A tender can be many things, or sailors, it’s the small boat that gets you from your yacht to the shore. For others, it’s a fun little boat for exploring, cruising around the coastline or towing a small inflatable. This guide explains what to look for so you can choose the right tender for sailing or for watersports and leisure.
The 3D tender range of tenders are our most popular brand of tender, renowned for their innovation & design 3D Tender is our best seller. Browse our range of 3D’s inflatable tenders including Superlight, Twin Air & V-shape models.
- Easy transport & storage
- Getting ashore from your yacht or boat
- Versatile recreational use
- Stability & comfort
- Suitable for a range of boats
What Size Tender Should I Choose
If you’re a sailor
Think about how many people you need to carry and how much space you have on board.
- Small tenders (around 2.3–2.6 m): Easy to store and handle; best for short trips to shore. In this category we
- Medium tenders (2.7–3.2 m): More stable and comfortable for carrying crew or bags.
- Larger tenders (3.2 m+): Better for longer trips or rougher water, but harder to store.
Most tenders come in a range of sizes so you can match the boat to your space and carrying needs. For example, the 3D Superlight Tender Twin Air is available from 1.8 m up to 2.9 m, making it easy to choose a length that suits both your yacht and how you plan to use the tender.
If you want a tender for fun
Size changes how the boat behaves. Small inflatables are great for quiet exploring on calm water. Medium-size inflatables give you more room and can take a slightly stronger engine, making them easier to handle. Larger tenders start to feel more like small speedboats, with extra stability and better performance for longer trips or watersports.
What Matters More: Performance or Portability?
For sailing use, portability often wins. Sailors need to haul the tender on deck, lift it onto a pontoon or store it in a locker. Inflatable tenders are easiest, while RIBs offer more stability and safety but need more space.
For leisure and watersports use, performance becomes the priority. A larger tender with a stronger engine handles better, accelerates more easily and simply feels more exciting on the water. If you want to tow a small inflatable or travel longer distances, a RIB is usually the better choice. This doesn’t mean portability has to be sacrificed. For example, the Seago Go Lite Tender comes in sizes from 2.3 m to 2.7 m, is durable and lightweight, and packs away into its own backpack-style carry bag, making it easy to transport and store.
How to Choose The Right Engine
For sailors, lightweight engines are easier to lift and store. A small outboard (2-3 hp) is enough for short trips. If your tender is bigger and you often carry passengers, a 4-6 hp engine gives more control.
For watersports a bit more power makes the fun activities possible. A stronger engine helps the boat plane, tow toys and handle choppy water. Just make sure it stays within the maximum rating for the tender.
Petrol vs Electric Engines
Petrol outboards are still the most common choice for tenders. They offer more power for their weight, handle rougher conditions well and are ideal if you need to carry several people, tow a small inflatable or cover longer distances. They’re also widely supported, easy to refuel and work on any size of tender from small inflatables to larger RIBs. The trade-off is noise, fuel storage and regular maintenance.
Electric outboards are becoming increasingly popular, especially for sailors who want something clean, quiet and easy to manage. They’re simple to start, require almost no maintenance and are perfect for short trips to shore, marina use or calm-water exploring. The limitations are range and power: electric motors are excellent for small and medium inflatable tenders but may struggle with strong tides, long distances or heavier loads unless you invest in a more advanced, higher-power system.
Here is your FAQs on tenders answered:
Can inflatable boats handle rough water?
Inflatable boats can handle choppy conditions better than people expect, thanks to their buoyancy and wide tubes, which helps with stability. However, they're best suited to sheltered waters and coastal use rather than prolonged exposure to rough or open sea conditions. Always check the boat's design rating and weather conditions before heading out, and operate within the manufacturer's recommended limits.
How do I choose the right size tender for my yacht or sail boat?
The right size depends how many people you need to carry and how you'll use it. Check out our guide to choosing the right tender or inflatable boat!
Do you need a license for an inflatable boat in the UK?
Good news! You do not need a license to operate a small, recreational inflatable boat in UK coastal waters. No formal qualifications are required for private use, although RYA training is recommended. You must comply with local harbour bylaws however, this may require registration.
Are inflatable boats good to use as tenders?
Yes. Inflatable terms are one of the most popular choices for tenders because they are lightweight, stable and east to launch and recover. Their buoyancy makes them well suited to marinas, anchorages and coastal conditions.
Should I keep my tender inflated?
When storing your PVC inflatable tender, it is recommended to keep your small boat inflated, ideally at a lower-than-full pressure to prevent any stress on the seams. It also ensures it is ready for immediate use. It is important to keep it covered to prevent any UV damage however.
What's the best types of boat tenders for small yachts?
Top recommendations:
Air Deck Tenders: These are highly recommended for their balance of performance and convenience. The floor is a high pressure inflatable panel (using drop stitch technology) that becomes very rigid when inflated, yet still packs down small.
- Pros: Lightweight, comfortable underfoot, easy to assemble / disassemble, and they pack into a relatively small bag. Many models can plane well with a small outboard, especially those with an inflatable keel for directional stability.
- Cons: Can be more vulnerable to punctures from sharp objects than a hard floor, require a high-pressure pump, and may flex slightly in choppy conditions.
- Ideal for: General use, short trips, and when portability / storage space is a primary concern.
- Examples: 3D Superlight, Talamex Aqualine, Seago Go Lite
Slatted Floor Tenders: These are the simplest and lightest option available. They use small wooden or aluminium slats fitted across the bottom of the boat to provide a basic deck.
- Pros: Extremely lightweight, quick to set up and roll up, highly compact when stored. They are generally the most affordable option.
- Cons: The floor is less rigid than an air deck tender, making standing difficult and provides a less stable ride, especially in rougher water. They also don't track as well as keeled models when rowing or under power.
- Examples: Seago 230 SL, Talamex Aqualine SF
How fast can a tender go?
It is recommended that inflatable tenders shouldn’t be going very fast at all. They are used generally at lower speeds.
What is the difference between a tender boat and a life boat or liferaft?
A tender boat is for regular transport to/from shore, often for getting to your boat or sightseeing, while a life raft is purely for emergency survival, designed for quick deployment and carrying a survival kit to wait for rescue, with tenders sometimes doubling as emergency craft if certified, but liferafts are generally superior for rapid abandonment in rough seas. The key difference is purpose: transport vs. survival.
Is a tender the same as a dinghy?
Yes, for most recreational boating purposes, the terms tender and dinghy are used interchangeably and refer to the same type of small boat.
A tender is a small boat that “tends” to a larger vessel by ferrying people and supplies to and from shore or between boats when the larger vessel cannot dock. The term describes its function or purpose as an auxiliary craft.
A dinghy is a general term for a type of small, open boat, typically under 20 feet in length, that can be powered by oars, a small outboard motor, or a sail.
Essentially, a dinghy is a type of boat, and when that boat is used to service a larger vessel, it’s called a tende