Another option that has worked very well for me is to use my Hobie Mirage Kayaks as tenders. If you are not familiar, they are sit-on-top kayaks that are powered by a drive system that you pedal (they can also be paddled). They are extremely stable and relatively dry. Without a doubt they are faster than any other human powered tenders and have a decent payload. They are unsinkable/unswampable and tow nice and straight (rudder down) with very little drag. They come in a variety of single and double models depending on your needs. Below is a picture of my first Mirage, the Sport, at BEER 2011. At 9’7” and 53#, this is the smallest, lightest and slowest of their boats. It has a 225# total capacity which means that I could carry 65# of cargo. I could pedal this boat at 3.5 kts all day long with little effort.

I traded the Sport for a Revolution 13’ which is considerably faster and has a 350# payload but is a little less stable. We also added an Outfitter tandem (425# payload) to the fleet. All of these boats are very easy to board from our Nimble via the stern boarding ladder.

Besides being a good tender, the Mirage boats are great water toys. The optional sail is loads of fun and they are great to fish from. The only negative is that they are expensive and used ones are hard to find.

Personally, I won't have a tender that I can't bring aboard when conditions get bad. I learned that lesson during a very nasty night at anchor off of Cumberland Island GA. Although I have never been forced to use them, I have a set of Garhauer kayak racks that mount on my lifeline stanchions.