A compact tender built around the storage problem
Boatworld is expanding its ST inflatable tender range with the 2.70-metre ST 270, due to make its UK show debut at Southampton International Boat Show 2026. The model combines the compact storage idea of a round-tail dinghy with a short fixed transom, giving owners a conventional mounting point for an outboard without the bulk of a full-height stern structure.
That design choice addresses a familiar problem on sailing yachts and smaller motorboats, where a tender may be useful every day at anchor but awkward to store while under way. By keeping the stern package compact, Boatworld is aiming to make a larger usable tender easier to stow in lockers, on deck or in other restricted spaces.
2.70 metres, four-person capacity and up to 6hp
The ST 270 measures 2.70 metres overall and is rated for three adults plus one child, with a maximum loaded weight of 390kg. Its short transom can carry an outboard of up to 6hp, enough for routine ship-to-shore runs without requiring the detachable motor bracket often associated with a fully round-tail tender.
Wide stern tubes are intended to support buoyancy and usable internal space, while a high-pressure Air V floor creates a firmer walking surface and contributes to tracking and handling. The specification is therefore aimed at making the tender feel more substantial once launched without abandoning the packed-size advantage that defines the ST family.
Designed for daily life aboard a parent boat
Boatworld positions the model for marina journeys, coastal exploring, family use and regular tender duties. Those roles place different demands on a dinghy: it must carry people, bags and supplies comfortably, yet it may need to disappear into a relatively small space as soon as the parent vessel gets under way.
The ST 270 becomes the largest member of the range above the ST 200 and ST 240. The extra length provides more passenger and carrying room, but the short-transom architecture remains the defining feature rather than simply scaling up a conventional inflatable tender.
A useful addition to the small-craft market
Inflatable tenders are often treated as accessories, but for cruising boat owners they can be among the most frequently used craft in the fleet. Small design decisions around floor stiffness, transom geometry, weight and packed volume have a direct effect on whether a tender is convenient enough to deploy for every shore trip.
The ST 270 will be shown at Southampton on stand P43 in the Power Hub. For Leisure Boat Guide, it is a useful example of product development at the very small end of the market, where solving storage and handling problems can matter more than chasing higher speed or more equipment.