Aspen Carbon Cat

Tenders can sometimes be a forgotten class of boat. People often get so wrapped up in their larger, primary boats — spending untold amounts of time picking out interior fabrics, electronics packages and hull paints — that the smaller boats become an afterthought.

But it’s high time that practice stopped. And the Aspen Carbon Cat is here to ensure your dinghy has the flavor it needs to properly round out your fleet.

The Carbon Cats come in three different models, the T9, T10 and T11, ranging from 9 feet, 2 inches, to 11 feet, 2 inches, all with a remarkably feathery displacement spanning from 126 pounds to 151 pounds. Constructed of carbon fiber, the lightweight boats have a seaworthy hull with a fine entry that widens significantly aft to resemble that of a catamaran, which aids with both stability and lift. Performance is a key selling point here; the T11 can reach a top speed of 21 mph with a single 9.9-hp outboard, proving an impressive speed to hp ratio.

Designed by Aspen Power Catamarans, all of the boats’ gunwales are lined with a thick foam bumper made from SeaDek HD. This material makes for an incredibly durable protective barrier, and eliminates the chance of unsightly scratches and abrasions. The Carbon Cat’s seating areas are also lined with the same material, which aids with both comfort and grip while underway.

Notably, though these boats will compete almost exclusively with the smaller RIBs that dominate this class of boat, sans any inflatable hulls, they maintain an aura of durability that separates them from the pack. Another very cool feature is that these tenders can be outfitted with optional wheels at the transom, which greatly aids in beaching them when the time comes to slip away from the big boat and go find your own little slice of sandy paradise.