What is the best inflatable tender

[Conrad]

Originally Posted by danderer

Had one. I would never recommend them to anyone based on my experience with Walker Bay.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s...ats-39184.html

Based on previous experience (WB 8') I'd stay away from Walker bay as well. However, looking at their Generation line ( on their site) I wonder if they are a much improved boat?

[dixie]

Hi Bud and Dawn,

Went through this same dilemma this last year, cost was not an issue but livability, and ease of use was. Wanted it to feel safe in the rough, fun, fast, soft dry ride and be able to pull up beaches and weigh less than 275 fully rigged with motor, gas, lines, anchor, etc.

Picked the new Zodiac 330 alu, it's 11 foot Aluminum deep V with flat floor, big gas tank locker which is a nice seat, weighs about 120 lbs, got it for $2400

We picked a new Tohatsu 20hp, 95lbs, $2700. EFI, 1/3 throttle is about 18 knots, setup feels great all the way from idle speed to 20 knots, over that feels a little too fast but brings a smile, nice to know there is plenty left.

Its very easy to handle, rides really great, feels light, great range, looks very nice. The motor is very quiet and gets a lot better mpg than the old 10.5 Zodiac/yamaha15 it replaced. Having the gas in the locker with the gas line going to the motor under the floor is nice and tidy. Its made of welded PVC which we wanted. We have been through 30+ tanks of gas since last spring and have not had to add air. Its been through the gambit and doesn't have any bad areas. We are always looking forward to our dinghy rides.

>steve

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Ctsearay

Walker Bay Genesis all day long!

I'd say our Hypalon Genesis is "OK." Not sure its better than anything else, maybe not even equal to some others.

The internal floor is good, the seat storage is good, an optional extra seat (with another of that same storage) is good...

Hull is OK. Weight is OK. The folding transom isn't a feature I need, and I expect it means a weak point (compared to others with rigid transoms).

I would have preferred the console version, actually, but that has eluded my wallet so far, and I'm still debating about whether we could handle the extra weight on our mother-ship's transom.

We've had to have some leaks repaired, and have another one to deal with as we speak. The most recent was partially my fault; we had several near-100°F days in a row and I should have let some air out of the tubes... but the whole thing was down at the outboard repair shop and I didn't think to drive down there or have them look at that...

-Chris

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by foreverunderway

I love inflatable dinghies, but I dislike RIBS. I won't have one.

I've always used real inflatable boats with good floorboards, out of wood or aluminum....

Not sure if your experience does not include "airdeck" inflatable floors,or you found them wanting. I`m on my second dinghy with an inflatable floor deck, it inflates fast, hard as, can be deflated and left in place for roll up or removed and stored separately.

[djb112349]

My decision on a tender was contingent upon how it would be mounted on my 31' Camano trawler's aft swim platform. Our previous tender was mounted using standard Weaver davits glued to the tender's tube and, when the tender was pivoted vertically, the mounts put a lot of pressure on the tubes, especially if they weren't fully inflated. We ultimately chose an Achilles (hypalon) HB310AL aluminum RIB so that heavier duty Weaver arc davits could be mounted solidly on the tender's hard aluminum hull and transom (rather than glued to the tender's tube). This configuration is far superior (but costly).

I agree with the previous replies that AB tenders are probably the best but we found that the Achilles brand probably delivered the best overall value, at least where hypalon fabric is used.

[djb112349]

By the way, we have not found that the painted deck of our aluminum RIB Achilles gets unduly hot as someone in another thread had wondered. Perhaps it might if the deck is completely out of the water and exposed to direct sun, but, once the deck is placed on water, the aluminum's contact with water will quickly dissipate any heat.

[bykpjfk]

We went through the same process last year. After having our 40' Mainship painted, the 10 year old Apex just didn't cut it. Ended up with a Highland. Great boat so far, but funny thing . My old 12' Apex planned great with 5 people with the Yamaha F20, but the Highland wouldn't plane with 4 until I put a hydrafoil on the engine. Now it plans great, but I never understood why a boat that is 100 pounds lighter doesn't plan with the same power?
I plan on adding their lightweight console at some point in the future, the aluminum hull comes predrilled and tapped for it.

[BruceK]

Originally Posted by bykpjfk

.... My old 12' Apex planned great with 5 people with the Yamaha F20, but the Highland wouldn't plane with 4 until I put a hydrafoil on the engine. Now it plans great, but I never understood why a boat that is 100 pounds lighter doesn't plan with the same power?.....

Wonder if the transom angles were different. Consider adjusting the rake of the motor?

[ssobol]

Originally Posted by danderer

Had one. I would never recommend them to anyone based on my experience with Walker Bay.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s...ats-39184.html

Had a WB Genesis RIB too. It started coming apart at the glue joins the first time I got it in the water. It met an untimely end quite early on.

Took the insurance money and bought a bigger Zodiac Pro console PVC RIB (for less money). The Zodiac was a way better boat.

[My1967nova]

We are very happy with our 9' TUG Inflatable and offer them for your consideration.

I've been told by them that know that you don't need to own a Tug to buy and use a TUG Inflatable.

The large tubes, aluminum hull, flat floor and built in bow locker were the selling features that we were looking for.