Yacht Tenders · Deflates for on-deck stowage
The inflatable yacht tender built for Australian cruising
Choosing an inflatable yacht tender means balancing three things: how it rides, how it stows, and how it survives the abuse of coming alongside your mothership week after week. Aerowave Sprint 330 RIB and AeroCat 330 catamaran both deflate for on-deck stowage, both are CE ISO 6185-3 certified, and both come with a 5–7 year hull warranty on 1.2 mm VALMEX® tubes.
Deflates in 10 minutes
Packs into a single bag (AeroCat) or two bags (Sprint) — stows in a deck locker.
CE ISO 6185-3
Certified for offshore Category C use. Full Statement of Conformity supplied.
1.2 mm VALMEX® tubes
Survives rubbing against topsides, jetties and swim platforms. No 0.9 mm shortcut.
From A$2,895
AeroCat 330 boat-only. FREE 30–40 day sea freight door-to-door anywhere in Australia.
RIB vs catamaran as a yacht tender
- Sprint 330 RIB — rigid fibreglass hull, best offshore ride, planes fastest with a 9.9hp outboard.
- AeroCat 330 catamaran — packs down smallest, most stable at rest, gentlest on your gel-coat when coming alongside.
- Both take crew of 4 adults, both take an outboard up to 15hp, both come with Bimini sun top, oars, foot pump, repair kit and carry bag.
- Deep dive: Yacht tender inflatable catamaran — the Aussie cruiser's guide.
Why Aerowave for a yacht tender
Yacht tenders live a harder life than any other inflatable — daily launches, constant UV, rubbing against topsides, sand, salt and the occasional oyster lease. That's why cheap 0.9 mm dinghies rarely make it past three seasons. Aerowave tenders use 1.2 mm German VALMEX® Heavy Plus (1500 GSM) on the tubes, ship with a 5–7 year hull warranty, and are backed by an Australian team on +61 2 4335 1603.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best inflatable yacht tender for a 40ft cruising yacht?
For a 40ft cruiser, the sweet spot is a 3.0–3.5m inflatable that deflates flat for on-deck stowage but still takes a 6–15hp outboard for real range. The Aerowave Sprint 330 RIB (rigid fibreglass hull + inflatable tubes) and AeroCat 330 (catamaran, deflates smaller) both fit that brief. Sprint 330 has better offshore ride; AeroCat 330 packs down smaller for stowage.
Does an inflatable yacht tender need to be registered in Australia?
In most Australian states, any powered vessel used offshore or on navigable waters needs to be registered — even a tender. Rules differ by state (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT). Aerowave supplies a HIN, tax invoice, CE ISO 6185-3 Statement of Conformity and everything else you need for Boat Code inspection and initial registration.
Can an inflatable yacht tender go offshore?
Yes — every Aerowave tender is CE-certified to ISO 6185-3 for offshore recreational use (Category C). We'd still recommend sensible weather windows and buddy-boating, but the hull, tubes and buoyancy are all built for offshore work.
How small does an Aerowave inflatable pack down for on-deck stowage?
The Sprint 330 packs into two bags (hull + tubes) roughly the size of two medium suitcases. The AeroCat 330 catamaran deflates into a single carry bag approx. 130 x 55 x 35 cm — it stows in a deck locker or under a bench. Both take about 8–10 minutes to fully inflate with the supplied high-pressure foot pump.
What size outboard for an inflatable yacht tender?
Sprint 330: rated up to 15hp, most owners run 6–9.9hp for tender duty. AeroCat 330: rated up to 15hp, most owners run 6–8hp. Both plane easily with a single adult and gear at 6–8hp.
Which is better as a yacht tender — RIB or catamaran?
RIB (Sprint 330) — better offshore ride, faster to plane, harder to store because of the fibreglass hull. Catamaran (AeroCat 330) — packs down smaller, more stable at rest for boarding from a swim ladder, gentler on gel-coat when coming alongside. For most 40ft+ cruising yachts we recommend the AeroCat 330 for pure tender duty and the Sprint 330 if you also want to fish or explore.
Ready to launch?
Every Aerowave boat ships with FREE 30–40 day sea freight (or 7–14 day Express Air upgrade), WavePay pay-in-4 and a 5–7 year hull warranty.
CE ISO 6185-3 · 1.2 mm VALMEX® · Built to survive real Aussie use.