of repairs or even failed repairs would cost more than it was worth, or to get a replacement
Click to expand...

2-part glue (don't mess about with the stuff in a tube) is about £15 a pot in Force 4. Maybe a fiver for the fabric off eBay? A replacement for £20 would be a hell of a deal :)

Pete
 
If you do go down the replacement route and consider an inflatable, most of the roll-away ones are pretty poor for rowing.

Unless they've been much improved over the last few years, the rowlocks on Zodiacs aren't fit for purpose. The plastic pin on the sleeve that slides on the oar distorts and pulls out if you lean on the oars - just what you need when it's blowing a bit and you're fighting a tide!

The rowlocks with a metal pin through the oar are much stronger but, on my Excel SL200, my legs get in the way of the oars on the return stroke, paking rowing a frustrating and uncomfortable excercise. The SL200 is very light, but is too weakly built. I had to have the towing eye patches and bow handle patch replaced on mine because they weren't up to much and tore.
 
Stemar said:
Unless they've been much improved over the last few years, the rowlocks on Zodiacs aren't fit for purpose. The plastic pin on the sleeve that slides on the oar distorts and pulls out if you lean on the oars - just what you need when it's blowing a bit and you're fighting a tide!
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They were improved some time ago, and have metal pins (see pic). The Zodiacs generally are excellent tenders - the Cadet Aero 240 I bought last year is very nice to use, and fairly stable with the inflatable floor and keel. It feels as if it's durable enough to last many years.

b_DSC03519.JPG
 
I much prefer a rigid tender for use in home port. Inflatables are a necessary evil on away trips. I've repaired my 10yr old inflatable with out too much trouble. A 5 yr old is surely repairable.
 
Do not buy a walker bay. I have had two they very heavy they are not very well made either I have owned the pvc in the UK and the hypolon here in the US, even the dealers here will tell you they are garbage! Im looking for a tender too this is why I'm on here, I'm thinking of buying the AB 9ul anybody have experience withe AB range?
 
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