For many Kiwi boaties, the tender is as important as the launch or yacht itself. It ferries crew and supplies ashore, gets kids to the beach, and acts as a lifeboat if things go wrong. Yet tenders often take a hiding — dragged up beaches, sat out in weather, or knocked about in marinas.
Our own Southern Pacific tender, similar to the Puffin RIB range, has had a hard winter. Lightweight, tough and practical, it’s still showing its heavy use: saggy tubes, scuffed alloy bottom, a missing oar, and a carry handle peeling away. With spring and summer ahead, it’s time for some TLC. Fortunately, Burnsco stocks the gear and has the expertise to get any tender back into shape.
Inflation: the starting point
No inflatable tender can perform if it’s under-inflated. Soft tubes make rowing harder, reduce stability and leave the boat vulnerable to punctures. A good hand pump is essential.
Burnsco sells the Southern Pacific Double Action Hand Pump — robust, simple, and effective. Ours has lasted seasons and still works like new. The Brunner Double Action Hand Pump is another option, using the same piston system to inflate on both up and down strokes, halving the effort. Both pumps are compact enough to store on board, and worth carrying as spares.
Tip: Always check tube pressure before heading out. A firm pump-up makes the ride drier, the tubes tougher, and the tender safer.
Cleaning: aluminium and PVC
A tender is a boat, and like any hull it needs cleaning. Dirt, salt and scum shorten its lifespan. For aluminium or wooden hulls, start with a freshwater rinse, then use a mild soap like Burnsco Boat Wash with a soft brush or sponge. Avoid harsh acids or abrasives — they’ll pit the alloy or wood. If you want to polish your aluminium, use a dedicated aluminium polisher, like the 3M Marine Metal Restorer and Polish, and finish with a soft cloth like these PAL Cotton Rags.
For PVC, Burnsco’s Inflatable Boat Cleaner is purpose-made. It sprays on, lifts black marks, and is safe for both PVC and Hypalon. Treat tubes gently: harsh scrubbing can weaken seams.
The right tools help. Burnsco’s Deck Brush Kit with a telescopic handle and squeegee is excellent, whether you’re using a hose or just a bucket. Speaking of buckets, collapsible ones like the Pack-Away 10L save storage space. For traditionalists, the 9L Black Plastic Bucket remains indispensable.
Sponges, rags and cloths round out the kit. Burnsco’s Sailor Jumbo Sponge is ultra-absorbent and durable. A 1kg bag of PAL Cotton Rags is ideal for washing, polishing, or tackling repair jobs.
Tip: Give your tender a quick rinse after every use. It’s easier to wash off salt and sand when fresh than after they’ve baked on.
Small repairs that matter
Winter hard knocks often show as loose fittings, leaks, or worn spots. Burnsco’s repair kits let you tackle them yourself.
- Handles and seams: If a carry handle peels away, use the Inflatable Boat Repair Kit (PVC). It includes two-part glue, PVC patches and everything needed for a strong bond. Clean and dry both surfaces thoroughly before re-bonding.
- Aluminium rivets or seams: The West System Aluminium Repair Kit handles leaks and pits. With G/flex epoxy, fillers, syringes and gloves, it’s designed for DIY fixes with clear instructions.
- Small nicks: The Southern Pacific Repair Kit includes glue and patches, perfect for emergency PVC fixes.
- Plastic repairs: The West System Plastic Boat Repair Kit works on HDPE, ABS, PVC and more. Ideal for small cracks or reinforcement points.
Tip: Always carry a repair kit onboard. A tiny seam leak can become a big problem if ignored.
Oars, rowlocks and fittings
Rowing a tender can be hard work without the right oars. Burnsco stock a wide range, but sizing them correctly is key. To calculate:
- Measure the distance between oarlocks.
- Divide by two, add 50mm for loom length.
- Multiply that by 25, then divide by 7 to get total length.
- Round to the nearest 150mm.
The right oar allows clearance between your hands and keeps blades properly submerged. Spoon-blade oars are best for tenders, but are not the only oar blade options available.
Rowlocks are equally important. Southern Pacific Rowlocks lock oars securely in place. Avoid using bolts with exposed ends — they’re a safety hazard. Burnsco’s boat oar knob bolts (you will need to enquire in-store for these) are rounded and safe.
Burnsco stock oars in a variety of lengths and materials. Drop into your local branch and the team will help match the right set to your tender.
To stop oars swinging loose, use Velcro tape to strap them against the tubes. Simple, cheap and effective.
Tip: Never row with oars that aren’t tethered. And never motor with your oars swinging. A lost oar is a liability in current or swell.
Wheels, ropes and anchors
Moving a tender up a beach without wheels is misery; it means a lot of lifting and carrying. Two wheels make life simple. Burnsco’s Heavy Duty Dinghy Wheels are strong, wide and maintenance-free, handling up to 200kg. For added convenience, Railblaza C-TUG Dinghy Wheels are puncture-proof and easily removable — in our experience, removable wheels are ideal if you stow your tender under your genoa, as the sail ropes can easily get caught on fixed wheels.
Ropes are next. Keep a couple of marine-grade eye-splice lengths: short ones — like this 5m Wilco Dockline — for tight tie-ups, long ones for shore moorings. Burnsco’s mooring ropes are durable and UV-resistant. Add a spring hook to your rope and a heavy-duty pad eye, like this Ronstan Round Pad Eye, to the underside of your transom for quick clip-on tie-ups. Always secure tenders properly — a drifting dinghy is a headache nobody wants.
Anchors are a final must. For small tenders, folding grapnel anchors are best. Burnsco’s range folds flat, stows easily, and holds in sand, mud or rock.
Tip: Fit a short painter (bow rope) for everyday use, and carry a long spare for shore work or emergencies.
Drainage and safety
Tenders take on water constantly — from rain, spray, or sloppy boarding. A spare bung is essential, but for draining afloat, you’ll need a bilge pump.
Burnsco stock compact Hand Bilge Pumps which are effective when your boat has taken a hammering in an overnight storm; the pumps float if dropped in the water. These are lightweight, reliable, and cheap insurance.
Comfort and extras
Removable tender seats are notorious for going missing. If you lose one, measure carefully before replacing as replacement seats come in various lengths. To make hard seats more bearable, Burnsco’s Tinnie Seat Cushion is pre-glued and water-resistant.
Soft touches like cushions may seem minor, but they make everyday use more pleasant. The same goes for accessories like spare bungs, extra rags, or a small folding grapnel anchor.
Burnsco: knowledge and kit combined
The beauty of Burnsco isn’t just the product range — it’s the expertise. The staff know what works in New Zealand conditions and what doesn’t. They can guide you through the difference between inflatable cleaners, or why spoon-blade oars outperform flat blades in tenders.
For us, that support made a tired, battered tender feel almost new again. With summer coming, a few hours of upkeep, armed with Burnsco’s gear, ensures your tender stays safe, practical and ready for another season.
