Tender - Inflatable Keel?

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TangaraToo

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Looking to get myself a new inflatable tender (230cm - 260cm). Use will mainly be short trips either rowing or with small outboard.
Having never used anything this small I was wondering how much benefit an inflateable keel was. Does it make the tender easier to row by a significant amount or is it only of real benefit once moving at speed? Significant difference in price so don't want to waste money but equally if they are worth having then don't mind stretching the budget.
 
The inflatable keel only benefits you when manoevering with the outboard (even a small one) as it helps with directional stability when turning. You actually turn rather than doing a lovely slide round the corner! For mainly rowing, don't bother.

We use a Seago 270 Airdeck with inflatable keel and a Honda 2hp so it make quite a difference for us as the tender trips on the west coast are usually a reasonable distance (and we're too lazy to row!! :))
 
I bought an Excel 2.3 with an inflatable keel to replace an avon red something. It rows way better - in fact it is useable without an engine which the avon never really was. I can just get it to plane with one aboard and a 3.3 engine but its directrional stability on the plane isnt wonderful.

I would not buy another one if this one was nicked bu thats because the wieght is silly heavy. They have now brought out a lighterweight one that is similar to other makes. But I would not buy one without an inflatable keel
 
I saw what looked like a zip on keel on an inflatable, filled with something like the pool sticks you have in the swimming pool. I know they area closed cell foam and in a zipped case would certainly be stiff enough and not expensive to retro fit.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
Our tender has an inflatable keel and part of its function, by inflating between the floor and the bottom, is to tension the bottom sheet into a firm shape rather than a floppy diaphragm. I'd expect this to improve its slipperiness through the water, though I've no idea whether the effect is big enough to make any practical difference.

Pete
 
Kelpie said:
How do these devices stand up to grounding? And by how much do they increase your draft?
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An inflatable keel isn't something you stick on the bottom, it's just a tube attached to the inside of the floor sheet. The rigid deck above (plywood, aluminium, or airdeck) pushes it down to make a bulge along the centreline and a slight vee shape to the underneath of the boat.

Pete
 
Kelpie said:
How do these devices stand up to grounding? And by how much do they increase your draft?
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Draft increase is a couple of inches.

If you ground them on a regular basis the fabric will soon wear through, and one rough grounding might do the same.

I kept mine going for years but would jump out before it grounded and lift it clear of the water.
 
prv said:
Our tender has an inflatable keel and part of its function, by inflating between the floor and the bottom, is to tension the bottom sheet into a firm shape rather than a floppy diaphragm. I'd expect this to improve its slipperiness through the water, though I've no idea whether the effect is big enough to make any practical difference.

Pete
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Another advantage of the inflatable keel and airdeck floor is that any shipped water has somewhere to drain to rather than have your shopping floating around on a flat slatted bottom.
 
I have a 2.9m inflatable with a V inflatable keel, I also have a 2.6 inflatable with a flat bottom, both are of the modern design pvc. The 2.9m with the inflatable keel can go on the plane with a small outboard and will row very well and fast; the 2.6m flat bottom one is useless for rowing and even more useless with the outboard; V inflatable keel wins every time.
 
Kelpie said:
How do these devices stand up to grounding? And by how much do they increase your draft?
Click to expand...

That was what put me off my dinghy with inflatable keel. Being a dog owner meant trips ashore at least three times a day and on a gently sloping beach, the inflatable keel meant the difference between stepping ashore onto dry land or getting my feet wet. I know, a pair of wellies is the answer, but I didn't wear them much in summer. I ended up deflating the inflatable keel, a poor compromise as it left the hull fabric rather loose and shapeless. I don't use an outboard so can't comment on whether or not the keel improved stability at speed. For me, though, the extra draft made it less suitable in a rowing tender than a flat bottom.
 
My cheap as chips dinghy does not have a keel. But it does have a very rigid inflatable floor.

so I got a length of 2" plastic guttering pipe and cut it to length with a taper at the forward end, jammed it into the dinghy, stuck the floor in and pumped it up nice and hard. This gave the dinghy a nice keel which makes it a bit better to row and a lot easier with the OBM.
 
wully1 said:
My cheap as chips dinghy does not have a keel. But it does have a very rigid inflatable floor.

so I got a length of 2" plastic guttering pipe and cut it to length with a taper at the forward end, jammed it into the dinghy, stuck the floor in and pumped it up nice and hard. This gave the dinghy a nice keel which makes it a bit better to row and a lot easier with the OBM.
Click to expand...

You can do the same with pipe insulation, large dia. under the airdeck or slats
 
Take care over the size, I thought my previous 270 dinghy was difficult to manage on deck so thought a 240 would be better. Whilst it is a little easier to man-handle, in retrospect I wish I had stayed bigger for comfort in the chop and load carrying.
 
Blue Drifter said:
Take care over the size, I thought my previous 270 dinghy was difficult to manage on deck so thought a 240 would be better. Whilst it is a little easier to man-handle, in retrospect I wish I had stayed bigger for comfort in the chop and load carrying.
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Size is another aspect I'm really not sure about. Factors affecting my decision are 1) Boat is on swinging mooring and have to park car a reasonable walk away from boat. 2) Storage space available on boat. 3) Most of the time I will be single handed so weight becomes an issue (point 1) but also do not need large load capability. 4) Comfort not really a concern as trips will be short. 5) Tender will be used regularly so needs to be reasonably rugged.
Never thought choosing a tender could be so complicated!
 
We have a rib rather than v keel but my previous Zodiac inflatable keel helped a lot - both for rowing and for keeping a dry floor.

But size is a big issue - with between 2 and 6 people on the boat (and most often 2) I went way over the top with a 3m and wish we had gone for a 2.3m and accepted the double journeys very occasionally, for the hassle of lifting onto the foredeck. We are well rehearsed at it now, but would be even quicker with a 2.3.

I suspect the tender will outlive us as Caribes are pretty bulletproof (hence popular with charter companies) but if buying again, I'd go as small as is comfortable with you and 1 other plus a little bit of luggage.
 
We owned a Quicksilver 2.60 airdeck with inflatable keel for over 10 years. A superb dinghy, rowed well, stable, reasonably light in weight and did everything we wanted it to. Only problem was that it was a bit too big for the foredeck. We replaced it, selling it to a very satisfied new owner, with a 2.3 SunSport ARIB, Quicksilver renamed. The reduction in size had only one benefit: it fits the foredeck. Otherwise it is a bit of a disappointment, although is as well made as the 2.6. It is a bit tippy, doesn't row so well and is a bit of a squeeze for two except when motoring.
 
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