Seastoke
Well-Known Member
thanks for your answers ,SS
What is the best light weight tender with big tubes and air deck
- Thread starter Seastoke
- Start date
pvb
Well-Known Member
I went for Zodiac. Not the lightest, but sturdy, decent-sized tubes, great airdeck.
Concerto
Well-Known Member
I agree with pvb and I bought a Zodiac.
V1701
Well-Known Member
3D Superlight? The 250, e.g. is less than 15kg & £550...
pvb
Well-Known Member
But rather flimsy and small diameter tubes.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
The Waveline dinghies are very well made and mine lasted over 12 years exposed throughout the year or pay a bit more and get a Honwave.
Lucy52
Well-Known Member
I have the same problem and have been looking for a year. Neither Zodiac or Honwave meet the lightweight criteria. The problem is the lightweight ones tend appear flimsey. They all suffer from UV and the glue is reported to fail on some fittings. I need one to fit in the locker too. You get 37cm tubes on a 2.5m Seago go lite, with an inflatable floor. It packs small as well. but then it is black which is no good for the sun. Seems you can't win.
westhinder
Well-Known Member
So did I. It replaces another Zodiac that was about 20 years old.
coopec
N/A
I'm sure mine is a Zodiac. But what sort of anchor should I use and length of rope/chain?
seumask
Well-Known Member
A friend has the 3d SUPERLIGHT TWIN VIB AIR 280. It has large tubes and a V'd air floor, at 25Kg Its much lighter than my 40kg Excel 290 of similar configuration, OK its not as robust but getting it on and off the boat is a lot easier and its as seaworthy IMHO.
The flat very light air floor 3d tenders of the Twin air range are not in my opinion nearly as seaworthy, with smaller tubes and no V in the floor. Do not confuse them!
The flat very light air floor 3d tenders of the Twin air range are not in my opinion nearly as seaworthy, with smaller tubes and no V in the floor. Do not confuse them!
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Stemar
Well-Known Member
Not the Excel Ventura series in my experience. The towing eyes tore after a couple of years. I had them replaced with Zodiac ones and they're doing the job. My 230 is quite difficult to row as my knees get in the way of the return stroke. but I suspect that's a "feature" of most smaller flubbers.
greeny
Well-Known Member
Foldable Tenders
Anyone tried one of these. If so, good points, bad points. I'm also looking for similar to OP but can't find too many options that suit, then stumbled on this.
Anyone tried one of these. If so, good points, bad points. I'm also looking for similar to OP but can't find too many options that suit, then stumbled on this.
coopec
N/A
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
Bombard AX2 with airdeck. At the lighter end of the range, Three sensibly proportioned adults fine in reasonably protected water. Top quality.
greeny
Well-Known Member
Thanks but doesn't fit the spec for me.
Tube size 11" Maximum engine 3hp. But it is light.
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
Mmm, they should do an AX2.5. The 2 serves well for what I wanted, the AX3 would have been better for an extra guest or choppier water but was just too big and heavy to stow on the current boat.
asteven221
Well-Known Member
LodeStar Ultra Light inflatables
I bought a Lodestar 250 about 9 years ago and it's been excellent. Still looks like new despite lots of use., inflation, deflation, rolling up and storing etc... it's well built and with everything you would normally expect in a decent dingy. Note: it's not super light incidentally so check the weight spec. They lose some of the weight by removing some fittings like the rubbing strip on the tubes. I thought at first that might be an issue but it hasn't. I have been very happy with the Lodestar. If I recall correctly it was a fair bit more expensive than most similar sized tenders at the time. Sounds exactly what you are after.
I bought a Lodestar 250 about 9 years ago and it's been excellent. Still looks like new despite lots of use., inflation, deflation, rolling up and storing etc... it's well built and with everything you would normally expect in a decent dingy. Note: it's not super light incidentally so check the weight spec. They lose some of the weight by removing some fittings like the rubbing strip on the tubes. I thought at first that might be an issue but it hasn't. I have been very happy with the Lodestar. If I recall correctly it was a fair bit more expensive than most similar sized tenders at the time. Sounds exactly what you are after.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I am now on my second Quicksilver Airdeck. The first, a 2.8, lasted 12 years with me and 2 with the guy I passed it on to. Almost all of those years in Med sun. My current one is a 2.3, fits the foredeck better but is not as pleasant to use as the 2.8 was.
Between those two I had a SunSport 2.3 ARIB. Only kept it two seasons, not a success for us.
Between those two I had a SunSport 2.3 ARIB. Only kept it two seasons, not a success for us.
greeny
Well-Known Member
Any ideas on a UK stockist for Lodestar gents. Google hasn't really turned up any options.
The Quicksilver 280 looks good too but they only make 250 or 300 now it seems.
The Quicksilver 280 looks good too but they only make 250 or 300 now it seems.
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
They are based in Holland if you google lonestar dealers you will get them.