Tender - What should I consider?

[Boatingfool]

Looking for some help here in selecting a tender…

I need a "safe" dingy to haul two people and two 150lb dogs to shore. I think I'd like at least 11ft and can go as much as 13ft long. My secondary requirement is that the dingy be no more than 650-700lbs with engine for the hydraulic lift (rated to 800lbs, but would rather keep things on the lighter/conservative side). And because the dogs are large I need decent floor space for them to stand and/or sit (they can sit in a chair like a normal human but need a little more room in front of the chair for the front 1/2 of their body & paws to go). Last requirement it that I am looking to spend ideally $5,000 to $6,000 but can stretch to $10/12,000 max for this endeavor if nothing is available for less.

I know a couple of you have very nice tenders on your Sea Rays. Any suggestions and/or experiences with tenders of this sort would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Four Suns]

Mike,

I think the thing driving your requirements are the dogs. I would not get a center console type of RIB like I have as it takes up all the floor space for dogs. My two Goldens barely fit in the floor space I have and they are a lot smaller than your dogs. The projet I have is basically the Zodiac Yachtline series but with a Yamaha jet drive in it... I think the "new" price on that thing is now over $35K... ridiculous. I would check out the Zoom SR series or the Yachtline RIB from Zodiac:

http://www.zodiacmarineusa.com/the-zodiac-range/

I would think you could get one of those with tons of floor space for the animals within your budget.

 

[Boatingfool]

...The projet I have is basically the Zodiac Yachtline series but with a Yamaha jet drive in it...

Gary,

Thanks for your input. The specs on Zodiac's website says the Projet has a 6'1 beam. How does that work out on your swim platform? Do you find that ok or pushing it on width?

Thanks,

 

[Four Suns]

It's a perfect fit...

 

[MarkD]

I would vote for something like an 11.5' Avon hard bottom or similar. Granted I am prejudiced since I own one. The 11.5 can hold something like 1200lbs and carry 5 people legally. With a 25 hp engine, it will do 32-35 mph (on gps) and weigh in at 300-320 lbs total with engine. This would keep you in the ballpark of price (5-6K) and allow extra space on the platform for entry/exit. This is a major concern for me anyway.

 

[Beer Thirty]

Dang, your looking to sprint for a dingy that costs a little less than what I paid for my 20ft boat. :lol:

 

[Boatingfool]

Does anyone have experience with this dingy:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|215570|216319|295566&id=1128071

I wanted something a little larger but it looks like it may have decent room for the dogs to stand. Its also light which should be easy on the platform. The description on Achilles website says its a "deep-V" so I guess it will be good around the bay. I've also seen this dingy outfitted with this helm which looks like it is even more compact:

http://www.davit.com/euroHelmSeat.html

This euro helm thing is more compact and a bout fifteen hundred dollars less it seems.

The package comes with the 30-hp Honda 4-stroke, does anyone have one of those? Is it reliable?

 

[Boatingfool]

Also... anyone else out there with a 480/560/500/520/550/580 with similar setup, how do you find securing your boat in the slip is effected by a large dingy on the hydraulic swim platform?

Right now my boat has two large cleats at each corner in the stern, which are located about half way between the water line and the top of the stern. These are the main docking points and especially necessary to hold the boat if there's a lot of wind.

(pics not of my boat, from similar 560's on yachtingworld.com)

When you cross the lines in the rear to the dock, a large dingy would be right in the path of the lines. Do you run the lines underneath the dingy? If so, have you had trouble if the tide goes way out and the lines are pulling up on the dingy?

 

[MarkD]

Mike,
That Defender dink looks really nice. I am surprised however that it will hold 6 people. That capacity could be in "theory" more than in real life though. That center console type seat takes up alot of room/deck space. Granted, its really cool... From personal knowledge, the 11.5' dink is comfortable up to about 5 people, after that you are cramped and I DONT have that center section.

You will fly with that 30hp engine!!!! 30+ mph I am sure.....

As to the dock lines...thats gonna be a trick. Is it possible to install cleats on the platform, aft of the dink? I have also seen people drape them over the dink. doesnt look too good though and might get caught on something. Others will comment though....

good luck with your choice!

 

[Sea Gull]

I have two cleats on each side of the transom, one high on the gunwale and one low near the deck. At a floating dock I cross under the dinghy. At most fixed docks I cross the stern lines from the deck level cleats above the dinghy.

If I am going stern-to in a transient slip I usually launch the dinghy before backing in so that we can get on and off the boat easily. If I have side access, like I do at my home dock, I don't worry about this.

Also, it's a good idea to have chafe gear on lines led under the dinghy that come near or touch the dinghy chocks.

 

[Ryan]

I have two cleats on each side of the transom, one high on the gunwale and one low near the deck. At a floating dock I cross under the dinghy. At most fixed docks I cross the stern lines from the deck level cleats above the dinghy.

If I am going stern-to in a transient slip I usually launch the dinghy before backing in so that we can get on and off the boat easily. If I have side access, like I do at my home dock, I don't worry about this.

Also, it's a good idea to have chafe gear on lines led under the dinghy that come near or touch the dinghy chocks.

I do the same as Sea Gull. My home dock is floating, so I always leave them under the dingy.

 

[Petep]

I have a 12' Nautica RIB Jet on my GHS platform and we love it - it's 42 mph of pure fun! The crossing of stern lines do propose a problem however because you do not want any chafing on the Hypolon of the Dink. I bring my stern lines in from the highest point of my pilings where I have cleats mounted, this just clears my digny-but, I don't have to worry about tides. As stated above, when backing stern-to I "ditch" my dinghy first. Watch the 30HP packages on the outboards as I am sure you want the boat to get up and go on plane with 4 adults and many of the "value-priced" packages are under powered (if you call $13-14K value-priced) the 40 hp outboard packages are closer to 16-17K. I still wouldn't trade my Nautica RIB Jet for any of those as I "leave them in the dust" even with 4 people aboard. The only problem with the pro-jet is the way the seat back is "open", it tends to be a wet-ride and my friend just sold his as his wife was tired of getting a wet back on every ride- they do smoke alot also as they are two-stroke. The new 4-stroke is really sweet but a bit heavier (at the top end of the weight limit on the lift) BUT, it's $ 34,700.00- I'm waiting for a nice lightly used one to show up some day.

 

[Pseudomind]

I would vote for something like an 11.5' Avon hard bottom or similar. Granted I am prejudiced since I own one. The 11.5 can hold something like 1200lbs and carry 5 people legally. With a 25 hp engine, it will do 32-35 mph (on gps) and weigh in at 300-320 lbs total with engine. This would keep you in the ballpark of price (5-6K) and allow extra space on the platform for entry/exit. This is a major concern for me anyway.

Do you have a better picture of how yours is mounted? What is the beam of your boat? I would like something like yours from what I can see and your comments above. I am guessing if you have a swim platform, it is probaby about the same size as mine.

Thanks

 

[Pseudomind]

I would vote for something like an 11.5' Avon hard bottom or similar. Granted I am prejudiced since I own one. The 11.5 can hold something like 1200lbs and carry 5 people legally. With a 25 hp engine, it will do 32-35 mph (on gps) and weigh in at 300-320 lbs total with engine. This would keep you in the ballpark of price (5-6K) and allow extra space on the platform for entry/exit. This is a major concern for me anyway.

Do you have a better picture of how yours is mounted? What is the beam of your boat? I would like something like yours from what I can see and your comments above. I am guessing if you have a swim platform, it is probaby about the same size as mine.

Thanks

Well can anyone else perhaps answer the questions I asked above? I am basically wondering if the 380 and the 370 swim platforms are about the same size. Would an Avon 11.5 mentioned above fit on my 380?

Thanks