Polycraft Tuffy Tender

With the help of her local sailing clubs, Ali Wood tests this lightweight day boat with both electric and petrol outboard motor power

- Ali Wood

This tough little boat from Down Under started life as a yacht tender, but evolved into a popular choice for day-hire, fishing and exploring sheltered waters. It found its way to the UK earlier this year via distributor Mareta, who shared it with the public at BoatLife. We thought we’d put it to the test, so I asked my local sailing clubs to give it a (slow) blast in Christchurch harbour.

What better way to test its credentials than dragging it up and down slipways, running it into sandbanks and reed-beds, and using it to tow little Optimist sailors – though not a dragonboat, it transpired...

The tri-hull boat is made of 100% recyclable polyethylene, weighs 108kg, and isn’t abrasive against a yacht hull’s gel-coat. Though the Tuffy Tender 3.0 can accept up to a 15hp outboard, we were given a Mariner 9.9hp outboard for test purposes, and also tried it with an 1,000W ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 electric outboard.

First up, I met Steve Chapman, chairman of my local club, Hengistbury Head Adult Sailors (HHASC), where we sail a range of dinghies, including Laser Picos, Hartleys and Wayfarers. Steve is a dinghy and powerboat instructor and often drives the club safety boat. I was keen to know how the Tuffy Tender compared to the 4m Jeanneau Rigiflex (‘Jaffa’) club boat he usually drives.

Tuffy Tender powered with a 1kW electric motor

To experience the boat as we might a tender or a little dayboat, Steve brought his Spirit 1.0 Plus ePropulsion electric outboard. A keen caravanner, Steve takes the Spirit on holiday with his inflatable boat for exploring rivers and waterways.