3D Twin Air 200 vs Waveline 270 SU Super Lightweight Tender Test

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Oddly, one thing that we didn't mention in the video, is that we also went shopping for a Talamax, however, the one we looked at (on paper) was not in stock anywhere locally, and we do like to touch and feel before we buy! But that too, is getting awesome write-ups! Impressed that with a SOG of 2.9 kts we had in excess of a 7hr run time remaining in the Spirit, even after a few good thrashes up and down!

[@marklawrence855]

Thats a brilliant setup, go perfect together 😀

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Thank you Mark - I think we have certainly stumbled, rather than made a smart move toward it, but I cannot say how brilliant the E-Propulsion motor is - we were so lucky that we were able to buy the 3D and the motor as 'used' but literally just occasional use, otherwise the cost would have been prohibitive, but now we have been using it, wow, yes the way forward, but for sailors without access to 240v, the other charging options may not be quite as ideal! Will certainly be updating as to how the Waveline holds up throughout the season!

[@sealineboater]

Awesome, the 3D certainly is robust, we have V bottom version and have been impressed, but it does feel small. Running it with a small 2.5hp mercury as the torque do and propulsion both feel really heavy to us.

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Thank you for the comment Dale - yes we looked at those too, but the price/benefit equation at this time didn't add up for us! Thank you for watching. Also the Mercury, brilliant little engines and for the power output, to weight, definitely hard to beat at the price!

[@sealineboater]

Read on r comment above and should say Torquedo and EPropulsion

[@Nelsonelik]

🥰👍👍

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Thank you or the Thumbs Up!!

[@DavesBoat]

how small does it wrap up to and can you charge the battery on the outboard on the boat or does it need 240? i'm just trying to work out a tender for wild rose and there's so much choice its confusing.

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Hi Dave, currently it sits nested in the engine bay and is light enough to secure by strapping to the battery box loops! I will grab a photo next time and post on the SL forum! We looked a the larger 3D but at £900+ it was pushing us back toward a proper RIB (Used to have a Valiant 230 which was awesome and 20kts+ with a 6hp outboard!!! (Oh and I wasn't quite so heavy!) I liked the Waveline straight away because of the larger diameter tubes, but still has a flat floor - the other option was the Talamax, but having gone for the Spirit (Which was second hand to us last year) the petrol O/Board hasn't been out of storage... Would I but a new e-outboard? Probably not as the cost is high (Circa £1800-2000) and the solar charging addition isn't compatible with my earliest version - and the reliability and bargain price of the lightweight mariner 3.5 (Circa £650) still is the go-to choice for light weight. What we really liked was 1. light weight - 20kg (3D was just 12) is mega light 2. Big enough for 2 plus dog! (Westie seems to require more room than an adult 3. Air floor! Looking forward to your next update on the S43 - We may start shopping again this year - who knows, ultimately I still love sailing but with the way things are with the EU and the 90 day rule, I think we will be motorboating for at least a few more years.. will be single figures to retirement after this year!!!

[@DavesBoat]

@@lovelifeloveboat interesting you prefer the air floor to an alu floor ? i'm a tad concerned an airfloor wouldn't actually hold my weight :) me too on the retirement front probably 3-4 more years at most now.

[@lovelifeloveboat]

@@DavesBoat If I were to use it long term, I would definitely look back to having a RIB with either an ali or GRP V hull, I had a Valiant D-230 before and it was brill, sadly it was stolen and when recovered, it had been wrecked and, rather than re-tubing it, I gave it away to some lads on our boatyard as a project. The thing is that I have got heavy and that has definitely changed what I need (Dare I say 20St!!!) But, like yoursleves, our cruising plans for this year are alot further afield!

[@drewhudson7157]

Just a word of caution. The safety line is not all it looks, it is not properly spliced inside the shrink wrap. We discovered this when grabing it to get back in from the water and it came away in my hand. Great dinghy though had our 3 years now, mind you i cannot get it to fold as small as when it was delivered, can anyone ever

[@lovelifeloveboat]

@@drewhudson7157 Hi yep, I have found that before, they seem to just punch a hole and thread it through a couple of times. In the past I have re-roped them with proper rope and decent splicing - will certainly consider that when I have some time...

[@oldmansailing]

The 3D is made in France, not Germany

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Hi Yes, 3D as a company is French, and make excellent products, but The 3D superlight Tender uses PVC fabric made in Germany by Mehler, sorry if that wasn't clear - and quite possible I made a mistake so will have to watch it again - either way, it appears you are rowing yours in a much warmer place than I was mine!!

[@TheAncientMarinersBlog]

its almost twice as heavy as the 3D. Twice as heavy.

[@lovelifeloveboat]

This is true but it is alot bigger and not a 'shoot out' for a like for like - ironically, alot of the 2.7's weight is in the ridiculously heavy seat! (The 3D had a much lighter Ali one) Both are really great lightweights and comparable to approx 38-50kg for a standard duty of the same size! But,, positively, it packs up into the same space as the 3d did although marginally bigger! Thanks for the comment - it made me smile!

[@tonihodgkins3271]

Why not test a 3d 2-7 dingy as this test is pointless

[@sealineboater]

I don’t think they intended it to be a like for like as they said, they had a smaller lightweight tender but it wasn’t big enough. Looking at other comments, they looked for a larger 3D but there weren’t any available and so bought the wave line. On the strength of this, we looked at the wave line too and the tala max as we also have a smaller 3D but aren’t changing this year. 3D are incredibly expensive size for size we found compared to other brands but do not appear significantly different in quality. Hope that helps.

[@tonihodgkins3271]

@@sealineboater I can see your point but one thing is missing all the small inflatables are useless for two people if you have to row, I have experienced sitting on the very sharp stern while the other tries to row, as sitting in the front is totally unbalanced they are only ok for two with an outboard, the ideal size realistically for a min two person crew is 2-7/2-9 now that is what is never mentioned, or climbing into an inflatable from a vessel, there are many types, but it's getting into out off and traveling to the shore which is more relavent when you both want the pub,

[@lovelifeloveboat]

Hi Toni, apologies it has taken a while to reply - actually you make some really valid points - especially about getting in and out. We needed to get a bigger dinghy and I was impressed with the newer light weight technology, but also had acquired a dog! Getting the thing to sit still has been a real problem. Yep getting in and out from the bathing platform and moving it. I will certainly add an update as these, actually, are the points that we need to really look at. I am not as svelte as I used to be, and transferring safely is a big point!