T/T

 

Dinghy: A smaller boat used as a tender or life boat to a larger boat.

T/T: Recognised by many around the world as shorthand for 'tender to'.

 

A tender is important on a boat and has many roles. Whether it is loaded with dirty washing to take to the nearest laundry or a picnic to take to the beach it is part of boat life.

In the tender to Tarquilla, we've hung over the sides looking at a sea bed littered with star fish in Cameret, we've used it to do the shopping. We've collected visitors and brought them to the boat and we've nudged onto beaches to explore new places. We’ve had birthday parties in Devon where we’ve loaded up the dinghy with bar-b-q food and children. We've used it to get around, as a safety boat for children on kayaks and to just mess around with friends.

Finding a remote and empty beach in Devon, only accessible from the water

Bobbing around in the old Avon dinghy (Gijon, Asturias)

The tender is a work horse too. A means of getting to land if you are drying out, moored or anchored. This makes something reliable and stable essential to avoid being trapped on the boat in poor weather.

Marooned if you don't have a tender (Camaret, France)

One of my favourite things is coming into land in a dinghy. I still get excited as the boat nudges the shore, even if it is somewhere I am familiar with.

Land Ahoy!

Our old Avon has travelled any miles and been patched up many times. It was grey when we first had it then we painted it red as part of a general overhaul when we were in Brest. It has a really solid wood transom to attach the outboard to which is great but makes the whole thing really heavy and awkward to move. It also couldn't be stored in the davits because it sagged in the middle and didn't have any hanging points.

The old Avon in original grey

We decided this year that it was a good time to change our dinghy. After some internet research and once the chandlers reopened, we headed into town to pick up our new tender.

Sea trails of the new dinghy (River Plym, Devon)

Waiting to be swung in the davits

The new dinghy is a Highfield 340. It has an aluminium hull and inflatable tube sides. It is lighter to move around on land and hangs nicely in the davits. It's plenty big enough for what is now effectively 5 adult-size crew and a dog plus whatever else we want to take with us. A padded seat and more storage are very nice.

Out on the water

It handles swell and waves well and feels really stable on the water. It rows well and is comfortable to travel in. We're very pleased with it and have enjoyed several trips in it already. Hopefully we will get many years use out of this new tender.

Out on the water

Skipper

At one point we had a pretty wooden dinghy with a mast that the crew built. It looked nice and was fun but didn’t sail well. It was pretty bulky, taking up a lot of space and was difficult to get onto the davits because of its weight. It would also then fill up with rain water making it even heavier. There are many things to consider when looking at what is a practical dinghy for your needs.

Scarlett, wooden dinghy

The size of tender a boat needs is down to the size of the crew as much as anything. Once you have loaded people and things in, an inflatable dinghy can very quickly become overburdened.

A couple of other important things to consider:

1. Cover your baguettes else they will get spray on them and get wet.

Shopping run (Lezardrieux, France)

2. If you are drying out keep an eye on where the dinghy is as the tide comes in. If it has drifted under the hull it can get trapped (luckily she escaped from this with just some barnacle scrapes).

Oh dear (Aber Wrac'h, France)

3. Always have a spare means of motion such as oars in case of engine problems, thick weed or shallow water. We have used ours many times.

Note the oars fastened to the side ready for use

4. Always carry a means of calling for help whether it is a radio or mobile.

Sea dog enjoying the ride

We're looking forward to lots of summer fun in the new tender and some interesting exploring. I expect we'll be posting pictures of some more pretty scenes.

Homeward bound