Tenders - Dory or aluminium?
Discussion
Hi chaps,
Well, it's looks like we're another year on the river, because I didn't get my arse in to gear to sort out a pontoon berth last year....
For the past couple of years, we've just used our inflatable as a tender, which has been ok, but has its limitations. Big tubes mean it's a bit of a bugger to get in and out, 2 stroke seems to always be out of fuel when we arrive at 7pm on a friday night, and it's relatively high maintenance (needs regular cleaning, pumping, emptying, etc. to keep it up together).
So, I've decided if we're to enjoy our river spot more, we need to make life easier.
I'm looking at two possibilities. Either a second hand small dory, either 11 or 13', with a small outboard, electric start, remote steering, and a couple of comfy seats. This would be ideal, it wouldn't need much maintenance, we could take the bung out when we're not there (they self drain rain water), and when we did arrive, pop the bung in, key start the engine, fuel in a separate tank so easy to fill from a jerry can (4 stroke so no mixing), and a nice big flat surface for gear and bodies. They're also mostly cathedral hull, so very stable for getting in and out.
The other option is to buy an aluminium version of the same, or possibly even make one myself?.... I can get relatively cheap aluminium tenders direct from the factory, so apart from delivery times, it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Making one myself from plans (there's a few online to buy for a few quid) might be a bit of fun too, I've got pretty much all the gear required to do this, so wouldn't be too hard.
Whatever I go for will be adapted so that we can pull up to the stern, the tender will fit in like a jigsaw with fenders in all the right places, clip straight on, and have an easy, safe way of boarding the yacht. I want to make life as easy as possible!
I have no experience whatsoever of owning either of the above boats, so what do the PH masses think?
There's a free trip in the new craft for the person with the best suggestion.
Well, it's looks like we're another year on the river, because I didn't get my arse in to gear to sort out a pontoon berth last year....
For the past couple of years, we've just used our inflatable as a tender, which has been ok, but has its limitations. Big tubes mean it's a bit of a bugger to get in and out, 2 stroke seems to always be out of fuel when we arrive at 7pm on a friday night, and it's relatively high maintenance (needs regular cleaning, pumping, emptying, etc. to keep it up together).
So, I've decided if we're to enjoy our river spot more, we need to make life easier.
I'm looking at two possibilities. Either a second hand small dory, either 11 or 13', with a small outboard, electric start, remote steering, and a couple of comfy seats. This would be ideal, it wouldn't need much maintenance, we could take the bung out when we're not there (they self drain rain water), and when we did arrive, pop the bung in, key start the engine, fuel in a separate tank so easy to fill from a jerry can (4 stroke so no mixing), and a nice big flat surface for gear and bodies. They're also mostly cathedral hull, so very stable for getting in and out.
The other option is to buy an aluminium version of the same, or possibly even make one myself?.... I can get relatively cheap aluminium tenders direct from the factory, so apart from delivery times, it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Making one myself from plans (there's a few online to buy for a few quid) might be a bit of fun too, I've got pretty much all the gear required to do this, so wouldn't be too hard.
Whatever I go for will be adapted so that we can pull up to the stern, the tender will fit in like a jigsaw with fenders in all the right places, clip straight on, and have an easy, safe way of boarding the yacht. I want to make life as easy as possible!
I have no experience whatsoever of owning either of the above boats, so what do the PH masses think?
There's a free trip in the new craft for the person with the best suggestion.
Simpo Two said:
maser_spyder said:
There's a free trip in the new craft for the person with the best suggestion.
Princess M-Class.I'm on the verge of making an offer on a new yacht though, very exciting.
So has nobody ever had a dory or aluminium boat? Anybody?....
I'd probably choose a dory.
1. Unsinkable, so even if you forget it and it fills up with water, should be ok
2. Dory cathedral style hulls provide better load carrying ability and roll less with an unbalanced load. The downside is a harsher ride in the rough, but I doubt that's an issue
3. GRP dead easy to repair if you do damage it. I know ya could argue ali is more robust, but once it's punctured the skin, it really needs welding to repair properly.
Dory would prob be a bit heavier for similar size, but IMVHO would be my first choice of the 2.
1. Unsinkable, so even if you forget it and it fills up with water, should be ok
2. Dory cathedral style hulls provide better load carrying ability and roll less with an unbalanced load. The downside is a harsher ride in the rough, but I doubt that's an issue
3. GRP dead easy to repair if you do damage it. I know ya could argue ali is more robust, but once it's punctured the skin, it really needs welding to repair properly.
Dory would prob be a bit heavier for similar size, but IMVHO would be my first choice of the 2.
MattYorke said:
I'd probably choose a dory.
1. Unsinkable, so even if you forget it and it fills up with water, should be ok
2. Dory cathedral style hulls provide better load carrying ability and roll less with an unbalanced load. The downside is a harsher ride in the rough, but I doubt that's an issue
3. GRP dead easy to repair if you do damage it. I know ya could argue ali is more robust, but once it's punctured the skin, it really needs welding to repair properly.
Dory would prob be a bit heavier for similar size, but IMVHO would be my first choice of the 2.
Thanks for that.1. Unsinkable, so even if you forget it and it fills up with water, should be ok
2. Dory cathedral style hulls provide better load carrying ability and roll less with an unbalanced load. The downside is a harsher ride in the rough, but I doubt that's an issue
3. GRP dead easy to repair if you do damage it. I know ya could argue ali is more robust, but once it's punctured the skin, it really needs welding to repair properly.
Dory would prob be a bit heavier for similar size, but IMVHO would be my first choice of the 2.
I was actually thinking of getting an aluminium tender with a flat bottom, and welding in an aluminium floor, just above the waterline, then filling the void with foam, just like a dory. Then I could put a bung just above the waterline, and it would be self draining, just like a dory.
Aluminium welding isn't a problem.
I think I'll keep an eye out for a dory for the meantime, if the right one doesn't come up, I'll go aluminium and adapt it to suit my peculiar needs.
As for rough weather, it'll be going about 350m down the river and back, and seldom any further, it'll never go to sea so I'm not worried about that.
So, now looking for a 11 or 13' dory, with or without an engine....
Bought an aluminium flat bottomed dory style in the end, brand new so it'll be nice and shiny.
Plan is to weld in a floor above the waterline so it's self draining, and fabricate a steering console.
So lots of work to do!
Actually ended up buying 12 of them, it worked out a lot cheaper to buy 'bulk'.
So if anybody wants to buy an aluminium tender/fishing boat, drop me a pm.
Plan is to weld in a floor above the waterline so it's self draining, and fabricate a steering console.
So lots of work to do!
Actually ended up buying 12 of them, it worked out a lot cheaper to buy 'bulk'.
So if anybody wants to buy an aluminium tender/fishing boat, drop me a pm.
maser_spyder said:
Actually ended up buying 12 of them, it worked out a lot cheaper to buy 'bulk'.
So if anybody wants to buy an aluminium tender/fishing boat, drop me a pm.
I like that. Need a boat so buy 12 and stag the other 11 on ebay So if anybody wants to buy an aluminium tender/fishing boat, drop me a pm.
Sooooo - if I buy a dozen Aston Martins and sell 11 at 9% profit, I get one free...
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