ABW Sept 2017

Sailing Tips
Tenders
Rowing a tender
Motor tender
You’ve always been interested to sail, but you know little about boat parts, the confusing technobabble,
and what little you know is making your head spin in four different directions! Worry no
more. This continuing series of articles is for you: it covers tips regarding hardware present on most boats,
as well as common sailing techniques, terms and definitions, the names of the different pieces of hardware,
and much more. This will keep you informed about most things you will need before you begin your own
sailing excursion. Be sure to consult with an experienced sailor and someone knowledgeable about boats.
Tenders, whether
inflatable or rigid, are
inherently unstable,
and you should take
great care when
using them.
Article
excerpts
reprinted
from
the book
CRUISER
HANDLING
by BOB BOND
& STEVE
SLEIGHT
78
Tender on a boat
Inflatable tender
Tenders
All cruising boats need to have a tender to ferry the
crew and stores between the boat and the shore.
Ideally, it should be large enough to carry all the crew,
the provisions and any sailing gear, while remaining
easy to handle under both oars and an outboard
motor. It should also have permanent buoyancy and
be tough enough to withstand rough treatment. In
Practice, the problems of stowing a tender on board
a small or medium-sized cruiser limit the choice
of type. While the purpose-designed rigid tender
handles better in water, you can normally only
stow it on davits. The alternative is to tow it, which
reduces your boat speed and cause problems when
coming in and out of the harbor.
Most people in fact, opt for an inflatable tender
which can be partially deflated and easily stowed on
deck or in a large locker. They are not easy to row
in a strong wind, and you may find that you need
an outboard motor for long trips. Inflatables, being
soft, have the advantage that they don’t damage
the boat when coming alongside.
You should be very care when using the tender
– more drowning’s result from misuse than from
people going overboard from a cruiser. Make sure
that crew members wear a lifejacket in the tender,
even on short trips, and even if they can swim. Never
overload the tender – make two trips if necessary.
Towing a Tender
If you have a rigid tender you will probably have to
tow it behind your boat, at least for short trips. Even
if you have an inflatable you may prefer to tow it
occasionally rather than deflate it and stow it. If you
know you are going to use it again shortly. Before
setting off, remove all loose gear from the tender
and stow it aboard the boat. Use a strong warp as
a towing line, making sure that it is long enough
to allow the tender to lie well astern of the boat.
The line should be fixed to a through-bolted eye
on the outside stem of the dinghy. A slack reserve
line should be fastened from the tender to the boat
just in case the towing line breaks. In strong winds
you may find that an inflatable tender becomes
airborne or even blows ahead of the boat. Under
these conditions, shorten the towing line. You may
also need a shorter line when towing a tender in the
harbor. A rigid tender is, in fact, more difficult to
tow than an inflatable. It sometimes tends to surf
down a wave when the boat is sailing off-wind,
and crash into the boat. In this case, you should
lengthen the line even though the tender mat sheer
about as a result.
If you are maneuvering in congested waters, a crew
member should look after the tender to ensure that
the towing line doesn’t foul the propeller or rudder,
and that the tender does not hit any other boats.
Never try to board the tender when under way, for
whatever reason.
Using a Tender
Tenders, whether inflatable or rigid, are inherently
unstable, and you should take great care when using
them. Be particularly careful getting in and out of
the tender to avoid upsetting it. After launching it
in the water, secure the painter to a stanchion base
or deck cleat near the shrouds.
The oarsman should get in first, stepping into the
middle of it, and sitting down immediately on the
central thwart, facing the stern. The oars are passed
to him, followed by any stores being transported.
Make sure the weight is distributed evenly. Any
other passengers should then get in, taking care to
balance the tender, and holding it steady against the
sides of the cruiser. When the oarsman has fitted
the outboard oard into its rowlock, and said he is
ready, the crew member nearest the painter casts
off and pushes the tender clear so that the oarsman
can fit the other rowlock and oar.
To disembark, simply reverse the order of getting in,
taking care to keep the weight balanced. If you are
coming ashore in tidal water, make sure your dinghy
is pulled up above the high water mark if there is
an incoming tide. If coming ashore in an unfamiliar
estuary or river, watch out for deep mud. Use the
slip way is there is one.
Rowing a Tender
Rowing a loaded tender is hard work, and the
oarsman must therefore be competent. If the
waters are tidal, work out your
plan of approach to your boat
or to the shore, depending on
the direction and strength of the
current. Remember that it is always
strongest at the point mid-way
between high and low tide. It is
also worth remembering that the
current is usually weaker in shallow
water.
Foot pump
79