Tender to RIB

[Rodan]

Thinking of getting a small inflatable to act as a row ashore tender to the RIB, one which the kids can paddle around in etc...

Any recommendations as to a good inexpensive SIB which packs up very small
and is light weight?

Been looking at various brands but no idea as to what is actually any good....

Cheers

[PeterM]

Sportsboat & Rib magazine did a review a month or two ago which you may still be able to get online somehow ?

I have had a Bombard AX3 ( now belonging to another RIB owner) and have an AX2 airfloor now - this is a little to small & I wish I had kept the AX3 .

I seem to recall the Wetline ECO 270 came out as best budget buy in the 'test'. All of these 3 are PVC and can say I have been running my AX2 up slipways for the last 3 years with no problem and no damage.

My only word of caution - they will never pack down as small as they do when new - so I'd make sure whatever it is has straps/bag to compress it and any kind of air floor I feel is worth the money.

Pete

[karlT]

I have a Wetline 180, use it daily, treat it like $hit. Rated for 1 adult and 1 child, we regularly have 2 adults or me and a couple of trays of fish.

Get rid of the wooden seat if you get one as it puts you too high to row and it is liftable with 1 hand easily. Has bigger tubes than the plastimo 180 and as I have used both found the wetline more stable. have snapped the ali paddles at the joints a couple of time as these tend to suffer fatigue / rot if not rinsed, I just chop an inch off the paddle and re drill for a solid bolt to go through rather than the quick release buttons which failed.

Stays inflated and never needs topping up (has been blown up for over 2 years now), quick to deflate / inflate and comes with decent bag if you only want to use occasionally.

Probably not a glowing report but having had avons, plastimo and compass dinghies I do rate the Wetline very highly.

[Nos4r2]

Depends how small you call small.

An Avon Redstart or Redcrest will pack up fairly small (no big wooden transom) and last forever. Not cheap new (Quite cheap 2nd hand though!), but won't degrade.

Ideal if you're not fussed about it being quick with an outboard on.

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Depends how small you call small.

An Avon Redstart or Redcrest will pack up fairly small (no big wooden transom) and last forever. Not cheap new (Quite cheap 2nd hand though!), but won't degrade.

Ideal if you're not fussed about it being quick with an outboard on.

Yep. I tend to agree with that. IMO the Redcrest is the best yacht tender ever made. Redstart a foot shorter and quite a lot lighter. Should be no problem to carry on an 8m RIB.

On my RIB i have a 1.8m XM (no longer on their list, I believe) - as small as you ever want to go in a boat. Can't remember if it's PU or PVC, but it's 10 years old, taken a lot of hammer and has been no trouble at all. You need to practice getting into it though.

[gossy]

Originally Posted by Rodan

Thinking of getting a small inflatable to act as a row ashore tender to the RIB, one which the kids can paddle around in etc...

Any recommendations as to a good inexpensive SIB which packs up very small
and is light weight?

Been looking at various brands but no idea as to what is actually any good....

Cheers

i bought a brand new plastimo a few years ago and it seems indestructible ..... on 2 occasions I forgot to tie it down on my roof rack to see it going bouncing down the road in my rear view mirror .... I did feel a bit foolish but the dingy was unscathed both times

[Eddy Stone]

I am pretty pleased with the Waveline WavEco 1.85M Round Tail polyester fabric £205 delivered from Mailspeedmarine.com
Small fold up dimensions. Don't forget when folding up the dinghy suck all the air out using the foot pump with the tube attached to the air inlet on the pump.

[dougcrock]

this works well for me pack s down small for aboard rib and can taken to hotel etc and can even be blown up by mouth has taken two adults i even got one for hot lemon

[alystra]

Just found a picture of my tender (see other post). It's a substantial little boat.

[Mollers]

This one comes with a cover.