Need some kind of tender for very occasional exploration and cruising. Talking maybe 5-10 nights per year max.

Only need to get 2 people in it. Don't mind rowing.

Easy stowage is the most important factor - i.e. I need to put it below decks when not in use and probably keep it in the shed whilst not racing.

Thoughts please?

I bought a second hand Takacat (the small one) and a 2.5 hp Honda. It's not dry but it does pack down into 2 bags that store neatly in the forward storage area. Takes 20 minutes to inflate or deflate and pack, faster if you have an electric pump (or leaf blower). 2 not-so-heavy people are OK.

Cheers,
Kinora

JonE said..
Need some kind of tender for very occasional exploration and cruising. Talking maybe 5-10 nights per year max.

Only need to get 2 people in it. Don't mind rowing.

Easy stowage is the most important factor - i.e. I need to put it below decks when not in use and probably keep it in the shed whilst not racing.

Thoughts please?

I have an inflatable dinghy which takes an outboard but on the trailer sailer last time I took an inflatable canoe which I bought from RTM. It is considerably lighter as it doesn't have a timber transom and although, like Ramona, I haven't used it yet it looks reasonably sturdy unlike some of the toys which are advertised online. It has an inflatable floor like my dinghy not just single skin. I expect it to be considerably easier to row into a headwind than a full width dinghy and I expect the directional stability to be much better as it comes with a detachable bottom fin. 199 dollars or 179 for the single person (180kg limit) which is a foot or two shorter and slightly lighter. At one stage I bought a paddle board to get out to my yacht but one day a considerable breeze sprang up and I had some difficulty getting back to shore due to my own wind resistance. I traded that for a plastic canoe type thing (BCF) which you sit in rather than on which I have found to be very good and dry but of course it doesn't collapse.

I have a 12ft Porta boat , folds down to a surf board size gives you the biggest tender on the smallest boat.
there is a few things I don't like about it I row it but it easily takes a 5hp outboard and goes like a tinny, you can get the 8ft one also.

Thanks lads.

i got lucky and picked up an Avon Redcrest with no leaks for beer money.

Actually, being a race boat with a long cockpit the Portaboat would work well, given the long low stowage space under the cockpit (about 14 foot of bunk space currently.)

Now I have to solve the anchor problem.

Inflateable dinghies are the best downwind sail boat in the world. The only model I have found that can be rowed effectively is the Avon Redcrest. Hard to find these days.
The only place I would ride in an inflateable without a motor is a swimming pool.

It will not work with a single board. One large board with a stiffener piece 200 mm wide screwed and glued down the middle and a bow piece is what I had. You can buy plastic "H" joiners from inflateable shops.
Outboard bracket will be hard to find as they rust out. I have seen fabricated ones.