which tender ?

[nickfabbri]

the time has come to upgrade our ageing tender. I am short of storage space and so am thinking of the honwave 2.0t. However i was wondering if anyone knows whether this tender is worth paying twice as much for as a slightly larger plastimo or seago. Is there really that much space saving ? All help gratefully received

 

[m1taylor]

If you are looking for something small, light, and good quality - I believe the lodestar dinghies are very good - certainly huge tubes.

 

[Barr Avel]

I bought a honwave 2.6 a couple of years ago. The build quality looked fantastic, and the product itself I think is a lot better than Avon etc (oh dear, the "I love the overpriced Avon" brigade is bound to object)...

However, after a weekend with it I decided it was just to heavy to carry around by myself and that I didn't want to risk a back injury. I returned it and got a much cheaper Plastismo 240L which is lightweight. You can definetely tell the difference in quality, but so far it has stood up very well to the limited abuse it has had, and it is very light and small when deflated. In my case I have no regrets.

Having said that, if one day I had a boat where I could have a dinghy which I don't need to deflate all the time and put away in a locker, the Honwave series would be at the top of my list.

Marc.

 

[mobeydick]

Did the Honwave have the infalatebale floor with the deep 'V' hull? Looks very interesting - high bow, maybe dry ride?

 

[Mukes]

We have a Seago 230 (or 240?) slatted floor - wooden transome - bought when we got the boat in 2005 and used as our only tender to get out to her on a swinging mooring and so is used regularly. It has stood up well/is as good as new and is small enough packed away to store in the forepeak on our 21' LOD boat. I did look at more expensive dinghies - say £600ish - but for the same price I got the Seago and a 2.5hp Mariner O/B. Pays your money etc......

 

[Barr Avel]

Yes... I didn't get round to testing it out in the water, but from looking at it fully inflated, the very big tubes and lifted bow it certainly looks as if it would be quite dry.

Marc.

 

[kharley]

Saw very nice Compass inflatables at beaulieu at weekend Under£400 New very large diamiter tubes yet small and lightish, versions with blow up floor and slatted
try www.compassinflatables.com
No conection with them just looked good

 

[landlockedpirate]

I had a 3.2m Honda V air floor. Great inflatable with sports boat qualities (15hp), nice and dry and stable.

But, and its a big but, it was very very heavy.

 

[Goldie]

If you are conidering one of the cheaper models, the flyer for Lidl dropped through the door today. They are offering a 2.90m dinghy with a wooden slatted floor for £299. the offer starts next week or the week after I think.