Buy the Right Tender Dinghy for Your Boat

Selecting the right tender dinghy for your boat is a crucial decision for any boat owner, so it is a must to buy the right tender dinghy for your boat. A good dinghy serves as a practical companion to your main vessel and enhances your overall boating experience. From shuttling passengers to shore, exploring secluded coves, or even engaging in a bit of fishing, your tender dinghy’s functionality, design, and construction will greatly influence its utility and longevity. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make the best choice, with a focus on offerings from trusted brands like Crewsaver, Kolibri, ZAR, or Desner available at Ritz Marine.

Understanding Different Types of Tender Dinghies

Tender dinghies come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Here’s an overview of the primary categories:

1. Inflatable Dinghies
   • Lightweight and portable.
   • Commonly feature slatted or air-deck floors.
   • Ideal for short distances and smaller boats.
2. Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RIBs)
   • Combine a hard hull (fibreglass or aluminium) with inflatable sides.
   • They are known for their performance, durability, and stability.
3. Flat-Hull and Air-Keel Models
   • Flat-hull: Great for stability and ease of storage.
   • Air-keel: Improves tracking and performance in choppy waters.
4. Hard-Shell Dinghies
   • Typically constructed of fibreglass or aluminium.
   • Extremely durable and suitable for long-term use.

Key Factors to Consider

When choosing a tender dinghy, consider the following aspects:

1. Size and Capacity
   • Match the dinghy’s size with your main boat and intended use.
   • Consider how many passengers or cargo it needs to accommodate.
2. Hull Material
   • Aluminum Hulls: Lightweight, and durable; perfect for frequent use.
   • Fiberglass Hulls: Offers a smooth finish and excellent performance. Rust resistant and often heavier than aluminum
3. Flooring Options
   • Slatted Decks: Easy to set up and store but heavier than air deck
   • Air Decks: Lightweight and comfortable, providing a rigid surface. Lightest of them all.
   • Aluminum Floors: Durable and robust, suitable for heavy loads. Heavier Air and slatted deck.
   • Marine Plywood Floors: A cost-effective option for moderate use.
4. Ease of Storage and Transport
   • Inflatable models are ideal for smaller spaces.
   • Rigid dinghies may require davits or trailers for transport.
5. Budget
   • Balance between affordability and quality. High-end models often last longer and offer better performance.

Crewsaver Ultra-Light Dinghies

Crewsaver is renowned for its lightweight, portable dinghies, making them a top choice for ease of storage and transport. With sizes ranging from 1.8m to 2.6m, these models are perfect for quick trips to shore or exploring calm waters. The ultra-light construction makes them easy to handle, while their compact size ensures they’re a breeze to stow onboard.

Key Features:

• Ultralight design for maximum portability.
• Ideal for yachts with limited storage space.
• High-quality materials ensure durability and performance.

Dimensions of the most popular Crewsaver models can be found below.

Explore the range: Crewsaver Ultra-Light Dinghies

Kolibri Robust Range

Kolibri dinghies offer a versatile selection of robust models ranging from 2m to 2.8m. Made in Ukraine, they are designed for those who need a reliable, everyday tender, Kolibri dinghies are built to last and provide excellent performance even in challenging conditions. The Kolibri range starts at €349 and goes up to €2890.

Key Features:

• Durable construction for long-term use.
• Models with marine plywood floors for added stability.
• Fibreglass Range from 2.4m up to 3.6m
• Spacious interiors suitable for both passengers and cargo.

Kolibri offers a unique range of high-quality dinghies. They focus on marine plywood floors for increased stability which is suitable for higher loads. They also have air-keel models, unlike Crewsaver which make them more sturdy in choppy conditions. The smallest air-keel model is 2.45m long and would look like this.

Take a look at the versatile inflatable range below.

Kolibri is also known for the range of fibreglass dinghies from 2.7m up to 3.1m. We will discuss fibreglass and aluminium tenders in another blog post

Explore the range: Kolibri Dinghies

ZAR Mini’s Versatile Lineup

ZAR Mini offers an impressive array of dinghies with slatted deck, air deck, and aluminum floor options. Their designs are tailored to provide optimal performance, comfort, and convenience. Whether you’re navigating calm harbors or cruising open waters, ZAR dinghies are built for versatility and reliability.

Key Features:

• Slatted Deck Models: Simple and lightweight for quick assembly.
• Air Deck Models: Offer enhanced rigidity and comfort.
• Aluminum Floor Models: Heavy-duty and perfect for rough conditions.
• Aluminum Hull Rhibs: Heavy-duty and offer the best performance.

ZAR FUN Range – Slatted Deck range from 1.8m to 2.4m

ZAR AIR Range – Air Deck and Air Keel Range. Increased stability due to the inflatable keel. Still lighter than the Aluminum range coming up.

ZAR ALU Range – These dinghies have an aluminum floor and AIR keel. The Aluminum floor makes them extremely robust and they can carry heavy loads.

Even though more robust, they are heavier than the AIR Series.

This range is popular as a tender but also as a small leisure boat for fishing and short excursions. Can fit up to 20HP Honda.

ZAR Aluminnum Rhib Range – ZAR specialise in lightweight, aluminium Rhibs from 2.4m up to 13m! The tender range would be up to around 4.5m depending on the size of your boat.

On the right-hand side we can see some Aluminum rhibs from ZAR.

ZAR ZF Range – ZAR Formenti make the special and luxurious ZF range from 3m up to 4.5m.

These are made for the larger boats who want to have the best on board.

Explore the range: ZAR Dinghies

Desner Range of Aluminum Rhibs

Desner makes a wide range of aluminium rhibs from 2.2m up to 7m. They are similar to ZAR Mini but overall less expensive, so they are a great option for those who want to spend less. The two most popular options are the ultralight and classic series.

Desner Ultralight 220. The smallest aluminium rhib dinghy on the market at only 2.2m long.

Desner Classic Range. On the right we can see the Desner Classic 300. Popular due to its great finish, non-slip flooring and bow locker.

Comparing Hull Types

1. Flat Hull
   • Offers excellent stability and is easier to store.
   • Ideal for calm waters and straightforward applications.
2. Air Keel Hull
   • Improves directional stability and wave handling.
   • Perfect for rougher conditions or longer trips.
3. Rigid Hulls (Aluminum or Fiberglass)
   • Provide unmatched durability and superior performance.
   • Require more storage space but are ideal for frequent use and challenging waters.

Flooring Comparison

Making the Right Choice

Your choice of tender dinghy should align with your boating lifestyle. For a high-performance, luxurious experience, ZAR dinghies deliver exceptional quality and design. If you need durability and robustness, Kolibri’s range is an excellent pick. For lightweight and portable solutions, Crewsaver offers unbeatable options.

When considering a tender dinghy, always evaluate your storage options, typical use cases, and budget. The right tender can elevate your boating adventures, making every outing more convenient and enjoyable.

Ready to find your ideal tender dinghy? Visit Ritz Marine’s Dinghy Collection to explore our full range of Crewsaver, Kolibri, and ZAR Formenti products. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or new to the boating world, we’re here to help you make the perfect choice.