I need a SMALL tender for a yacht, any ideas?

[maser_spyder]

Hi Chaps,

I've just moved to a pontoon mooring for the first time.

Fantastic, but, I tried to deflate my tender and pack it in to the cockpit locker, and..... It don't fit. I strained and heaved and pushed and pulled and tweaked and even jumped on it, but it's not gonna go in.

Problem appears to be the solid wooden transom, which makes it slightly too large for the locker, as it just won't fold any smaller.

So, I need to get something, anything, that I can inflate for the odd trips to places where there's no other way to get to land (Newtown River, Yarmouth, Hurst Castle, etc.), but that also packs down in to a reasonably small bag.

Any ideas what would do this? I've got no room for davits (and they'd get in the way anyway), and I don't like swimming. I've cleared the locker out, there isn't much left in there, but it looks like anything with a solid transom isn't going to work.

I guess I don't mind rowing rather than using an outboard (the bloody thing's never got any fuel in it anyway), so outboard bracket isn't essential.


Oh, and on another note, my spanky new 13' aluminium river tender (comfy seats, electric start, big fuel tank, flat bottomed so it's nice and stable, and absolutely perfect for my now-vacated trot mooring) will be up for sale as of this weekend when I can get some pics. I spent the winter getting the damned thing ready, then the pontoon mooring came available right at the last minute!

[Odie]

something like this?

http://www.seaswift.co.uk/ribs-inflatables/ribs_xp...

I was just being nosey and googled it.

[maser_spyder]

Odie said:

something like this?

http://www.seaswift.co.uk/ribs-inflatables/ribs_xp...

I was just being nosey and googled it.

Nope, the hard transom at the back means it'll only pack down 'around' that hard bit, which will be too big for my locker (cocker). I need something without a transom, so it'll pack down without the width, and without the dead space inside the rolled-up bit.

Either that or I fashion something up to hide it elsewhere on the yacht, or just go without entirely, and keep it in the car, only taking it when I know we'll be going somewhere it'll be needed. Not ideal though.

Or.... The only other solution I can see, is to buy the bigger yacht I've been promising myself for the past five years. But £100k just to fit a dinghy in my locker seems a little bit overkill, right?

[Odie]

maser_spyder said:

Odie said:

something like this?

http://www.seaswift.co.uk/ribs-inflatables/ribs_xp...

I was just being nosey and googled it.

Nope, the hard transom at the back means it'll only pack down 'around' that hard bit, which will be too big for my locker (cocker). I need something without a transom, so it'll pack down without the width, and without the dead space inside the rolled-up bit.

Either that or I fashion something up to hide it elsewhere on the yacht, or just go without entirely, and keep it in the car, only taking it when I know we'll be going somewhere it'll be needed. Not ideal though.

Or.... The only other solution I can see, is to buy the bigger yacht I've been promising myself for the past five years. But £100k just to fit a dinghy in my locker seems a little bit overkill, right?

I thought it had an inflatable transom with a solid 1ft square rivetted too it for the attachment of an outboard, Im sure I read on the site it folded up into a backpack.

I believe it uses some sort of inflatable honey comb for the flat sections.

[Yachtworker]

You need the old stalwart the Avon Redstart, add an outboard bracket or just row.

Proper floppy bottom with a bellows pump handy at all times.

[maser_spyder]

Odie said:

maser_spyder said:

Odie said:

something like this?

http://www.seaswift.co.uk/ribs-inflatables/ribs_xp...

I was just being nosey and googled it.

Nope, the hard transom at the back means it'll only pack down 'around' that hard bit, which will be too big for my locker (cocker). I need something without a transom, so it'll pack down without the width, and without the dead space inside the rolled-up bit.

Either that or I fashion something up to hide it elsewhere on the yacht, or just go without entirely, and keep it in the car, only taking it when I know we'll be going somewhere it'll be needed. Not ideal though.

Or.... The only other solution I can see, is to buy the bigger yacht I've been promising myself for the past five years. But £100k just to fit a dinghy in my locker seems a little bit overkill, right?

I thought it had an inflatable transom with a solid 1ft square rivetted too it for the attachment of an outboard, Im sure I read on the site it folded up into a backpack.

I believe it uses some sort of inflatable honey comb for the flat sections.

Bloomin' heck, you're quite right, I looked at the picture and it appeared identical to my existing.

That's very clever, but, maybe a little expensive....

[maser_spyder]

Yachtworker said:

You need the old stalwart the Avon Redstart, add an outboard bracket or just row.

Proper floppy bottom with a bellows pump handy at all times.

That's the one!

A bit like the 'Action Man' dinghy I used to have as a kid.

I'm guessing this rolls up like an airbed, in to quite a small bag?

[s2kjock]

maser_spyder said:

That's the one!

A bit like the 'Action Man' dinghy I used to have as a kid.

I'm guessing this rolls up like an airbed, in to quite a small bag?

It's not quite that small - the Avon material is pretty heavy duty, so it won't fold/roll as flat as some. Flip side is its durability - cheapies won't survive frequent inflating/deflating/folding etc - Avon will last forever.

Have a look at the manufacturers website in case they give you folded dimensions.

I'm 200 miles away from mine right now unfortunately, so can't pop out and measure it.

[s2kjock]

maser_spyder said:

That's the one!

A bit like the 'Action Man' dinghy I used to have as a kid.

I'm guessing this rolls up like an airbed, in to quite a small bag?

It's not quite that small - the Avon material is pretty heavy duty, so it won't fold/roll as flat as some. Flip side is its durability - cheapies won't survive frequent inflating/deflating/folding etc - Avon will last forever.

Have a look at the manufacturers website in case they give you folded dimensions.

I'm 200 miles away from mine right now unfortunately, so can't pop out and measure it.

[T_Pot]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/269cm-x-142cm-Inflatable...

perfect and cheap

[roryfizz]

Dare I say that with proper looking after that Avon would probably last longer than the "hydro force" having worked at a boat yard the build quality on these cheap inflatables tends to be poor at best with very cheap glues used and it wont be Hypalon like the older Avon it will be PVC which wont like being folded for extended periods and probably wont last 10 years maximum.

[Huntsman]

I have a Redcrest, its ancient and still in good shape. I ditched a bigger dinghy for the exact same reason, too bulky. I find the redcrest easy to man handle and store and being all soft and floopy eays to haul on board.

[XJSJohn]

Yachtworker said:

You need the old stalwart the Avon Redstart, add an outboard bracket or just row.

Proper floppy bottom with a bellows pump handy at all times.

yup thats what i was going to suggest too .....

2.2hp OB on a bracket at the back, 2 gallon water can in the bows so you don't flip it over when drunkenly racing a mate back from the pub at shalfleet and you are away!!

[maser_spyder]

http://www.inflatableboats.net/uploads/avon-specs....

Even managed to find the sizes when packed.

I agree about the Avon. I did briefly look at a cheapy one (have a Seago 230 at the moment), but the idea of having hassle in a year or two isn't appealing. And if there's anything I've learnt at all about boats, it's that everything wears out so much quicker!

So I'm on the lookout for a Redstart or Redcrest (8 or 9 foot versions), just need to measure my locker first.

And I guess fabricate some sort of outboard bracket, or ditch it entirely and row.

[XJSJohn]

maser_spyder said:

And I guess fabricate some sort of outboard bracket, or ditch it entirely and row.

for both the avon's you can buy a fit for purpose bracket that fits onto the four rubber grommet things at the back - works very well with the little 2.2hp OB's from most manufacturers

[maser_spyder]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

XJSJohn said:

maser_spyder said:

And I guess fabricate some sort of outboard bracket, or ditch it entirely and row.

for both the avon's you can buy a fit for purpose bracket that fits onto the four rubber grommet things at the back - works very well with the little 2.2hp OB's from most manufacturers

Ah, sorry, I meant for storing the outboard on the yacht!

[danyeates]

Avon would certainly be best (been selling them for years and even have a 1970's dinghy in the showroom still going strong!) Shame they don't make them new anymore, but you're sure to be able to find a used Redstart or Redcrest somewhere. To solid transom so easy to roll up. I'd be looking for the Redstart though, as it's a foot shorter so rolls up much smaller.

Good call on the inflatable kayak. I used one when I had my RIB. Easily rolls up and fits in the bow, inflates onboard the boat easily enough and good fun to use up rivers and creeks (particularly Newtown for example). We sell the Z-Pro inflatables. Would recommend the Tango 200 or 300 (2 or 3 person) or the Flash 200 (high pressure airdeck like the more expensive inflatables). Can get Sevylors as well.

[danyeates]

There's a very old one here for just £75!

http://www.devonboats.co.uk/4.html

[Yachtworker]

I have used this 20 year old boat as a:
camp bed (upside down on dry land)
Sledge (it snowed in Falmouth once)
towable toy
Launch platform for Jack Russells
and a Tender.



It rolled up and fitted in tye Laz of a Hurley 22 so goes quite small.

[MOTORVATOR]

maser_spyder said:

Or.... The only other solution I can see, is to buy the bigger yacht I've been promising myself for the past five years. But £100k just to fit a dinghy in my locker seems a little bit overkill, right?

So you don't "need a SMALL tender for a yacht" at all.

Bloody misleading titles, now take it as chastised and go start a proper thread titled "I need a LARGER yacht to fit my existing dinghy in, any ideas?" followed promptly by "This pontoon berth I have just secured doesn't appear big enough, any ideas?"