Which Small Light weight tender?

[philiphenson]

I always try to buy the best I can afford. Am thinking about the Lodestar NSA220 UL at £629 but is it worth nearly double the price of for example the Wetline 230AD at £370?

This is to be a tender for my Ribcraft RIB and will be deflated and stored onboard on longer trips. Shorter trips will be just lifted out so needs to be as light as possible.

Any comments welcome as always.

Toad.

Nothing half as good as just messing about in boats. <span style="color:blue"> </span>

 

[holly1]

Keep it cheap i bought an xm 230 four years ago less than £3oo .Spend the rest on something for the big boat

 

[PhilipH]

Compass were offering some at 0.13p plus delivery but they've all gone now.

 

[rwoofer]

I went for the 220UL because it is the lightest on the market, but still appears well made. Horses for courses really, but I imagine weight will be important on a RIB.

 

[reeac]

The Bombard AX2 weighs 18Kg. and folds up to about 90x50x30 cm. [all numbers from memory] which is about as light and certainly as small as they get. Its carrying capacity is smallish [2 adults plus some gear] but it has a slatted floor and a rigid transom.

 

[SwedishLass]

Got AX2, does job, needed to be narrow was my criteria as fitted on after deck, rigid transom is limiting factor when stowing. Narrowish tubes so not as buoyant as some but built in pumps (for topping up, would not like to try and inflate!) problem free last 4 years. It will sort of fit in bag again once used.

 

[gjgm]

was looking at slightly larger at the show yday. Lodestar did look very good, and I think would be good if it was in for some heavy use/ Liked the honda, except maybe the pop-in floor in other models means any splash "drains" beneath, whereas the honda you are just sitting in a pool.
Quicksilver and Tohatsu were very similar, both looked good build, as did Suzamar.Excel seemed well built , but I think it only comes in a rather light (and so staining) colour.
Cheaper ones did just look cheaper. I had thought that for occasional use, what did it matter, but one sales guy pointed out that if you are going to roll and unroll it each time, you are folding all the seams alot which causes wear and tear too. Couldnt spot why Avon and Zodiac were even more expensive than others. Best quality /price.. I thought the Tohatsu.Looks good in the darker grey, too.Suspiciously like the Quicksilver /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifWeights were broadly similar for relevent sizes, as did pack down volumes. One point though, the larger the size of the tubes the larger the tender appears- and probably the drier, and I m guessing the V-air hull is going to be better than a flat hull.

 

[arawa]

I researched this same issue last year and looked at all the tenders on display at SBS and LIBS before buying a Lodestar 195UL. It was expensive but appears strong and well made with an inflatable floor and an inflatable keel. It packs down small but probably not as small as an AX-2. The tubes are larger in diameter than the AX-2 and it rows pretty well. It takes 1 person comfortably and 2 OK although with 2 there is not much room for kit.

 

[Davy_S]

I have an AX2 with Airydeck floor, planes two up with 4hp, for short trips to shore, it has carried four adults, course its warm water if we fall in! It rows ok, I have used it for five years without any problem. It rolls up easily and just fits under the cockpit floor.