Your ideal inflatable tender - please reply

[Paul Kelly]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Been using these Seago 230's since '08.. great little boat and with a 5hp Tohatsu go like poo off a shovel..
Mind.. they've gone up £80 since then.. but at this price a great buy for the economical small boat sailor.
Plus.. they roll up without having to remove the slats.

Windward ECO Inflatable Tenders
£299.95

I bought my 2.6m for £325 (UK). I think that's good value.

Can't remember the brand. But they are all much of a muchness in my view.

From a business perspective though there may not be much profit in it.

[Blue Lagoon SV]

I am looking at a folding RIB. here is a company url. I found them at the San Diego Boat show.

THE FRIB - Four Seas - Orange County, CA

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Small boat owners need someone to invent a rigid bottom inflatable that comes apart like a nesting dingy into two pieces that will store fairly flat.

But they have, the F-Rib.

http://f-rib.co.uk/

Russian-made military product. Bloody expensive.

Next best thing to that is something like what I have -- RIB with folding transom. The Avon one is no longer made, but you can get one from Zodiac. It folds up like a surf board and fits in a bag. I would think it would be good even on a quite small boat.

Otherwise, a roll-up with slatted floor. But you're right to aspire to a RIB.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Paul Kelly

I bought my 2.6m for £325 (UK). I think that's good value.

Can't remember the brand. But they are all much of a muchness in my view.

From a business perspective though there may not be much profit in it.

You shop at Piplers as well..???

[Colin A]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

But they have, the F-Rib.

www.portableboatshop.com - F-RIB Folding Hull RIBs


Russian-made military product. Bloody expensive.

Next best thing to that is something like what I have -- RIB with folding transom. The Avon one is no longer made, but you can get one from Zodiac. It folds up like a surf board and fits in a bag. I would think it would be good even on a quite small boat.

Otherwise, a roll-up with slatted floor. But you're right to aspire to a RIB.

Achilles has a folding transom as well. Zodiac made a RIB with removable panels a long time ago. Don't recall what it was called. They made it in the 90's had floor and hull panel that slid together in channels.

The Zodiac Futura models have great performance with a soft bottom but are rather pricey. https://www.zodiac-nautic.com/en-us/.../futura-en-us/

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Colin A

Achilles has a folding transom as well. Zodiac made a RIB with removable panels a long time ago. Don't recall what it was called. They made it in the 90's had floor and hull panel that slid together in channels.

The Zodiac Futura models have great performance with a soft bottom but are rather pricey. https://www.zodiac-nautic.com/en-us/.../futura-en-us/

This is the Zodiac folding transom RIB:

https://www.zodiac-nautic.com/en/sho...cadet-compact/

You can get it in Hypalon. I have no idea about the quality; I've heard some horror stories about some Zodiac inflatables; don't know about this one, but caveat emptor.

[fred4936]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

I am at a point where I am diversifying my interests and I am looking at importing some dinghy's to sell, ongoing, long term, but need some advice from the experts here (or should I say, potential customers )

What floats your boat when it comes to tenders.... or perhaps, what is your ideal wish-list for a tender? (stick with inflatables for now please)

Generally speaking, sizes range around the following, give or take a few inches depending on the manufacturer:

230 (7'6") 4hp max
270 (8'9") 10 hp max
290 (9'6") 10 hp max
320 (10'6") 15 hp max
360 (11'9") 20 hp max

It would help me out a lot if you could reply to this thread to "place your virtual order" here, so that I can best plan for different models and continue with my research.

The brand will be a new brand, not yet seen before, keeping in mind that it will be much like most of the others and will be aimed at a budget, but yet practical market.

1. Ideal length:
2. .9 or 1.2mm fabric:
3. PVC or Hypalon (hypalon is pricey):
4. Aluminium panel floor or airbed:
5. Fibreglass hull (pricey$, esp. freight costs) OR fabric with inflatable keel:

Accessories:

1. Front storage bag Y/N
2. Under seat storage bag Y/N
3. Attachments for davits Y/N
4. Spare valves Y/N
5. Storage compartment / box Y/N
6. Anchor & rope Y/N
7. Life jackets and safety gear Y/N
8. Rego numbers Y/N
9. LED nav lights Y/N
10. Dolly wheels Y/N

Standard accessories would be, carry bag, foot pump, oars, repair kit, spare valve

Is there anything else on your wish list that it needs or should come with it, like life jackets, storage devices or safety equipment?

Feel free to elaborate on WHY you chose certain items, like the length which would be a good one.

Thanks very much if you can find the time to reply, it will help me
immensely!

Hello,

We have a rigid 8' dinghy that we stow behind our 27 ft. sailboat. My wife almost fell out of it, so we bought a Zodiac Zoom, about 8' long. two seems opened up just after the warranty expired, so much to my wife's chagrin, we went back to the rigid. I think i repaired the two seams, it ois holding air again. I am happy with the rigid, my wife prefers inflatables for their stability. The point I am trying to make is that a dinghy, like some other things, require a joint decision. Should we give up on the Zodiac, we will consider yours. We have a light Nissan OB, (I think 3.5 hp) which works, but the dinghy (either one) does not plane with us in it. But i am OK with that. I am much happier with the lightweight OB that I can carry over more speed. So given our background (sorry it was so long), our choices would be:
1. 8' is fine
2.heavier fabric
3. I am leary of PVC now, might go Hypalon, depending on cost
4.We have a wood floor. I like a rigid floor, would not go back to soft, so aluminum is fine.
5. Fabric is fine. easier to store. On occasion we put the dinghy on deck, the fiberglass hull would make that much harder.

I would probably not order any accessories, I have or do not need anything else. I hope this helps!

[MamaKube]

Just bought one.
I am cruising and want comfort. Went for a 10’ with console steering, lights package, and big tank. My dinghy is my sea car.

[ausaviator]

MK, can I ask what brand and model it was? 10ft is fairly small for a console, so is it limited to 2 persons only? How big is your tank and what horsepower did you fit?

[winschwab]

9.6-10.6, 10-15hp max, Hypalon, aluminum floor, storage compartment to fit 3 gal gas tank, anchor, etc. Accessories: davit attachments, oars, hand bilge pump, LED nav lights.

[MamaKube]

Lots of research and went with Apex and a 20 HP. Tank fits under bow seat. Fits 4 comfortably or me, husband, and 2 hounds. ��

[sleaper]

I just purchased a second tender for out boat.

Our first one "Takapu Explorer" is a 3.6m ally pontoon with a 50 horse, central steering console etc.

Our second which we just purchased new "Takapu Tender" is a 3m Zodiac with a flat floor, ally bottom and anchor locker. She has a 2hp yamaha on her with beach wheels fitted.

She can be dragged up a beach and launched by one person of any age and fitness.

All up cost new was $5500 NZD.

[KD8NPB]

Originally Posted by Colin A

Achilles has a folding transom as well. Zodiac made a RIB with removable panels a long time ago. Don't recall what it was called. They made it in the 90's had floor and hull panel that slid together in channels.

The Zodiac Futura models have great performance with a soft bottom but are rather pricey. https://www.zodiac-nautic.com/en-us/.../futura-en-us/

The Zodiac Ribster is what you're referring to. I wasn't a fan.

Futuras are fun, but heaaavvvvy.

[Colin A]

Originally Posted by KD8NPB

The Zodiac Ribster is what you're referring to. I wasn't a fan.

Futuras are fun, but heaaavvvvy.

Ribster that's it. I assembled one once it was a pain.

Yeah Futuras are a bit of a pain I would buy a fastroller for myself but I used to take care of a customer alum floor futura (take it down pack it into the porch of his summer house every winter) not sure I would get one of those for myself.