Tender advice needed

[jon68]

After a bit of advice for live aboard - am after a new boat to use as a tender as my old inflatable has died - am thinking of a wooden pram instead - any recommendations of makers or suggestions of whether inflatables would be better - the main criteria are a) it can't be too big - my boat is 36ft LOA and I normally store the tender on the front of the deck when not used and b) needs to be suitable for use in sheltered harbours not just inland waters

Thanks

Jon

 

[Tranona]

On balance for that size boat an inflatable is the best choice, particularly with either an airdeck floor, or if you want planing performance, an inflatable keel. While a rigid dinghy has its attractions, they are not as stable, nor as good load carriers, nor as versatile as an inflatable. They can be quite good for just getting from shore to a mooring, but less useful when cruising, and the tendency is to tow them rather than stow on board.

Things change a bit as boat size increases, particularly if you are able to have davits as then a small RIB becomes possible.

If you are fixed on a solid dinghy then you won't find many ready made as they turn out far too expensive, but there are many DIY designs available, including the PBO Pup - you can buy the plans from the magazine. Also worth looking in Watercraft magazine as the DIY designers advertise in there.

 

[Saguday]

How about a Walker Bay with tubes as a compromise? Bit tricky to heave onto the foredeck though. Sure you can't get some sort of davits on your 36footer? We're only a bit bigger than that and have a small rib on davits, wouldn't be without it.

 

[jon68]

Thanks for both of your replies - Davits are a possibility however hanging the tender on the back of the boat can make access a bit difficult in my usual mooring - which is why I'd prefer storing on the foredeck.

 

[vyv_cox]

Our boat is 35 ft and with a babystay, which reduces tender options considerably. We are just able to fit a 2.6 metre inflatable on the foredeck but it is almost impossible to walk around it to the anchor locker. We replaced that with a 2.3 metre, which is acceptable.

The new one is an ARIB, which we regret buying. The previous one had Airdeck and inflatable keel, which we now know is a far better arrangement - more initial stablity and any water puddles remain below the deck.

 

[RAI]

I have one of these.
http://www.fun-yak.co.uk/tenderandsmallboats.html#anchor-FYCorallineT
It stands up to UV somewhat better than inflatable. OK for your purpose, but not suitable as a Caribbean water taxi.

 

[tomcourtney]

Check out www.foldablerib.com
I was limited to a 2.7m rib but these fold in thirds so I now have a 3.6m which is class C rated carrying 4 and with a load capacity of 700kgs.
I can hang it on my davits with the bow section deflated and folded so only 2.7m in length.
Takes a few minutes only to drop and extend.
No connection just a very happy customer.

 

[vyv_cox]

Check out www.foldablerib.com
I was limited to a 2.7m rib but these fold in thirds so I now have a 3.6m which is class C rated carrying 4 and with a load capacity of 700kgs.
I can hang it on my davits with the bow section deflated and folded so only 2.7m in length.
Takes a few minutes only to drop and extend.
No connection just a very happy customer.

They certainly know how money is made! That's horrendously expensive, €2700 for a tender?

 

[KellysEye]

We had a 36 foot boat and also kept the dinghy on the foredeck. We did have an inflatable floor Hypalon dinghy but the floor wasn't Hypalon and went sticky with UV damage. We changed to a AB Lamina 9AL aluminium floor RIB which are much lighter than GRP floors. We used a 6 to 1 block and tackle attatched to a halyard to haul in onto the foredeck then tied it dowm.

 

[cmedsailor]

I have a Hondawave 2,4m (air V-floor) with inflatable floor and keel. I find it a very good quality product. Also on a 36ft boat. When on boat (during winter I just keep it at home) I keep it under the boom which is a very good place except that it reduces visibility if I am sitting at the cockpit. Sometimes I place it in front of the baby stay but it catches the genoa sheets and I don't like it. On a long passage I place it at the stern on the swimming platform. Perfect place as it does not restrict visibility forward and gives you a sense of security. Something like a liferaft.

 

[FullCircle]

How about a Walker Bay with tubes as a compromise? Bit tricky to heave onto the foredeck though. Sure you can't get some sort of davits on your 36footer? We're only a bit bigger than that and have a small rib on davits, wouldn't be without it.

Not tricky at all. We have a babystay and can fit our WB8 on the foredeck, but it is a tight fit. Mrs FC winches it up by the bow and I pull it in over the rails before letting it down gently stern first. Takes less than 5 minutes including the 4 lashings to hold it down.

 

[ashtead]

Jon ,we have a hard tender from time when we were on a non connected pontoon -its GRP though and quite small but was new when we bought it so people do still manufacture. That said we haven't used it since we moved to a marina so is stored in a spare garage and we prefer to stick to inflatables . As has been said it was much less stable than an inflatable (although easier to row of course) particularly one with an inflatable floor and heavy to lift on board so we towed it when relocating to its current home. The idea of a folding version sounds great but as has been said looks pricy. I was at a south coast marina and saw a family being taken out for a test motor on a larger version of folding rib - looked impressive but at tender size the price seems steep . You were looking for a wooden one so might be even heavier than our GRP version but might be a premium price. There are a number of wooden rowing boats languishing out out there so a quick look on sailing club boards might give a useful sample so if cheapness and durability is main criteria and you are not too worried about weight . Otherwise maybe an aluminium or plastic one which seems fairly indestructible ?

 

[charles_reed]

We had a 36 foot boat and also kept the dinghy on the foredeck. We did have an inflatable floor Hypalon dinghy but the floor wasn't Hypalon and went sticky with UV damage. We changed to a AB Lamina 9AL aluminium floor RIB which are much lighter than GRP floors. We used a 6 to 1 block and tackle attatched to a halyard to haul in onto the foredeck then tied it dowm.

I'd agree with these recommendations.

I've tried all the variants the OP mentions and ended up, after 30 years experimentation, with a 2.4m RIB.
The aluminum RIB are considerably lighter than GRP, but I was unable to obtain an ally one in the essential size.
My boat is smaller than the OPs, and no larger dinghy could be fitted on the foredeck - even then the 2.4m RIB occupies the same space as a 2.7 inflatable keel.
Infinitely more stable than a hard dinghy and quite a bit more stable than any inflatable.
Far drier than either and tows better than an inflatable, especially when you're boat is surfing.
So from experience I'd strongly recommend going down the RIB path - mine cost €1000 and its lack of hypalon tubes is catered for by an acrylic cover which cost €250.
Of course, as a UK sailor, the OP has little need to be concerned about the rate of UV degradation of inflatables in places like the Med - even a hypalon dinghy has only a 5-6 year life and polyester about 3.

 

[vyv_cox]

in places like the Med - even a hypalon dinghy has only a 5-6 year life and polyester about 3.

My PVC Quicksilver 2.6 airdeck dinghy was bought in 2003 and has spent the whole of its life since in the Mediterranean. The original airdeck was replaced under guarantee due to going sticky but its replacement is made from a superior material and has lasted well. The tubes and hull remain in excellent condition. I sold it to a friend because it was too big for our foredeck and I saw him using it three days ago. The only problems have been that the few glued fittings have been reglued but the main joints appear to be made with a better adhesive.

I replaced it with a SunSport, which is now the name of Quicksilver. After three seasons of use it is like brand new.

 

[charles_reed]

My PVC Quicksilver 2.6 airdeck dinghy was bought in 2003 and has spent the whole of its life since in the Mediterranean. The original airdeck was replaced under guarantee due to going sticky but its replacement is made from a superior material and has lasted well. The tubes and hull remain in

Not, unfortunately, my experience with either hypalon or pvc dinghies - perhaps a limited time exposed to the Mediterranean sun and careful storage had a bearing on this remarkable longevity.

 

[Yngmar]

Have you considered folding types? I.e. Portabote, or Banana-boat?

These guys swear by their Portabote, and Bobby Schenk (probably unknown here, but a well known German cruiser and author) loves his Banana boat [translate].

There are now several other manufacturers making similar things, the Quickboat seems nice, but they all have in common that you remove the seats (which provide stability) and then the hull folds flat to the size of a surfboard, which can be strapped to the rail. Seats go in a locker or in a bag also on the rail. The whole assembly takes about 5 minutes, less with practice, and I can launch mine single-handed from the foredeck with a halyard.

They also have in common that they don't need inflating, puncture repairs and shrug off UV light and being dragged over sharp things. They plane well even with small outboards.

 

[vyv_cox]

Not, unfortunately, my experience with either hypalon or pvc dinghies - perhaps a limited time exposed to the Mediterranean sun and careful storage had a bearing on this remarkable longevity.

On the contrary, the Quicksilver was towed from one end of the Med to the other. We rarely stowed it aboard and did not have an additional cover.

 

[sailorgirl]

After seven or eight years use our faithful Lodestar died or rathe the glue that held it together did under the tropical sun. We've recently replaced it with a 2.50 m aluminium tender known here in Oz as a tinnie. So far its downside has been the rapid learning curve that it should not be tied behind the boat but along side when not in use. It is more spacious than our i floatable as no tubes taking up internal volume, planes more easily and is easier to stow on deck as ever so subtly smaller in beam despite its slightly longer length. And big plus in our current cruising ground more safe from crocs!

 

[NornaBiron]

Our hypalon Caribe RIB came to us second hand 4 years ago, we have no idea of its age but it wasn't new looking then. It is always exposed to UV as we use it daily throughout the year, no stickiness, no problems. It does come with another of those huge price tags though, but we consider it to be our car, so we will replace with the same when we need to.

 

[vyv_cox]

This morning I was washing our Sunsport dinghy on the pontoon prior to stowing it for winter. Our neighbour asked 'new boat"? No, just finished its third season. Not a mark on it and absolutely no deterioration. There are many grades of PVC in use and these two, Quicksilver and Sunsport, seem to be particularly good ones.