Selecting an Inflatable Tender, Part 2
Inflatable tenders have advanced from basic rowing craft to sophisticated planing boats complete with all the features of conventional pleasure boats. In Part 1 we looked at the parameters for choosing a tender that suits your boat and your style of cruising. Below, you’ll find a review of some of the best-known names in the industry to assist you in the buying process.
AB Inflatables builds everything from the most basic 7’6” (2.3 m) dink to sophisticated jet-powered tenders up to 15’ (4.6 m) long. The base AB Lammina UL is an aluminum-hulled open configuration tender that weighs a scant 66 lb (39 kg) but can carry three passengers. It’s rated for 4 hp.
The ABJet 465 XP is powered by a 170-hp jet for safe, agile operation. It’s 15’ (4.6 m) long and weighs 1,257 lb (570 kg). The jet system is ideal for water sports, and also for shallow-water operation; https://www.abinflatables.com.
BRIG Boats Falcon Tender series ranges from 9’6” (2.9 m) to 15’ 10”(4.8 m) and can carry four to nine people, while the Navigator series ranges from 15’ 11” (4.8 m) to 24’ (7.3 m) and can carry eight to 10 people. The company posts some useful buying tips for tenders, whatever brand you choose, on their website; https://brigusa.com.
F-RIB is an unusual folding RIB offering compact stowage as well as the performance and durability of a hard V-bottom. Folded, it can fit in the trunk of a compact car and easily stows aboard most boats. The F-RIB locks together by slotting and bolting the composite floor with a few wing-nuts. They’re available in four sizes from 9’ (2.75 m) to 14’1”(4.30 m). They’re built in the UK, and ePropulsion electric power is an option; https://www.frib.uk.
The Highfield SP 390 (12’ 10”) has a high tensile chromated and powder-coated aluminum hull, a low-profile console offset to starboard, a heavy-duty rub strake, and a full-length keel guard. The company also offers an ultra-light line including a 7’10” (2.40 m) model that weighs just 72 lb (33 kg) and can carry over 650 (296 kg) pounds of passengers and gear. They also make much larger RIB styles suitable as general ship’s boats; https://www.highfieldboats.com
Ribcraft is a U.S. builder producing military and professional grade RIB’s to 41’ (12.5 m) long, but they also make a number of models suitable for use as tenders including the 4.8T, a 15’7” (4.8 m) RIB with fiberglass floor. She’s rated to carry 6, and can be powered by up to a 70 HP outboard; https://ribcraftusa.com.
Sea Eagle makes a number of tenders with inflatable floors, which they point out makes them much more transportable (when deflated) than RIB’s. The 10’6” (3.2 m) Sport Runabout here is rated to carry five adults and weighs just 93 lb (42 kg). Price is about $1,850 base or up to about $5,080 with a Honda 9.9 outboard; https://www.seaeagle.com.
The Takacat 260 LX is a minimalist dink, 8’6” (2.6 m) and weighing just 55 lb (25 kg). This New Zealand design is priced under $2,000. The company says the open bow allows exceptionally easy entry and egress on shore, and it can be powered by outboards of 2 to 8 hp. www.takacatamericas.com.
Walker Bay makes both center console and tiller-steered RIB tenders to 14’9” LOA (4.5 m). The bottoms are molded fiberglass which the company says has a higher glass-to-resin content that makes them stronger but lighter than some. They’re also foam-cored, making for a more solid hull. Reversed chines keep down spray, and gas tanks are mounted under the deck at the bow, helping the tenders to plane quickly. They warranty their top-end ORCA CSM tubes, their version of UV-resistant Hypalon, for 10 years; https://walkerbay.com.
West Marine sells several tenders suitable for small and medium-sized boats, including the RIB-350 which has a fiberglass V bottom and double-layer Hypalon floor. It’s 11’5” (3.47 m) long, weighs 161 lbs (73 kg) and can carry up to four passengers. It’s rated for 25-hp outboards, priced at about $3,900; https://www.westmarine.com.
The Williams 280 Minijet is the smallest jet-powered tender we’ve run across, measuring just 9’2” (2.8 m) long. With a 60-hp Rotax engine, she’s designed to carry up to three passengers at speeds to 38 mph (61 kph).
At the other end of the scale is the Williams EvoJet 70, 22’ 9” (7.1 m) among the largest recreational jet tenders available. With a Yanmar 4LV diesel producing 250HP, it has a top speed of about 40 mph (64 kph). The company also produces a diesel-powered SOLAS line which is self-righting and constructed of fire-retardant laminates for added safety; https://www.williamsjettenders.com.
Zar-Formenti makes a full line of tenders from 10’ (3 M) to 14’8” (4.5 m) as well as large sport-luxury RIB’s to 42’6” (13 m) LOA. This Italian company has been in the RIB business for some 33 years, and the larger models can haul up to 16 and sleep several overnight, moving them well out of the dink class; https://www.zar-formenti.net
The Zodiac Medline Series are upscale RIB’s suitable both as tenders for large yachts and as pleasure boats for extended harbor-hopping and beach exploration. Sunpads, plush seats and bright color schemes add to the attraction. The Medline 9 is the largest boat in Zodiac’s recreational line, with an LOA of 29’2”(8.9 m) a beam of 10’ (3 m) and a capacity of 20. She’s rated for 2 x 350-hp outboards.
