Tinker Inflatables

[Tim_Bennett]

I'm thinking of getting a Tinker (possibly the Funsail or Tramp) as a yacht tender. Can anyone out there with first hand experience recommend or not? Are they robust enough for the job and do they really sail?
Tim

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[whisper]

Yes & yes, but a large proportion of the latter can be sideways, so I'm told.

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[TrailerSailer]

Had a Funsail for about 10 years. Still in good nick which says something for the build standard. Used it both with an o/b and with the sailing kit. The age of mine means that it only has a main; headsails came later on. The kids love it. Robust and almost impossible to tip over. Sails OK in a strong wind. If the wind drops just row it!

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[waterboy]

I found my Tramp sailed ok on a reach but poor going to winward with the rudder often stalling out. Make sure you sit well aft when sailing downwind as the bow wave can wash over into the boat. I have now sold the boat and got something bigger with an inflatable sole so any water that got in tends to sit round the inflatable keel. I kept a 2hp motor on the transom to get back up to windward.

I once attended a Tinker Owners meet in Chichester Harbour. The was a fair breeze but I was still amazed to see these things go by on the plane. That was serious stuff.


<hr width=100% size=1>I never make the same mistake twice. I always make new ones.

 

[Robin]

We have the bigger Traveller which is probably better sailing, but to get the best out of them:-

The hull must be pumped up really hard
The rigging must be set up really tight
Get the rear of the tubes OUT of the water upwind, sit well forward or you go VERY slow & sideways
Sit back off the wind.
Don't pinch!

This advice comes from the racers(!) in the Tinker Owners Association, certainly worked on our Traveller which would sail in very light or very strong winds. We do have the 12ft Star Traveller version with a masthead (roller furling) genoa, kicker, forward hull stiffener, tiller extension and go fast sail windows.


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