Tinker Inflatable can be Towed, Rowed or Sailed
Small, Versatile Dinghy by Henshaw Inflatables
Apr 22, 2009
For more than 25 years, Henshaw Inflables of the UK has manufactured the Tinker inflatable boat. Available in three lengths, the Tinker is a versatile, sturdy and well-designed craft that makes a good choice as a yacht tender, a run about, or day sailer.
The Tinker Inflatable as a Row Boat
Unlike most inflatables, the Tinker is boat-shaped with a proper bow. The floor of the boat is slightly higher than the inflated tubes, so only the tubes rest on the water. This means the boat tracks well when it is rowed. The fixed oarlocks are mounted on rowlock blocks so rowing strokes are converted to boat momentum rather than lost to flexing air tubes. With just a few short, choppy strokes the boat gets underway, and can then be rowed and maneuvered as easily as most rigid-bottom boats.
The Tinker Inflatable as a Motor Boat
The Tinker’s wood transom readily accepts a small outboard motor that can be mounted to one side of the rudder without affecting the boat’s handling. Again, since only the outer tubes rest on the water, there is very little water resistance. The boat moves efficiently and handles well under power.
The Tinker as a Sailing Dinghy
An inflatable sailboat may look like a toy, but the Tinker is a serious sailer. It has a full sailing rig including a partially battened mainsail, a jib, a traveler, a centerboard, and a rudder. With the optional performance package that includes a mast-head jib, and tiller extension, the Tinker performs like an Olympic class sailing dinghy.
Tinker is Easy to Rig and Competitive to Sail
The Tinker's mast comes in three sections. A single person can assemble and step the mast, rig the boat, and launch it in about ten minutes. For first time sailors and children the Tinker provides a safe, stable boat that is not easily capsized, but it’s catamaran-like construction makes it fast and responsive enough to please even the most seasoned sailor.
The Tinker as a Lifeboat
Perhaps the most controversial function of earlier versions of the Tinker was its role as a lifeboat. It seemed ridiculous to think an inflatable dinghy with an inflatable canopy could provide safe shelter in a raging storm, but in 1984 the British National Maritime Institute conducted tank tests on the Tinker, and concluded that when fitted with automatic inflation canisters it was a safe and viable alternative to a traditional lifeboat. Unfortunately, due to pending EU legislation regulating life rafts, Henshaw Inflatables no longer offers the life boat option.
Well Built Boat
There are less expensive inflatables on the market, but none match the quality of a Tinker. Each Tinker is hand-built by a single craftsperson, and signed by the builder upon completion. Tinker owners are almost fanatical in their devotion to these small boats, so though there are many, many older Tinkers still in service, it is difficult to find a used Tinker for sale.
Whether looking for a trouble-free family boat, a competitive racer, or a yacht tender, the Tinker is hard to beat.
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