Tender behind

[peterandjeanette]

No, not me, the boat.

The time has come to consider the purchase of a tender. An inflatable tender.

There seems to be several options on the market these days. Cheap and cheerful to expensive. I know you get what you pay for but what does the forum think?

Compass, and change every two/three years or Avon, and keep it decades?

For the two of us we reckon on a 2.3 metre with a 3HP outboard. Something that can be inflated/deflated easily and kept in the lazarrete.

All ideas welcome.

 

[Swagman]

Suggest you go for the quality over a low initial price.
We've had two HP floor inflatables from Zodiac - first a 2.4 which we powered with a 4 HP (big surf in our previous location) and now a 3.4 with a 6HP (now want to go places faster once yacht is at anchor).
The HP floor really does allow the thing to plane even with 3 on board - and flies with only one.
The point about buying quality is that the 2.4 Zodiac Fastroller purchased in Oz seven years ago, was easily (had a line of buyers) sold last year here in the UK via the web for almost what we orginally paid. Due in part to the good nick - but also due to the brand / quality.

 

[Roy]

Hello Peter... Now now now.. with a boat like yours, you must get something a bit posh!!!???

Seriously, it depends on budget and size.

A few years back we bought our first tender after looking at loads... I was influenced by my son greatly because of his experience in the R N driving fast attack ribs and so on, so we bought a Zodiac 2.85m Cadet S.

Its biggish with huge sponsons and very tough. Rated for 4 adults and gear and can take clip on bits and extras too. Has two towing eyes and inflatable keel. Almost rib standard due to keel and the side bars and panelled wooden / aluminium floor + a full width wooden seat.

We use a 6hp 4 stroke Merc which is max power for boat and it potters along well and planes too at about 15 knots max. Even on the 33 to which we fitted simpson davits, it is not too big or too heavy and is great to use.

Downside would be regularly taking it apart as the floor panels and side bars are tricky and a bit unwilling to insert/remove. Ok if you were doing this a few times a season but a bummer if say, every fortnight or so. Whole thing comes in a bag and will stow in the laz no problem. Definitely one of the best on the market apart from putting up taking apart quickly. Hoe you are enjoying your new boat and looking forward to her maiden season. All the best. Roy

 

[Planty]

Peter, I've got a spare 2.1m tender with a 2 hp Honda 4 Stroke tucked away at home, new in October 2002, if you'd like to borrow it for a while and see how you get on to better decide what you should get, feel free, I'll bring it down to OV. Paul

 

[peterandjeanette]

Quality seems to rule. Many thanks

 

[peterandjeanette]

Great offer, Paul. Many thanks. see PM

 

[peterandjeanette]

Hey, c'mon Roy. If I went to my bank manager now and asked him for a further loan to buy another boat he would certify me, quite easily!

One day perhaps I'll have a nice big boat with RIBs, Jet Skis, ski boat, inflatable etc. all lined up along the side. Then I could certify my bank manager.

Oh well, keep looking up for the flying pigs.

Peter

 

[Roy]

I love trying to get people to spend money!!! Hows about if you got a crane or set of davits - say up to £3,000 fitted and plomp for a cheapo ish... dinghy and motor maybe second hand and buy it on plastic?? Pick a card with free interest up to 9 /12 months, then transfer the balance to another one. This way you could spread the cost of say £3500 over 24 months at £145 per month interest free too.

 

[peterandjeanette]

I had a heart attack as soon as I saw £3000.00.

Please forward all further messages to Solihull Hospital.

 

[Roy]

I bet you have it all bought before the summer sun gets here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Nick_H]

I bought a wetline 230 RT. It's a round tail with a seperate bracket for the outboard. The big advantage is it's so light, about 12 kgs, and also 'cos there's no transom it packs up nice and small. It's also got an airdeck.

We have a jet rib on the back of our boat, but it's a pain if you need to beach it, so we keep the wetline upside down on top of the Jetrib and simply lift it in and out of the water by hand when we need it. Can use up to 2.5 hp, and costs about 400 quid.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Sounds like a good combination, Nick.

P.S. Birmingham not so sun drenched today eh. I haven't been out of the factory all week! Roll on summer.

 

[Wiggo]

C'mon, c'mon, do the right thing: Whittal 300Kg crane for about £7k and one of those new mini jet ribs that are in MBY for about £10k. You know it makes sense...

 

[Roy]

Now. that is one clever clever arrangement and by the way, I just love the T46 as seen on your profile - prefer it to the T47 or 51/52. Have never seen one mind you but going by the brochure it has everything that the F43 has and then some more too. Whats it like to own and live with??

 

[peterandjeanette]

"Get thee behind me, Satan" and don't let SWMBO see this!

 

[Nick_H]

Roy

We absolutely love the T46. The saloon, galley and dinette all sort of merge into one and make the interior seem twice the size of any other 46' flybridge. The build quality is superb, it'll cruise all day at 25-27 knots, and with a quick conversion of the dinette and a pull of the curtain we've got three spacious double berths. I really can't understand why Sealine stopped making them, but I guess they had their reasons. If you're ever in Lymington you're welcome on board for a beer and a nose around.

 

[Roy]

Thanks for that - its really most kind of you. I will keep it in mind although cannot afford to change at moment, but when I do it will be the f43 or if the money is right, the t46. Glad you like it so much as sealine gets such a lot of stick from some folks.