T&T: Experience with Bufffrog tenders?

[Faure, Marin]

>Does anyone have any experience with a Bullfrog Boats tender? I'm
interested in the 11.5 yacht tender.

Yes.  A good friend has the 10' model on davits on his 36' lobsterboat
and I've been in it a lot.  I have no connection to Bullfrog but if we
were in the market for a new dinghy this is what I would get hands down.
Terrific little boat.  The only downside is that it's heavy, but so are
all the "non-inflatable inflatables."  I've heard good things about Boss
Boats (fiberglass) and some good and some bad things about Aldura
(aluminum), but the Bullfrog is the only one I've had direct experience
with.  They combine the only two advantages of an RIB--- good floatation
and relatively dry ride in rougher water-- with the many advantages of a
hardshell--- no leaks, no fabric, easy to mount hardware on it, rugged,
no worries about beaching, no maintenance required (although it helps
keep it nice looking), pretty much lasts forever.  With this type of
dinghy on the market I cannot fathom why anyone would want to waste
money on an expensive, finite-lived RIB.  And I don't want to hear the
"it's its own fender" thing.  We have a hardshell, it bumps into our
boat all the time, but the white rubber rubstrip doesn't put a mark on
our hull.  Bullfrogs are expensive, too, but at least your investment
will still be around and going strong in 20 years if you care about such
things.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington