Dinghy vs. Tender: What's the Difference?
By Janet White & Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 20, 2024
A dinghy is a small, versatile boat often used for recreation or as a tender, while a tender specifically refers to a boat used to service or support a larger vessel.
Key Differences
A dinghy is a small boat, typically open and designed for a variety of uses such as recreation, fishing, or as a tender to larger boats. Dinghies can be powered by sails, oars, or motors and are known for their versatility and portability. A tender, on the other hand, is a type of boat specifically designated to support larger vessels. Its primary function is to transport people and supplies between the shore and the main vessel or between vessels.
While all tenders can be considered dinghies due to their size and functionality, not all dinghies serve as tenders. Dinghies have a broader range of uses, whereas tenders have a specific role in servicing larger boats.
In terms of construction, dinghies can be made from various materials including wood, fiberglass, and inflatable materials, catering to different needs and environments. Tenders, being a subset of dinghies, often share these materials but may also feature specific modifications to better suit their supportive role, such as reinforced hulls for durability and additional seating for passengers.
Dinghies are widely used in recreational boating, offering an accessible entry point for sailing and water sports. Tenders, although they can also be used for leisure, are primarily functional, providing essential support to larger yachts and ships.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Recreation, fishing, general boating
Supporting larger vessels
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Power Source
Sails, oars, or motors
Usually motors
Versatility
Highly versatile, used in various activities
Specific role in servicing larger boats
Construction
Various materials (wood, fiberglass, inflatable)
Similar materials, often with reinforcements
Typical Users
Recreational boaters, fishermen
Yacht and ship owners
Functionality
Broad range of functions
Transporting people and supplies
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Dinghy and Tender Definitions
Dinghy
A small, open boat used for recreation or fishing.
They took the dinghy out on the lake for an afternoon of fishing.
Tender
A boat used to service or support a larger vessel.
The tender ferried guests from the yacht to the shore.
Dinghy
A boat that can serve as a tender to larger vessels.
The yacht was equipped with a dinghy for shore excursions.
Tender
Easily crushed or bruised; fragile
A tender petal.
Dinghy
A small boat that can be powered by sails, oars, or a motor.
She skillfully rowed the dinghy across the calm waters.
Tender
Easily chewed or cut
Tender beef.
Dinghy
A versatile, portable boat often used in various water activities.
The inflatable dinghy was easy to transport and store.
Tender
Young and vulnerable
Of tender age.
Dinghy
A type of small boat used for training in sailing.
Sailing schools often use dinghies to teach beginners.
Tender
Frail; delicate.
Dinghy
A small open boat carried or towed as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft by a larger boat.
Tender
Sensitive to frost or severe cold; not hardy
Tender green shoots.
Dinghy
A small rowboat or motorboat.
Tender
Easily hurt; sensitive
Tender skin.
Dinghy
An inflatable rubber life raft.
Tender
Painful; sore
A tender tooth.
Dinghy
A small recreational sailboat, especially one designed for racing.
Tender
Considerate and protective; solicitous
A tender mother.
His tender concern.
Dinghy
(nautical) A small open boat, propelled by oars or paddles, carried as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft on a ship.
Tender
Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving
A tender glance.
A tender ballad.
Dinghy
(nautical) A sailing dinghy.
Tender
Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft
A tender heart.
Dinghy
(nautical) An inflatable rubber life raft.
Tender
(Nautical) Likely to heel easily under sail; crank.
Dinghy
(intransitive) To travel by dinghy.
Tender
To make tender.
Dinghy
A small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
Tender
To offer formally
Tender a letter of resignation.
Tender
(Law) To offer (payment or performance) pursuant to an obligation.
Tender
A strip of meat, usually chicken, often breaded, deep-fried, and served with a sauce.
Tender
(Law) An offer to pay the amount due under a debt or obligation.
Tender
A written offer to contract goods or services at a specified cost or rate; a bid.
Tender
Something, especially money, offered in payment.
Tender
One who tends something
A lathe tender.
Tender
(Nautical) A vessel attendant on other vessels, especially one that ferries supplies between ship and shore.
Tender
A railroad car attached to the rear of a locomotive and designed to carry fuel and water.
Tender
Sensitive or painful to the touch.
Tender
Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.
Tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit
Tender
Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.
Tender
(of food) Soft and easily chewed.
Tender
Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Tender
Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet.
Suzanne was such a tender mother to her children.
Tender
Young and inexperienced.
Tender
Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic.
Tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain
Tender
Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate.
A tender subject
Tender
(nautical) Heeling over too easily when under sail; said of a vessel.
Tender
(obsolete) Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
Tender
(obsolete) Careful to keep inviolate, or not to injure; used with of.
Tender
(obsolete) Care, kind concern, regard.
Tender
The inner flight muscle (pectoralis minor) of poultry.
Tender
(obsolete) Someone who tends or waits on someone.
Tender
(rail transport) A railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water.
Tender
(nautical) A naval ship that functions as a mobile base for other ships.
Submarine tender
Destroyer tender
Tender
(nautical) A smaller boat used for transportation between a large ship and the shore.
Tender
Anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply.
You offer me the sword of my father, the very man whose bones, because of your perfidy, lie under the sod of Crecy. Aye, I'll surely take it, and just as surely you shall die with your tender through your heart!
Tender
A means of payment such as a check or cheque, cash or credit card.
Your credit card has been declined so you need to provide some other tender such as cash.
Legal tender
Tender
(legal) A formal offer to buy or sell something.
We will submit our tender to you within the week.
Tender
Any offer or proposal made for acceptance.
Tender
Tenderly
Love me tender, love me sweet
Never let me go
Never let me go
Tender
To make tender or delicate; to weaken.
Tender
(archaic) To feel tenderly towards; to regard fondly or with consideration.
Tender
To work on a tender.
Tender
(formal) To offer, to give.
To tender one’s resignation
Tender
To offer a payment, as at sales or auctions.
Tender
One who tends; one who takes care of any person or thing; a nurse.
Tender
A vessel employed to attend other vessels, to supply them with provisions and other stores, to convey intelligence, or the like.
Tender
A car attached to a locomotive, for carrying a supply of fuel and water.
Tender
An offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture, which would be incurred by nonpayment or nonperformance; as, the tender of rent due, or of the amount of a note, with interest.
Tender
Any offer or proposal made for acceptance; as, a tender of a loan, of service, or of friendship; a tender of a bid for a contract.
A free, unlimited tender of the gospel.
Tender
The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an obligation.
Tender
Regard; care; kind concern.
Tender
To offer in payment or satisfaction of a demand, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture; as, to tender the amount of rent or debt.
Tender
To offer in words; to present for acceptance.
You see how all conditions, how all minds, . . . tender downTheir services to Lord Timon.
Tender
To have a care of; to be tender toward; hence, to regard; to esteem; to value.
For first, next after life, he tendered her good.
Tender yourself more dearly.
To see a prince in want would move a miser's charity. Our western princes tendered his case, which they counted might be their own.
Tender
Easily impressed, broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit.
Tender
Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our faces.
Tender
Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship; immature; effeminate.
The tender and delicate woman among you.
Tender
Susceptible of the softer passions, as love, compassion, kindness; compassionate; pitiful; anxious for another's good; easily excited to pity, forgiveness, or favor; sympathetic.
The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
I am choleric by my nature, and tender by my temper.
Tender
Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
I love Valentine,Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
Tender
Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; - with of.
The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion.
Tender
Unwilling to cause pain; gentle; mild.
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,Will never do him good.
Tender
Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic; as, tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain.
Tender
Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate; as, a tender subject.
Tender
Heeling over too easily when under sail; - said of a vessel.
Tender
Something used as an official medium of payment
Tender
Someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
Tender
A formal proposal to buy at a specified price
Tender
Car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
Tender
A boat for communication between ship and shore
Tender
Ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
Tender
Offer or present for acceptance
Tender
Propose a payment;
The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting
Tender
Make a tender of; in legal settlements
Tender
Make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer;
Tenderize meat
Tender
Given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality;
A tender heart
A tender smile
Tender loving care
Tender memories
A tender mother
Tender
Hurting;
The tender spot on his jaw
Tender
Susceptible to physical or emotional injury;
At a tender age
Tender
Having or displaying warmth or affection;
Affectionate children
Caring parents
A fond embrace
Fond of his nephew
A tender glance
A warm embrace
Tender
Easy to cut or chew;
Tender beef
Tender
Physically untoughened;
Tender feet
Tender
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Tender
(of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition;
Tender green shoots
Tender
A small boat used to transport supplies and personnel.
They loaded the tender with provisions for the journey back to the ship.
Tender
Typically a motorized boat for efficient travel between vessels.
The tender’s powerful outboard motor made quick trips to the marina.
Tender
Often a rigid or inflatable boat with reinforced features.
The tender had a sturdy hull to handle rough waters.
Tender
A boat designated for essential support functions for larger boats.
The tender played a crucial role in the yacht’s daily operations.
FAQs
How is a tender powered?
Tenders are usually powered by outboard motors for efficiency.
Can a dinghy be used as a tender?
Yes, a dinghy can serve as a tender to larger boats.
What is a tender?
A tender is a boat specifically used to support larger vessels by transporting people and supplies.
What is a dinghy?
A dinghy is a small, versatile boat used for recreation, fishing, or as a tender.
How is a dinghy powered?
Dinghies can be powered by sails, oars, or motors.
Can tenders handle rough waters?
Yes, tenders often have reinforced hulls to handle rough waters.
What materials are dinghies made from?
Dinghies can be made from wood, fiberglass, or inflatable materials.
What are common uses for dinghies?
Common uses include recreation, fishing, sailing training, and general boating.
Are dinghies suitable for beginners in sailing?
Yes, dinghies are often used for training beginners in sailing.
What are some recreational activities for dinghies?
Recreational activities include fishing, rowing, and sailing.
Can dinghies be customized for specific uses?
Yes, dinghies can be customized with different features to suit specific activities.
Are all tenders considered dinghies?
Yes, all tenders can be considered dinghies due to their size and functionality.
What materials are tenders made from?
Tenders are made from similar materials as dinghies but often include reinforcements.
What is the primary use of a tender?
The primary use is to support larger vessels by transporting people and supplies.
Are tenders essential for larger boats?
Yes, tenders are essential for the functionality and operation of larger boats.
Do tenders come in different sizes?
Yes, tenders come in various sizes to accommodate different needs.
Are tenders used for leisure activities?
Tenders can be used for leisure but are primarily functional.
Do dinghies require a lot of storage space?
Inflatable dinghies require minimal storage space, while rigid ones need more.
What is the role of a tender on a yacht?
The tender’s role is to transport people and supplies between the yacht and shore or other vessels.
What distinguishes a tender from a general dinghy?
A tender specifically services larger vessels, whereas dinghies have broader uses.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Co-written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
