Buyer type
Best Tenders for a Cruising Couple with Davits
Davits change everything: the tender no longer has to fold, but it does have to hang. This is the shortlist where ready-to-use weight — hull plus outboard plus fuel plus gear — matters more than any single brochure number.
11Models shortlisted
6Brands
RIB TendersMarket
2026-09-12Last reviewed
What we weighted
The criteria
- Ready-to-use weight against davit rating
- Hull rigidity
- Towing behaviour
- Beaching tolerance
The shortlist
| Pick | Brand | Length | Max power | Why it makes the list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UL260 | Highfield | 2.60 m | 8 hp | The lightweight answer when davit capacity is the binding constraint. |
| UL290 | Highfield | 2.90 m | 15 hp | The single most cross-shopped cruising tender in Australia, and deservedly so. |
| Classic 260 | Highfield | 2.60 m | 15 hp | Tougher fit-out than the Ultralite when the tender works for a living. |
| Classic 290 | Highfield | 2.90 m | — | More payload and higher power rating in the same useful length. |
| Navigator 300 | True Kit | 3.00 m | 10 hp | Roughly 31 kg for a 3 m boat — extraordinary for the davit maths. |
| Discovery 330 | True Kit | 3.30 m | 15 hp | Steps up to 15 hp while staying under 40 kg. |
| T260LX | Takacat | 2.60 m | — | Open transom boarding, which matters more than you think at a beach landing. |
| T300LX | Takacat | 3.00 m | — | The liveaboard favourite of the Takacat range. |
| Island 2.7 RIB | Island Inflatables | 2.70 m | — | Local support and local pricing on an alloy RIB. |
| Falcon F300 | BRIG | 3.00 m | — | A more refined ride than aluminium, at a weight cost. |
| S300 | Grand Boats | 3.00 m | 15 hp | Premium finish for the owner who wants the tender to match the yacht. |