Hi thanks for this vid - 3D were on my shortlist because of the weight. I think I might stick with Highfield now! You mention it sits on your deck - do you lift it using a spinnaker halyard? Does that work ok? Do you lift vertically or horizontally? Many thanks
Yeah we use a stay halyard that isn't used and the spin halyard. Bow sits on the rope side of the windlass. It's quite a bit of of effort, we've got dual winches at the mast. We usually lift horizontally switching between bow and stern with one person pushing the dinghy off the side to keep it level. Then once it's at rail height I pull it forwards which lifts it a bit more and centers it. Bit of a big lug to do. So when we're short-distance cruising we just leave it in the water locked with a cable lock. If it was lighter we'd be able to just hoist it on the back overnight which would reduce the risk of it disappearing... I'd probably go for a UL290/UL310 but after this experience I'd only buy it if I saw it first! I did almot sell it to a chap who had a cat. He was able to pull it onto his davits no probs with the outboard on. Different set-up....
3d tender the worst company ever We ordered 3 dinghies in September 2022 we paid all the amount,asking to send all the dinghies together in Panama They sent only 2 with wrong paperwork and never sent the 3rd one After 8 months we still don't have received any dinghies and they don't want the refund us and no more answers at our email and call Very unprofessional company..... If you deal with this company be prepared to loose you money and find a good lawyer
I have to say as a dinghy the general stability has been great. Towed around the med on short hops no prob. If you have a massive catamaran also no prob. But lifting onto the deck is a hassle with the weight...
Thanks. Looking at a 3d tender for it's light weight. i'll have to check before I buy one.
Definitely, weigh it before you buy it :-)
What is yours made of? PVC or Hypalon??
Hi thanks for this vid - 3D were on my shortlist because of the weight. I think I might stick with Highfield now! You mention it sits on your deck - do you lift it using a spinnaker halyard? Does that work ok? Do you lift vertically or horizontally? Many thanks
Yeah we use a stay halyard that isn't used and the spin halyard. Bow sits on the rope side of the windlass. It's quite a bit of of effort, we've got dual winches at the mast. We usually lift horizontally switching between bow and stern with one person pushing the dinghy off the side to keep it level. Then once it's at rail height I pull it forwards which lifts it a bit more and centers it.
Bit of a big lug to do. So when we're short-distance cruising we just leave it in the water locked with a cable lock. If it was lighter we'd be able to just hoist it on the back overnight which would reduce the risk of it disappearing...
I'd probably go for a UL290/UL310 but after this experience I'd only buy it if I saw it first!
I did almot sell it to a chap who had a cat. He was able to pull it onto his davits no probs with the outboard on. Different set-up....
3d tender the worst company ever
We ordered 3 dinghies in September 2022 we paid all the amount,asking to send all the dinghies together in Panama
They sent only 2 with wrong paperwork and never sent the 3rd one
After 8 months we still don't have received any dinghies and they don't want the refund us and no more answers at our email and call
Very unprofessional company.....
If you deal with this company be prepared to loose you money and find a good lawyer
Seems like the quality, compared to a highfield, is not so great. The huge extra weight is certainly disappointing.
I have to say as a dinghy the general stability has been great. Towed around the med on short hops no prob. If you have a massive catamaran also no prob.
But lifting onto the deck is a hassle with the weight...
The pvc is the lighter model!!
Way Too much camera movement and shake. Buy a tripod and use it.