Tender Suggestions
PT11 on the beach
Last week’s RFI on finding a tender for MATILDA produced some great ideas.
The full article is HERE, but to recap, the criteria I outlined were…
1. Maximum 10ft LOA to fit in the space between the inner forestay and the forward dorade boxes.
2. Hull only to be 50kgs or less so it can be launched/retrieved with a spinnaker halyard by one person.
3. Able to be sailed effectively up and down wind.
4. Must be able to be rowed comfortably by one person
5. Must tow nicely without sheering side to side
6. Must be able to be dragged up a beach by one person.
7. Must float if swamped
8. Must have a personality.
Thanks to all who took the time to send a suggestion. Here’s the revised field.
The current Front Runner is the PT11 suggested by both Richard Hayes and Ian Milroy. I’ve rather fallen in love with this 11-foot nesting sailing dinghy designed by American naval architect Paul Bieker. It splits into two interlocking halves so would stow nicely on MATILDA’s deck. Once assembled, it becomes a lightweight, planing sailing dinghy. It comes in kit form either from Port Townsend Watercraft, Chesapeake Light Craft, or if you are in Europe Fyne Boat Kits
Of course having Leo Goolden advocate for it removes most of the concerns I might have!
The only negatives I can think of are whether I have the skills to build one well, and where I’m going to find the time. Perhaps I’ll look for a second hand one.
Richard Hayes also suggested looking at an Andrew Wolstenholme cockle, and the tenders designed by Francois Vivier. Both show good looking options but we would be pushing it to fit them in deck in the space we have, and they are heavier than the PT11
Ian Milroy poited out that also from Chesapeake Light Craft, is a design called the Passagemaker. It’s a pram with a lot of rocker which, gives it character but perhaps not such a great performance under sail. It can be build it one piece or with as a nesting dinghy. In can be rigged as either a gunter or a lug. It looks good under sail but would probably be more suitable as a tender for a traditional timber boat rather than a modern classic.
Passagemaker nesting dinghy
Mark Heyink suggested (from Margaret River WA) an interesting Australian option. He writes “Years ago, Swanson Bros made a Snug dinghy: a nesting dinghy with sealed buoyancy tanks and the ability to sail.” So googled it and found out that the moulds were with a dinghy manufacturer in Artarmon in Sydney back in the 90s. I also found these pictures. Looks good but perhaps a bit heavy as its made out of solid GRP
Finally I got an email from Kim Klaka, Naval architect and yacht designer, extolling the virtues of the Tinker Traveller and the Tinker Tramp.
These crazy looking boats were developed in 1978 by Fred Benyon‑Tinker in partnership with Henshaw Inflatables, with the aim of creating a true multi-purpose inflatable that could serve as both a yacht tender and a capable small sailing dinghy. Unlike basic inflatables, Tinkers could be rowed, motored, or sailed with a proper mast and rig, and they packed down compactly for stowage aboard cruising yachts or even in a car boot. The Traveller and Tramp became particularly popular with offshore sailors because of their toughness, load-carrying ability, and optional liferaft conversion kit. Although production ceased around 2010, they have a cult following among cruising owners.
Kim is one of them! He writes…
“My tinker weighed 37kg ( about 80 lbs) so I could just chuck it over the side. I absolutely loved my tinker but when I gave it to a company to service after 20 years they overinflated it and completely destroyed it. As you can tell, I still haven’t got over it 10 years later. I would buy another Tinker in a flash if I could find one.”
Time to sit back and asses the options. Thanks for all your input… I’ll let you know!