Tenders with two hulls...

And electric propulsion!

Many forever green multihulls come with an options list that include dinghies with internal-combustion-powered outboard motors... Is it the issue of the range of the tender that’s used justify this somewhat contradictory choice? This Forever Green Special Issue was the ideal opportunity to test the dinghy/electric motor combo in real life. And while we were at it, we opted for two mini-catamarans, as Multihulls World is obliged to do!

Despite being in the prototype stage, the TenderCat TC25 immediately won us over.

The Catcha 320 is a “puncture-proof” alternative to inflatable tenders.

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Publié le 26/06/2024

Par Emmanuel van Deth

Numéro : SP22

Parution : Aug. / Sep. 2024

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TenderCat TC25: What’s it to be - engine, oars or sails?

Our video

Our first test took place in La Rochelle, where sailors Dominique and Malou Montenisos showed us their wood/epoxy tender. It features two relatively slender floats with a fairly high freeboard. The foredeck is well protected, while the sterns slope down to form the sugarscoops. The transom is slightly cut away in the middle to accommodate an outboard motor. Just below the gunwale level, three pairs of recesses serve as clever handles.

As for the inside, the shape hugs the central tunnel and hull bottoms: so you can sit in the middle, as well as on the aft bench and foredeck area. Foam protectors allow you to sit comfortably on the gunwale. When you climb aboard, you’re really surprised by the stability offered by such a short, lightweight tender. After that, you’ll have to go round in circles a bit to get the hang of the layout, but you’ll soon figure it out. The new TenderCat TC25v2 features a more elegant deck layout and mini gunwales. This dinghy is offered ready to sail, but also in various stages of finishing.
Electric outboard manufacturer Temo lent us one of their electric sculling oars, which are very reminiscent of the famous longtails found in Southeast Asia, but much quieter and, above all, non-polluting. Once you’ve fitted the clever “suction cup rowlock”, you’ll quickly get to grips with the machine, making a series of turns, reversing and coming alongside. Maximum speed is 3.8 knots and average range a good hour. The combination of this compact dinghy and this pocket-sized motor is ideal... but the TenderCat has not finished surprising us... First, we discover its perfectly positioned rowlocks for efficient rowing. Then Dominique pulls out all the stops: in two minutes, he installs a complete Optimist rig, rudder and daggerboard (which we could manage without). His TenderCat turns out to be as much fun to steer as it is high-performance: it starts up at the slightest hint of wind and turns on the spot! We’re beginning to dream of being able to hydro-generate with the Temo·450 while sailing... I’m not sure if the speed is sufficient, but the idea is clever enough for Thibaut Coutansais, the brand’s director, to make a note of it in the back of his mind. In the meantime, it’s perfectly possible to recharge the battery on board the mothership.
What we learnt from this test is that the catamaran/electric motor/oars/sail combination is as coherent as it is fun.
www.tendercat.fr

TenderCat TC25v2 dinghy

Manufacturer: TenderCat
Designer: Dominique Montenisos
Material: epoxy/plywood or glass/carbon/epoxy
Length: 8’2” (2.5 m)
Beam: 4’1” (1.25 m)
Weight: 80 lbs (36 kg)
Max number of people: 4
Price: € 4,100 ex-tax

Temo 450 motor

Length: 130 to 170 cm (51 to 67 in)
Weight: 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs)
Motor power: 450 W
Propulsive power: 200 W
Battery: 10 or 12.8 Ah
Charging: 220 V, 12 V or 24 V
Charging time: 3h30 on 220 V
Price: € 1,590 inc-tax

Thibaut Coutansais, brand manager at Temo, shows us the double suction cup that perfectly positions the Temo·450’s rowlock.

The raised central section makes a good seat for rowing.

It takes just two minutes to transform the TenderCat into a mini sailing catamaran!

Dominique Montenisos sent us this photo of the new TenderCat TC25v2.

Catcha 320: A rigid tender that can withstand the sea

Our video

Our second test took us to La Grande-Motte. Taking advantage of the dynamism of the International Multihull Show, Enzo Erouart presented us with the rigid tender he had designed. The young man grew up aboard a sailboat and found that traditional inflatable dinghies were relatively fragile. That’s why he wanted his Catcha 320 to be indestructible, i.e. built in GRP like a production multihull! The tender is much larger than the TenderCat, and logically heavier too. But we’re no longer in the same class: the Catcha 320 is very safe for its size, with its self-draining floor topping the 380 liters (13.4 cubic feet) of buoyancy spread across the bottom of the hulls. The deck layout is almost rectangular, rather like the famous French Tabur 2 dinghy, with bows that thicken rapidly as you go up. We didn’t sail in open seas, but the Enzo-designed hull is certainly capable of getting out of the harbor...

The entire deck is covered in cork, and the rounded seating is superbly comfortable. At the bow, a large locker secures personal belongings and even the engine. Six carbon handles allow you to carry the dinghy or pull it up the beach. The whole package is very attractive and perfectly finished, even if the weight, like the budget, remains a little high.
For this test, Temo was once again ready to “motorize” us... but the Catcha’s size means we’ll be using the 1000 model, a true bracket-mounted outboard with a very successful design all of its own. This green motor also boasts a host of practical features, including a 360° rotating bracket, a rotating and, above all, retractable control handle, a sliding rail for height adjustment and a magnetic safety key. As for the battery, it slides directly into the motor body.
At full speed with just one person on board, you can reach 5 knots – and just a knot less with 4 people. At this speed, range is 45 minutes. Maneuverability is comparable to that of an internal combustion outboard... except that the Temo doesn’t pollute, doesn’t make noise and will never leave grease on your hands or clothes.

Catcha 320 dinghy

Manufacturer: Catcha Marine
Designer: Enzo Erouart
Material: GRP
Length: 10’6” (3.2 m)
Beam: 5’1” (1.55 m)
Weight: 163 lbs (74 kg)
Max number of people: 4
Price: € 12,700 ex-tax

Temo 1000 motor

Length: 25½” (65 cm)
Weight: 33 lbs (15 kg) of which 15 lbs (7kg) is the battery
Motor power: 1,100 W
Static thrust: 27 kg (59.5 lbf)
Battery: 20 Ah
Charging: 220 V, 12 V or 24 V
Charging time: 5h30 on 220 V
Price: € 2,900 inc. VAT

Installing the Temo 1000 on the Catcha’s transom.

Enzo Erouart lived aboard his parents’ sailboat for many years, so he’s no stranger to dinghy problems!

This small display shows battery charge level and consumption.

3€/mois

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