2019 Tiwal inflatable dinghy review

The Tiwal inflatable dinghy is a craft you can take anywhere, including your next holiday. At a time when many people live in city high rise buildings, the Tiwal is a perfect solution when there's no room to park a boat trailer.

The inflatable hull is the secret to the Tiwal’s success. It's why more than 1000 have sold worldwide in just four years and the concept has garnered a swag of boating awards.

Key attractions are portability and price. The Tiwal inflatable dinghy range packs into two carry bags (weighing 25kg and 20kg for the Tiwal 2, and 28kg each for the Tiwal 3) making it easy to transport the knocked-down dinghy to the water's edge.

A generous sail area delivers this dynamic little craft way more speed and thrills than the 3.2-metre (10ft 5in) size would suggest.

A modern carbon-fibre rig, a deep centreboard and alloy hiking rack ensure the Tiwal also flies in strong winds and is really fun to sail.

The freedom to sail lakes, rivers or even the ocean is another big selling point. The bump-friendly inflatable hull also makes her ideal for new-to-the-sport sailors and children.

Since its launch in Europe Tiwal has attracted sailors ranging from teenagers to 70-year-olds.

Sydney sailor Paul Hecker falls into the latter category and told me the reason for buying his Tiwal at last year's Sydney boat show.

"The ability to stow it in the back of a Honda Jazz and not need anyone to help me get afloat is what won me over," he says.

This year, Tiwal came to the 2019 Sydney International Boat Show with its new younger sibling, the Tiwal 2. At only 2.8 metres (9ft 2in) it is an even more compact version and ideal for carrying aboard a yacht or cruiser.

The two Tiwal models essentially follow the same theme of a very short, wide inflatable hull made from reinforced PVC material with two airtight compartments.

The wide scow bow flows back into a soft vee bottom shape. Reinforcing the whole craft is an aluminium frame that slots into the hull and forms the mast step and centreboard case.

The Tiwal 3 incorporates outrigger hiking bars while the Tiwal 2 has inflatable wings.

The package includes a five-part carbon-fibre mast that slots together, as well as a Dacron and Monofilm sail. The sail-away price of the Tiwal 2 is $7950, while the sail-away price of the Tiwal 3 is $10,550.

Options include a fold-away beach trolley in carry bag ($595) and a portable electric air pump ($495).

You could live without the trolley, but the electric air pump saves time over the standard manual pump.

Both dinghies are covered under a two-year warranty.

What's so likeable about Tiwal is it's totally fresh take on the sailboat concept. First and foremost it's designed to be fun and easy on the pocket. It's also quick to rig, and easy to store at home.

The scow bow with shallow vee bottom is a brilliant concept and reminiscent of an early Moth sailing boat. In its modern format, the design provides a craft that's fast in a strong breeze yet forgiving to steer.

A colourful sail and slot-together rig are also reminiscent of a sailboard. However, unlike the sailboard, you can take a friend along.

The Tiwal 3 has the capacity to carry two adults (190kg total), while the Tiwal 2 is rated to carry one adult and two children (150kg total).

The Tiwal 2 is even more user-friendly, as it is lighter and designed so the sail can furl around the mast. Inflatable hiking wings also make for quicker rigging time so it's about 15 minutes versus 20 minutes for the Tiwal 3.

I joined Tiwal's Australia and New Zealand agent Melinda Henshaw for a sail on Pittwater in the lead-up to the Sydney boat show.

It took a bit of pulling and squeezing to get into my old sailboard wetsuit. However, the struggle would be worth it.

It was strange turning up to a test with no boat in sight. However, Melinda was able to assemble a sailcraft from two black bags.

It didn't take long to unzip, roll out, pump up and click the completed boat together.

Rigging is child's play with only one knot to tie (mainsheet) and most components clicking or fixing together with Velcro. No tools are needed.

The trolley makes launching easier if you're some distance from the water's edge. However, it does add to cost and is another few minutes to assemble.

Braving the cold water I pushed off and popped the centreboard down. My first impression was that, unlike most sailing dinghies, I wasn't in danger of capsizing - the Tiwal is super-stable.

In a light breeze, I was soon gliding along under sail with my head resting on the hiking frame. It's a totally relaxing way to sail and surprisingly quick if you also let the Tiwal heel a bit to reduce wetted area.

The Tiwal 3 is definitely the more refined version of the two craft and moves along surprisingly quickly in light wind.

When some stronger gusts came through it instantly went into turbo mode, needing my full weight on the hiking rail.

With the morning westerly fading and the warming sun it was a much quieter sail back to the beach.

However, at all times the Tiwal craft sailed well and handled like proper dinghies, tacking easily and pointing well upwind.

The only shortcoming is a lack of a jam cleat to hold the mainsheet when you tack, but other than that they're easy to sail.

The Tiwal 3 gives you a choice of two sails; the standard bigger 7.0 square metre and a smaller 5.2 square metre sail for strong winds. Tiwal 2 has its own 5.6-metre sail and uses the same 4.9-metre mast that doesn’t use stays.

A 'soft' batten along the foot of the sail is much kinder on your head than a boom.

Best of all, the Tiwal is craft on which you can build sailing skills stage by stage because it is so stable.

When you're not sailing, the Tiwal’s rig can sit ashore while the base becomes a paddleboard or fishing platform.

The Tiwal inflatable dinghies shape up as a craft that’s right for our times since so many of today's sailing dinghies are expensive and geared to racing.

The fun approach of Tiwal and the boats’ versatility are a reason why they have attracted broad appeal well beyond mainstream yachting.

It has the potential to reach a new generation beyond the sailing club scene and hardcore racing, Especially for enthusiasts who just want to have fun and a few thrills along the way.

Tiwal ticks those boxes many times.

Specifications
Model: Tiwal 2
Hull length: 2.80m
Beam: 1.50m
Draft: 0.7m
Sail area: 5.6sq m
Rigged weight: 40kg
Load capacity: 150kg

Priced from: $7950 with 5.6m sail

Specifications
Model: Tiwal 3
Hull length: 3.2m
Beam: 1.60m
Draft: 0.7m
Sail area: 7sq m
Rigged weight: 50kg
Load capacity: 190kg

Priced from: $10,550 with 7m sail

Supplied by: Tiwal Australia and New Zealand