Tender dos and don’ts
Are you kitted out for tender travel? Chris Beeson reminds you what you need and why
Trips in the tender are usually brief and uneventful, but some are longer. If you decide to pack a lunch and explore upriver, you may want extra kit, like the grapnel anchor and short chain and warp we see in the bow of the tender opposite, but most are short ferry trips. That being the case, it’s easy to become blasé about them but if, for whatever reason, something goes wrong, you’ll need a Plan B. This is just a quick reminder about what you need to do to ensure you arrive safely.
6 Bring the oars
Whether it’s the mercurial nature of outboards, or just a peaceful evening in an anchorage that you don’t want to spoil, a good pair of oars is essential. If you can’t row a fair distance with the ones that came with your tender, buy a decent pair.
9 Wear a lifejacket
If you’ve never tried scrambling from the water into an inflatable tender, worse still a rigid tender, you should give it a go. See how you get on. Perhaps then you won’t need convincing to wear a lifejacket for every tender trip, no matter how short.
7 Rig the killcord
No-one needs reminding why this is absolutely essential. This wriggly bit of plastic with a clip at either end is an unlikely looking lifesaver, but that’s exactly what it is. Don’t go anywhere without it. Stow it away from UV when not in use, it will last longer.
10 Take a torch
As well as allowing you to do at night all the things you do during the day, from checking your footing to rigging the killcord or finding your elusive yacht in an anchorage, a torch also acts as an emergency nav light, which means you can see and be seen, too.
8 Bring spare fuel
You’ll be glad of it if you’ve got a long chug ahead. It’s also easier to take the humble jerrycan to the petrol station. Tie it to the thwart with a bit of gash line so it won’t bounce out if you hit a wave, and fill the tank in gulps. Don’t pour fuel or it could overflow.
11 Bring a handheld vhf radio
Maybe you’ve fallen overboard, maybe you’re lost and need talking in, maybe you’re in a shop standing before a bewildering array of baked goods with ‘bread’ on your shopping list? Whatever the reason, a VHF, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case, will get you heard.