Imagine you are on a party yacht with your friends. You are having a great time when suddenly the yacht starts to slow down. It turns out the person responsible for filling up the fuel tank forgot to complete his duty. Now, you are stranded in the middle of the ocean, and you can’t connect with the coast guard through your radio.
This is where a tender boat comes in. It’s a small dinghy that allows you to carry passengers to safety, go fishing or make grocery trips without docking.
There are two types of tender boats: Fiberglass and inflatable. It’s important to pick the right one based on the weight and dimensions of your boat and for what purpose it will be used. Moreover, it should be big enough to accommodate your passengers in case of an emergency.
There’s a third type of is made of plastic but is seldom used.
Inflatable Tenders
An affordable inflatable boat will cost you around $2,000. It provides a sturdy and stable platform. Even if it dips on one side and water enters the boat, it will not sink.
The biggest disadvantage of inflatable ones is that they can leak air. It could be that the place you stored it in had other equipment, one of which poked the tender boat. Cheap inflatable tender boats don’t have UV protection, making the PVC fabric vulnerable to punctures.
Imagine getting into your tender boat only to realize you are slowly sinking. That’s one nightmare you don’t want to experience.
Fiberglass Tenders
A fiberglass tender boat is the best option if you want stability and durability! It offers a soft ride, which is less bumpy than an inflatable boat. Moreover, if you want to enter a narrow channel for fishing, you can easily do it on a fiberglass tender boat.
Thanks to its material, the boat is low maintenance. It is sealed with a polyester resin, which protects it from harmful UV rays.
A fiberglass tender boat is unsinkable and lightweight, which is why many mega yachts have it on board.
Tender Storage
A tender boat is usually a powerboat stored in the haul of a yacht. Some yachts have a designated tender storage space under the cockpit. If you have limited space, you can store it on the deck. Some like to keep it on the swim platform so that the tender boat can be accessed easily.
If you are sailing in bad weather, ensure the tender boat is secured to the yacht so it does not fly away. There should be no obstructions in between to release the tender boat immediately on the water.
So, now you know why having a tender boat on your yacht is important. When going on a family boating vacation, ensure that it is in good condition. If you have an inflatable one, blow it up to find out if it has any holes. Most people opt for an inflatable boat because it is less expensive than fiberglass.
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