Not only boating

Sun set from Florida

 I like to share some picks from our sunny Florida!

Yacht tenders and jet boats!

A luxury yacht tender is a transport used to service and to provide support and entertainment to a private or charter yacht. Known commonly as the 'yacht's tender' a luxury yacht tender will often be a rigid inflatable (RIB) which features cushioned inflatable rubber inner tubes around its rigid hull to protect the yacht when in close contact.

Other types of luxury yacht tender include inflatable boats, which are almost completely synthetic rubber or plastic; center console boats, and also rigid inflatable boats (RIB's) which are usually constructed from materials such as fiberglass, wood, steel or aluminum with inflatable synthetic rubber or plastic pontoons. Multifunction dinghies have recently become available as yacht tenders. These dinghies can be rowed, motored, or sailed, and they also function as proactive lifeboats. Tenders are usually powered by outboard motor engines or inboard engines burning either gasoline or diesel. They use either propellers or more recently impellers as utilized by water jet boats.

Luxury yacht tenders like other types of ship's tender, often used to transport supplies and personnel, are also used for the entertainment and pleasure of the yacht's passengers. Accordingly, the tenders will be employed as pleasure craft or speed boats and for water skiing, wake boarding and also to transport and service leisure scuba set diving.

A jet tender entering the yacht garage.

Yacht tenders are also used as safety boats in case of an emergency, they will not substitute the life raft but it is a nice addition to the safety equipment on board.

In recent years there has been increased development in the luxury yacht tender market. There is now greater importance given to whether a yacht includes a large tender which boasts all the latest features. Private yachts are being built with stern garages which house the tender and also other associated 'water toys'. Powerful davits are installed on the yacht’s decks to mechanically lift increasingly heavier tenders.

Going to the wedding with a tender!

There are many companies which specialize in the design, construction and distribution of luxury yacht tenders. Some of the more established, and well known, suppliers for production and semi production tenders then others.

The increasing trend towards large custom tenders such as limousines, landing craft and chase boats is supported by classic boat builders. Because there is now a large and established tender industry, yacht tenders are also increasingly being used more widely by those who do not own or use yachts, but wish to enjoy their tender as an entertainment in its own right.

Jet Tenders and rigid hull inflatables!

What makes Aquascan different??

To better serve their customers, Aquascan is on a constant pursuit for perfection. “Good Enough” isn't good enough for their customers.

"40 years ago the first inflatable boat was invented with the purpose of safely and easily navigating the sea.

After all these years, we are always trying to re-invent the inflatable boat. Our knowledge base of the technical aspects of construction, the physics of buoyancy and the advancements in safety, far surpass those of the past. We like to stay ahead of the curve and move ahead.

We know more but not all, so in the pursuit of a better product, we constantly study and look for new techniques and stay on top of our customers’ needs.

There are a lot of inflatable boats out there but they are not all the same.

Mindless and repetitive assembly line production is not the way we do things. All of our vessels are intimately hand crafted with the mission of satisfying all our customer’s needs and wants."

The fiberglass hull is carefully made by hand; every single layer of fiberglass or Kevlar is carefully positioned. Not one boat is identical to the other; this is by choice, since every customer has different needs related not only to their taste and navigation style, but also their individual needs to perfectly fit the tender on their yacht.

"So when we say custom made yacht tender, we really mean custom made."

Each tube is carefully designed with the best fabric and material available in the market. It does not matter if we have to search around the world for the right materials that go into the fabrication of the inflatable boat.

A unique yacht tender made for you!

World of Boating and Tenders: Inflatable boats in the USA market.

World of Boating and Tenders: Inflatable boats in the USA market.: Although inflatables are very popular outside of North America the market is very stable with no growth.  This is probably the reason w...

Inflatable boats in the USA market.

Although inflatables are very popular outside of North America the market is very stable with no growth.  This is probably the reason why many more international companies are trying to open the door into the American market, consequentially; consumers will have more and more inflatable boats to choose from.

The RIB was born around 1964 since then its use has expanded. Today Rigid Inflatable Boats are the boat type of choice for many commercial, military operators and widely used in the leisure market. The inflatable is used as all weather lifeboats in some countries.

The development of the RIB has been the most significant in the past 50 years, they have change the way of thinking for many small boat users.

RIBs have grown in size from the early 10ft to 60ft in length. From an open little boat to a RIB with cabin.

The modern RIB can undertake the most arduous seagoing task as well as having the most seaworthy hull for its size.

 When you build a normal fiberglass boat the hull and the deck are the only major components. In a good inflatable boat, after you print (construct) the hull and the deck, you have to transform a flat rubber fabric material into a nice round, smooth Seaworthy collar (very intensive artisan work).

The fiberglass hull of an Aquascan inflatable

 It is actually much easier to build a decent inflatable, than try to cheat by building a cheap one, where you have to spend more time and effort figuring out where to cut corners and the only one losing is the customer. (The main goal of this publication is not to criticize or honor a certain brand, but to EDUCATE, you the consumer).

The hypalon tubes are made from a roll of fabric

The diameter of the tubes is really not so important, of course from 12 inches to 21 inches there is a big difference, but from 19 to 20 or 21 inches not so much. Probably the tubes that are 19 inches in diameter will give more inside space. If do not intend to overload your boat, it really don’ matter.

Unless the tube has a really small diameter, there’s no way you can put the tubes under water even if the boat is full of water up to the transom.

A good sea-going characteristic of a rigid inflatable boat  is found in the way the tube and the rigid hull interact. These are Stability, Variable geometry and Fendering.

Cobra Diesel 16

Sprinter F 16 Hooters Patrol