Tender for small craft

oGaryo

oGaryo

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I've been seriously looking at getting a small inflatable for use on my 17ft Binliner Bowrider with the idea of using the 12v socket and electric pump to inflate it when needed whilst keeping it packed away in its bag on route to the bay we'd want to explore.

Is this overkill for such a small boat as ours or has anyone done the same.. if the latter, can you advise on a good setup for 3 adults and a 9yo.. I'm thinking of something up to 10ft loa and as yet am undecided on whether to get a small outboard (2 to 3hp)considering the question of where to store it on the boat when not in use...

I've been looking at the likes of a zodiac or seago as they seem to pack down to a size that'd fit in the bow of the boat.

Any advice either wa would be appreciated.

cheers Gary
 
It'll be a real challenge inflating a 10' tender on a 17' boat. You want the smallest and lightest you can get away with, maybe a round tail so you don't have the bulk of the transom. If you only want to go a short distance to the beach, then maybe even one of those things on e-bay, sort of half way between a beach inflatable and a proper tender, called a sea hawk or something. I wouldn't bother with the outboard.
 
On my 19ft Centre Console I have a 2m slatted floor inflatable with a proper transom and use a 2HP marina on her. All roles up and stores in the lockers. My front sun pad is 2.1m long so it is easy for me to pump it up (do not use elctric pump). Only good for 2 adults maximium but with a few trips we can transport everyone on and off boat.

Paul
 
Try to find yourself a slatted floor Zodiac, the one I have is a 260 with a 2HP Honda 4 stroke (petrol). This is it folded on my bathing platform, with motor on top, then another shot of it in use a couple of weeks ago! :cool:

Img_0870.jpg


Img_0844.jpg
 
As the others have said Gary, small and light, and ferry the guys to shore in a couple of trips.

Buy the dinghy as a present for your son, so it is his 'ship' and his responsibility and he's in charge (cleaning, deflating and packing up). Keep him on the oars for as long as you can to build his confidence (and fitness), before going to outboard.
They will play with those little dinghies hour after hour, days on end. Obviously watch wind and tide effect for safety, and no fishing, or landing amongst oysters until fully understanding the issues of 'instant deflation'.

My boy is 15 and still loves 'his' boat, and never had a hole in it. He has had an outboard for 5 years, but still enjoys just rowing it.

If you buy a better quality dinghy, keep it for the next boat or two.

Cheers
 
I agree with AndieMac on this, Gary. Small as you can get, but a 'proper' job, not something from the beach shop. We used to keep a 2.1m (or so) slatted floor thing on a 23' Maxum. It was usually inflated and tied upside down across the bathing platform. We had a Suzuki 2.2 hp 2 stroke on it, which was fine. Bear in mind, though, that even the small ones are bulky when deflated. You might find that you can carry one with a 2.2 hp lump in the bowrider bit, but you would lose the seating. ISTR that some makes of bowrider had optional hard covers that could go over the seating turning them into closed bow boats, so that might be worth looking at, as an idea.
 
oGaryo said:
I've been seriously looking at getting a small inflatable for use on my 17ft Binliner Bowrider
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Surely your binliner can go anywhere the tender can?

We run up to shore occasionally with no problem (18ft Larson).

A matter of scale I suspect. Some on this forum would consider our boats to be too small to be a tender!
 
We use a 260 wetline Eco (slatted) with a 2.5 HP mariner 2 st, was used when we were on a swing mooring, now the family shares it beween their boats when a tender is needed.

Is even an arse inflating on the back of a 35ft'r (folks boat) never mind 25ft (ours).

Hassle is major unless you really need one (rocky shores etc...) Those 12v inflaters arn't worth a dime compared to a good foot pump anyway.

I'd be inclined to beach your bowrider as long as it's a sandy shore...
 
Moonshiners, I'd disagree about leccy inflaters - the decent ones (darkish green, about £65) go like the clappers and will inflate a 2m tender in no time flat: much easier than a footpump on a rocking 17 footer.

However, you do make a good point about beaching. A 17' boat is OK to beach on a sandy beach as long as you have a couple of adults to keep pushing it back on a falling tide, or dragging it up the beach on a rising tide. Much bigger than that, though, and you can't really manhandle it. But there are places you just can't sensibly beach a boat like that - Studland and Alum Bay spring immediately to mind.
 
Wiggo said:
Moonshiners, I'd disagree about leccy inflaters - the decent ones (darkish green, about £65) go like the clappers and will inflate a 2m tender in no time flat: much easier than a footpump on a rocking 17 footer.QUOTE]

Agreed I was refering to the "normal" cheapo's, more than anything just wanted to stress the sheer hassle of inflating one onboard. a round tail may be far easier to be fair and something to concider.

Try to borrow one just for the experience if you can. My folks, used mine once while at anchor on a 35ft'r and immediately started mumbling about snap davits... after they finished "discussing" how best to inflate it on a confined space.

Came in real handy while they were cruising and could inflate/deflate on a pontoon while visiting though. (but appreciate that's not your problem).

Edit: Also noted 3 adults and 9yr our 260 would cope but not be great in the chop... especially if your of the (like me) larger adult variety.
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thanks for the advice guys... tonight I did the usual impulsive thing and popped out to buy a Seago 270 with 2-stroke Suzuki 2.2hp outboard knowing it's going to cause a few challenges to take out and launch from the Bayliner.. However, what is does allow me is something we can pootle about on in the bays and rivers when camping without the Bowrider with us and I'm sure I'll find a way of sorting it out on the bigger boat.

It's in good condition, no patches and scratches and the engine seemed sound enough when he showed us it running in a barrel.. £370 for both which I think was a half decent price for what is likely to be good fun for the boys and a bit of practicality in getting to secluded beaches from the boat.

get ready for the.. "Gary, what on earth have you done ya plonker" posts ;-)
 
Gary, what on earth have you done ya plonker???
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You are now going to have loads of fun on your new tender - if its like the Zodiac with inflation valves close to the bow, just roll the boat out and use a good automatic two-stage electric inflator, the whole thing can be inflated in minutes, no real problem at all! You can also auto deflate. Hope it all goes well!:cool:
 
Sorry for not replying sooner, just back from Florida.. all Theme Parked out and need a holiday ;-)

The lad's inflataed the boat in the back garden today and loves it.. looks like a trip out will be called for when the wonderful english weather allows :-(
 
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