Research
Dinghy Buying Guides & Australian Tender Research
23 guides covering the decisions that actually determine whether you end up with the right boat — and the numbers manufacturers do not publish.
Technical and Buying Guides for Dinghies and Tenders
Core method
Ready-to-Use Dinghy Weight: The Number Nobody Publishes
Brochure hull weight is not the number your davits care about. Here is how to calculate what you will actually be lifting — and why it changes shortlists.
Methodology
How We Rate Dinghies
Every model is rated for the job it is actually being bought to do — not given one score for the whole manufacturer. Here are the three weighting systems we use.
Sizing
What Size Dinghy or Tender Does Your Yacht Need?
The honest answer is smaller than you want and bigger than you can store. Here is how to resolve that.
Materials
PVC vs Hypalon / CSM: Which Dinghy Tube Material?
The single decision most likely to determine whether your tender lasts five years or fifteen in Australian sun.
Materials
Aluminium vs Fibreglass Dinghy & RIB Hulls
Fifteen to thirty percent of the weight, or a noticeably better ride. You do not get both.
Format
Inflatable vs Inflatable Catamaran vs Hard Dinghy
Three genuinely different answers to the same problem. Most buyers only seriously consider one of them.
Propulsion
Matching the Outboard to the Dinghy
The transom rating is rarely the limit you hit first. Weight and shaft length usually are.
Before you sign
The Dinghy Buying Checklist
Twenty questions that separate a good purchase from an expensive education.
Used market
Buying a Used Dinghy in Australia
Many excellent tenders remain in service long after ranges are discontinued or Australian distribution changes. Knowing which is which is the whole skill.
Sailing
How to Buy a Sailing Dinghy
Choose a sailing dinghy by local fleet strength, crew weight, class rules, complete inventory, condition, training support and resale demand.
Propulsion fit
Short Shaft vs Long Shaft Outboards for Dinghies
Horsepower is useless when the propeller sits at the wrong height. Measure the transom before ordering an outboard.
Portable tenders
Air Floor vs Slatted vs Aluminium-Floor Dinghies
The floor determines how quickly a portable tender rigs, how well it planes and whether you will resent packing it away.
Ownership
Inflatable Dinghy Tube Care, Leaks and Repairs
Pressure, sunlight, detergent and neglected valves determine tube life long before the first major puncture.
Engineering reality
Dinghy Davit Geometry, Dynamic Loads and Safe Margins
Safe working load is only the beginning: arm spacing, lift angle, centre of gravity and movement at sea determine whether a tender package works.
Before buying
How to Sea-Trial a Dinghy or Yacht Tender
A repeatable sea-trial protocol for boarding, low-speed control, planing, chop, load balance and recovery—not a dealer lap on flat water.
Electric propulsion
Electric Outboard Range Planning for Dinghies
Plan an electric tender around energy, speed, reserve, charging and retrieval—not a single advertised range figure.
Passage planning
Tow the Dinghy or Stow It? Yacht Tender Decision Guide
A tender storage hierarchy for anchorages, coastal hops and offshore passages, with the failure modes of towing made explicit.
Beach landings
Best Dinghy Setup for Beach Landings
Sand, coral rubble, surf, tide and solo handling reward different hulls. Choose the landing system before choosing accessories.
Solo cruising
Dinghy and Tender Setup for Solo Sailors
Design around the heaviest awkward lift, not the easiest showroom demonstration: launch, engine handling, boarding, anchoring and recovery alone.
Cruising with pets
Choosing and Setting Up a Dinghy for Dogs
Boarding, claws, wet traction, heat and beach access turn a generic yacht tender into a specific design problem.
Security
Dinghy and Outboard Theft Prevention for Cruisers
Layer identification, physical security, nightly routines and insurance evidence without turning every dinghy trip into a chore.
Remote cruising
Remote Cruising Dinghy Spares and Repair Kit
Carry the small, model-specific failures that can strand the tender, and know which repairs belong ashore with a professional.
Ownership economics
Dinghy Total Cost of Ownership: Beyond the Purchase Price
Compare the full ownership system: engine, freight, storage, davits, service, covers, repairs, transport and eventual resale.