Tender for a Motor Boat

[Guest]

Recently we sold our yacht and have bought a 24 foot motor boat, but now have a question for exisiting motor boat owners.

Our boat has snap davits mounted, and has a beam of 2.49m. We have a young son and want a dinghy to get ashore, therefore have been looking at Avon 250 air floor and Zodiac 240 Airfloor dinghies. Due to the LBS offers, the prices are very similiar.

The question we have is will a 2.5m dinghy on a boat with a 2.49m beam be OK, or is it better to have the 2.4m zodiac?

 

[peterg]

either

I can't believe a tender 1cm wider than the boat will make a lot of difference but an extra 4 inches of length in the tender will give you more room - most people have a tender narrower or roughly the same as the beam of their boat (ours is a 3.1 airdeck on a 3.2 beam motorcruiser) and as the bits sticking out will be 'soft' you shouldn't have any probs with the Avon.

 

[byron]

Bear in mind that you boat's beam is taken at the widest point. Measure the Transom width before you make a decision as you may find it is considerable less.

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[hlb]

It could be a problem in tight spaces, as the tender is going to act as a big fender. As Byron says. Measure the transom, this may be a good deal narrower than you think.

Haydn

 

[aztec]

personal preferance only, but go for a smaller one. as i found to my cost when manouvering it easy to catch up on mooring,other boats or pier...but then i'm a crap sailer!

 

[DavidJ]

Re: either

I agree with Peter, go for the large one...more people more picnic gear etc.
Also get an electric pump. Expensive at £50 but well worth it. Even if you choose not to have your tender dangling from the back, with one of these pumps you can have it up in about a minute.(hmmm I'm sure there's a better way of phrasing that!)
David

 

[Scubadoo]

I have a 25ft boat with similar beam, I store mine inside the boat and use one of those highspeed inflators (about 2-3mins to inflate). That way it is protected from the environment when not used. I have a Bombarid AX2 which is okay for about 2-3people.

Some below suggested a highspeed inflator for £50, I got mine from a camping shop for £10. It also deflates in a couple of minutes.

RM.

 

[DepSol]

I have a Jeanneau Leader 805 beam 9'9" but slightly narrower at the back and a Wetline 265 on snap davits on the back. Just make sure the motor is gutsy enough to handle the extra weight on the back as when you get people sitting back there aswell it can slow you down when trying to get on the plane.

 

[rog]

I need a liferaft and according to a certain Welsh Mancunian with expert knowledge of the West Country, I also need a tender for my planned visit to the West Country.
I prefer not to have a tender hanging from the back all the time so quick inflatable seems best but can I double-up with liferaft - is such a thing available and sensible?
How big is an uninflated inflatable and is it difficult to get all the air out - like it is to get a used lilo back into its original bag?
Would appreciate panel's advice
Rog

 

[Col]

A couple of people have mentioned electric inflaters, they are very quick. Just as important, they suck as well as blow ( if you know what I mean ) So will deflate just as quickly, and effieciently, so packing away made easy.
I have heard of a dual pupose life raft/dingy ( Tinker?? )
There was a review in one of the boating mags back a year or so.I might still have it, I'll look if you want.

 

[rog]

Col
Many thanks - would appreciate reading the review. I've found their site - www.total.net/~yachtsrv/tinker.htm and it seems you can also sail in it so presume you can also fit an outboard. Have sent them an e for more details
Thanks for the tip and will keep you posted if you're interested.
As I said, would be grateful for the reference for the review.

 

[rog]

Had another look at Tinker site and they say up to 4hp so outboard OK but is that powerful enough to actually get anywhere.
They also state RORC approved - do you know if this is same as ORC?

 

[Col]

I will get back to you re: review.
4hp excellent choice, big enough to go well, small enough to put on and off dingy (weight)also self contained fuel tank, so less clutter.

 

[Col]

Can only find review on dingys- MBM sept 2001
There was an earlier one on liferafts, which included the Tinker, I can't find that one. If you pm your email address or fax no, I'll send you what I have. OK?

 

[longjohnsilver]

RORC - Royal Ocean Racing Club. NM

.

 

[hlb]

Welsh, Mancunian. Is it. Well this is the first time, for the newbies to be antaganising. the oldies. Kim. Yellow card needed!

Rog. Fold up dinghy no good. cos then you've got to put the engine on and off all the time, not much fun with 5hp. And lumping around dinghy is hard work. For some reason they feel alot heavier flat than blown up. You want some nice big shiny davits. And a nice new rib. Or maybe not rib. You can choose that bit yourself. But you cant start lumbering about with flat dinghys and pumps and outboards every time you want to go to the pub. Behave man!! By the way dingy doubles as extra storage for the extra fenders especialy big round ones. Life raft not nececary IMHO! Dinghy will do. Your only going to Devon not the Falklands. I'm going to get some stick for this!
Its perfectly civilised in the West Country, its just that theres more of it and more variety than Solent or Pool.

And anyway I was named after a potato merchant in Lincolnshire, and live in Lancashire, Nothing to do with Wales or Manchester. So stick that in yer pipe and smoke it!!

Haydn

 

[rog]

Tinker tramp is apparently 58lbs weight - doesn't seem too much.
No idea what a 4hp outboard weighs though.

I guess I can keep it inflated, or not, or tow it, or hang it from my existing not so shiny davits, or use it as a liferaft and also keep fenders and all sorts of stuff in it (don't the fenders jump out when it's very bouncy?)
Anyway in no hurry at the moment so I'll wait and see what reply I get from Tinker (in Canada)

Sorry no antagonism intended and I am now writing a profuse apology

 

[longjohnsilver]

4 hp will weigh approx 20 kilos.

 

[Scubadoo]

I keep mine deflated, I have a highspeed inflator/deflator (£10 from camping shops) and it takes around 3mins to inflate and a little less to deflate. I use a 3.3hp outboard which seem to be managable. The benefits - outboard and tender not exposed to the weather - prolongs the life etc, weight kept forward (an issue for me on stern weight) and finally I can use my swim platform for diving etc without fighting with the tender. The disadvantage you have to inflate/deflate every time you use it, but around 3mins is no big issue, lastly in a boat sinking situation I guess trying to inflate may be just too long.

RM.