You’ve bought your boat. But now you need a boat for your boat. A yacht tender is a vital part of cruising—it is, quite literally, your ticket to freedom.
Instead of being confined to marinas, a tender gives you the flexibility to drop anchor while still having easy access to shore. It can take you to the beach, restaurants, dive sites, neighboring boats and places your Leopard simply can’t reach. And if you’re not a catamaran docking master just yet, anchoring out and taking the tender ashore can also save you from putting on a show for the whole marina.
Tenders aren’t just fun to zip around in. They’re an essential piece of cruising equipment, and choosing the right one should be part of planning and outfitting your Leopard.
What Is a RIB?
Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) remain a popular choice among cruising sailors because they combine the benefits of an inflatable tender with the performance and durability of a rigid hull.
The hull is typically constructed from fiberglass or aluminum, providing better handling through chop and more predictable performance than a fully inflatable floor. Inflatable tubes around the sides provide buoyancy and stability while also acting almost like built-in fenders when approaching your Leopard, a dock or another tender.
RIBs can carry passengers, provisions and cruising gear while remaining relatively easy to maneuver. Their stability is particularly useful when climbing aboard from a beach, transferring passengers from the mothership or loading groceries and equipment.
A rigid hull also makes beach landings easier, although you’ll still want to pay attention to tides—and don’t forget a tender anchor if you’re leaving the dinghy near the shoreline.
Choosing the Right Tender Size
Size and weight are always a trade-off.
A larger tender gives you more room for passengers, provisions, dive gear and other equipment. It can also make longer tender trips more comfortable. But bigger isn’t automatically better.
Remember that someone still has to handle the tender once you reach shore. A large RIB that’s perfect for carrying six people and a week’s worth of groceries may be considerably less convenient when two people need to pull it onto a beach.
The tender also needs to work with the storage and lifting system aboard your specific Leopard.
As a general guideline, Leopard currently notes that boats equipped with its custom davit system typically pair well with 10- to 11-foot RIBs powered by approximately 15 to 25 HP, while Leopards equipped with a lifting or swim platform can accommodate larger 11- to 14-foot RIBs with approximately 25 to 40 HP.
Those are general guidelines rather than a substitute for checking the specifications of your individual yacht. Your Leopard sales representative can help confirm the appropriate tender dimensions, loaded weight and engine combination for your model and configuration before you purchase.
Aluminum vs. Fiberglass
Another decision is what should be underneath your RIB.
Aluminum hulls are generally lighter and highly durable, making them especially appealing to cruisers who regularly beach their tenders or want to minimize the total weight being carried at the stern.
Fiberglass hulls tend to feel more substantial in the water and can offer a smooth, solid ride. They’re also a popular choice for larger or more highly equipped tenders.
Weight becomes especially important once you add the outboard, fuel, battery, steering console and accessories. Don’t compare tenders based only on the manufacturer’s bare-hull weight. Consider the tender as it will actually be carried aboard your Leopard.
Choosing an Outboard
Today’s cruisers have plenty of choices when it comes to tender propulsion. Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Mercury remain familiar names in the outboard market, while electric outboards are becoming another consideration for some cruising applications.
Your ideal horsepower depends on the tender’s size, hull design, expected load and how you plan to use it.
If the tender is primarily for short trips between the boat and shore, your priorities may be low weight and easy handling. If you expect to cover longer distances, carry several passengers or want the ability to get on plane, additional horsepower may make sense.
For many current Leopard applications, the tender and outboard combination is considerably more capable than the small 3–15 HP setups that were common when this article was originally written. Leopard’s current general guidance pairs custom-davit installations with approximately 15–25 HP and lifting-platform installations with approximately 25–40 HP, depending on the tender and yacht.
The important thing is to think of the tender, engine, fuel and equipment as one complete package rather than choosing the dinghy and adding an engine afterward.
Davits vs. Lifting Platforms
How you plan to store the tender is just as important as which tender you choose.
Leopard’s current sailing and power catamaran ranges continue to make tender handling an important part of the overall design. Leopard’s custom davit systems are designed to make launching and retrieving the dinghy straightforward while keeping it securely stored between the hulls when underway.
On models equipped with a lifting platform, the experience is different. The platform can be lowered toward or into the water, allowing the tender to be positioned over its chocks before the entire platform is raised. When the tender is launched, the platform can also become valuable additional space at water level for swimming, boarding and watersports.
The current Leopard lineup includes several different approaches to tender storage. For example, the Leopard 46 offers electric davits as standard with a lifting platform available as an option, while the Leopard 46 Powercat can be configured with either a custom davit system or lifting platform. The refreshed Leopard 53 Powercat offers a redesigned electric lifting platform that serves both as a tender station and an expansive swim deck.
Because equipment and options vary by model, always check the current specification for the Leopard you are purchasing rather than assuming every model has the same tender capacity or lifting arrangement.
Don’t Forget About Loaded Weight
One of the most important numbers when choosing a tender is also one of the easiest to underestimate: total loaded weight.
The weight listed for the tender itself is only the beginning. You’ll also need to account for the outboard, fuel, battery, steering system, console, anchor, safety equipment and anything permanently stored aboard.
A lightweight RIB paired with a relatively heavy outboard can quickly become a much heavier package than expected.
If you’re considering a center-console tender, also think about how the console affects usable interior space. Center consoles can make driving comfortable and provide additional storage, but they also take up room that could otherwise be used for passengers, provisions or equipment.
For owners planning extended cruising, the ideal tender is usually one that provides the capability you actually need without unnecessarily adding weight or complexity to the yacht.
Matching the Tender to Your Leopard
The Leopard lineup has evolved significantly since this article was first published, and so have the tenders owners can carry.
Today’s range includes the Leopard 43, Leopard 46 and Leopard 52 sailing catamarans alongside the Leopard 40 Powercat, Leopard 46 Powercat and Leopard 53 Powercat. Across the range, tender handling is considered as part of the overall cruising experience, but the ideal tender setup will depend on the individual model and options selected.
A Leopard 43 owner who primarily needs transportation for two or four people may prioritize a lightweight RIB that’s easy to launch and beach. An owner outfitting a Leopard 46 or Leopard 52 for extended cruising might want additional passenger capacity, more horsepower and room for dive or watersports equipment. On the power side, owners may have similar priorities, with larger models and lifting-platform configurations opening the door to larger, more capable tenders.
There isn’t one perfect tender for every Leopard owner. The goal is to find the right balance between size, weight, horsepower, passenger capacity, storage and ease of handling.
Your Boat’s Most Important Accessory
Tender technology has come a long way, giving today’s owners access to RIBs that are lighter, stronger and more capable than ever.
Whether your ideal tender is a simple lightweight RIB for quick runs ashore or a larger center-console setup for exploring miles beyond the anchorage, choosing one that works with your Leopard’s specific tender-handling system is key.
After all, your Leopard may take you across oceans—but once you drop the hook, it’s often the tender that takes the adventure from there.
