The Tinker Funsail is to my knowledge unique in the sense it possesses several unusual characteristics: amongst them, the ability to take both sail or outboard and at the end of one’s day on the water, be completely foldaway! It’s a clever bit of engineering but the beauty of this design is its simplicity. Other than the rigging, there are very few individual parts to have to worry about. The 3 part collapsible hull for example features a hinged system which simply locks into place upon the tubes being inflated. As no single part of the `kit’ is longer than 1.8m, all the rigging etc fits neatly into its own carrying bag. As we found on the day of test, switching from power to sail can be done even on the water, for once the mast is stepped it requires little more than common sense to assemble the rigging and sails into position.

“Using a combination of modern materials”, (the manufacturers words, not mine,) i.e. GRP/foam sandwich hull, tough hypalon and best marine ply, the 27.75kg package is designed to be as much at home in the boot of the car as it is out on the water. Popular with people who go car top holidaying or caravaning, this little boat really is the ultimate `travel pack’ and perhaps might even fall into a similar category as the car-rack transported mountain bike. For those who like the independence a travel holiday offers, this addition to the luggage has the means to truly bring the holiday destination alive.

In taking both sail and outboard, the Funsail’s versatility is wide ranging. Of course it makes a perfect little tender to the larger boat, but as a stand-alone powered craft, the Funsail is ideal for river and estuary exploration and as a family beaching runabout. Under sail, her attributes are obvious and I can confirm she really does handle and perform very well indeed. As an inshore sailing dinghy, this boat is a lot of fun.

The RIB’s sail plan carries a main and a jib on a three part mast, rigged with a forestay and two shrouds. The lightweight hull is easily driven and in a breeze will happily plane off wind. She is also fast to windward, aided by the efficient sail plan and good-sized daggerboard. I was quietly impressed on the day of test just how responsive the Funsail actually was under sail. She fairly sped along, healing gently in the light northerly wind which funnelled down the wooded shores of the Kingsbridge estuary. With sails up, there is just enough room aboard for two people. De-rigged and under power on the other hand, the Funsail will accommodate 4 people in settled conditions.

The design of her hull features a vee shaped bow that quickly flattens out aft. The combination of these two factors affords good directional stability as well as providing the means to plane readily without the tendency of porpoising. I found her to be quite a dry boat, although it was clear in spite of the raised sheer to her bow, that she performed better if the majority of weight onboard was kept astern of amidships. This was more noticeable with the outboard but that’s to be expected with a boat of this size. She was though, very nippy and showed no quirky handling traits, gripping the water well throughout her turns and tracking in a nice straight fashion, tiller throttle fully opened. This particular model is rated for engines of between 2 and 4 horsepower - thereby ensuring even the outboard remains small enough to carry and stow. I should also mention that for those of you who like to keep fit, you can also row this boat to your heart’s content.

The Funsail’s sponsons are made by parent company, Henshaw Inflatables Ltd. No worries then, as to matters of quality, when it comes to the grade of hypalon used or general method construction. (The Funsail RIB is plated by the builder and fully CE marked under the terms of the European Recreational Craft Directive.) The tubes are available in either red or yellow and are built with 3 chambers, rubbing strake and lifelines.

It’s conceivable that this boat might be of interest to RIB cruisers who wish to carry a small tender aboard their `big’ RIB. It would certainly offer far more than a conventional inflatable and probably take up no more room on deck. The Funsail appears to be a product well thought through – functionality, being high on the list of basic criteria. Targeted at an audience which clearly know what they like, her makers tell me, that Funsail continues to be bought in ever greater numbers with every passing year. A perfectly valid product therefore amongst the many different forms of rigid inflatable boat available in today’s market.

Henshaw Inflatables Ltd
Southgate Road,
Wincanton,
Somerset
BA9 9RZ, UK.

Tel: +44 (0)1963 33237
Fax: +44 (0)1963 34578

Email: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .ukThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Website: www.henshaw.co.uk