Takacat dinghy - any good?

[Caddy Shack]

Hi All,

Anyone have personal experience with these? I've down sized the mother ship to 36' and so also need a suitable tender. I'm looking at the 260 since weight and space are primary concerns and it will just be used for two people...

How is the build quality of the PVC model? Does it row OK? Easy to set up and pack away?

How about other suggestions that can be purchased in the US?

I had a 12' Porta Bote as my last tender and it had its pros and cons. I've also had an old bomber Avon Redcrest.

Thanks!

[Cowpoos]

I had a 260 and it was an awesome little tender for my 31ft sail boat. Easy to pack down and deploy. There are a few youtube videos on them.

[dougweibel]

We had some fellow cruisers over for sundowners and they arrived on a Takacat. They said it is a very wet ride in chop.

[odonnellryan]

It's a great dinghy and can plane and stores well and seems well built, but yeah - it's wet!

You can also "scoop" the water if you are loaded up and slow down too fast. Not really as problem and avoidable, and if you do do it you'll just get soaked. It isn't like you can sink it!

I like mine. I would buy it again, just because of how easy it is to store. But I think if I were to cruise long periods at a time, and had a boat with a better system for the dinghy, I would want something different.

The takacat isn't exactly cheap, but I think it's a good value.

[Maldwin]

I have a 300, powered by a Torqueedo. Total package under 100lbs. Comes very close to planing, but not quite. So far, I am very happy, but I bought it for weight and stability.