Highfield Ultralite 240 Tender PVC
Small but mighty. 33kg all-in, aluminium hulled.
Product Code: HFDUL240DG
All Prices Include VAT.
The small but mighty Highfield Ultralite 240 is the ideal tender for the cruising sailor. At just 33kg all-up with a maximum engine size of 6hp, Highfield's high-tensile aluminium hull gives you a boat rigid enough to plane properly but light enough for two people to lift onto a foredeck or haul up a beach.
What you are actually buying
Lightweight aluminium hull
High-tensile chromated and powder-coated aluminium — rigid enough to plane properly, light enough to lift, and it won't osmose or delaminate like GRP.
V deck
A true V through the hull gives a drier, softer ride into chop and holds a line under power instead of skittering across the top of it.
Fuel tank platform
A dedicated moulded platform keeps a portable tank secure and off the floor, so it isn't sliding around your feet on the run back to the mooring.
Ergonomic grab handles
Shaped handles and full-length lifting points mean two people can carry, launch and recover the boat without fighting for a grip on a wet tube.
Highfield on video
Manufacturer footage of this boat - how it packs, how it lifts, and how it behaves once there is an outboard on the transom.
Available finishes
Lighter tubes stay cooler and show less UV chalking over time; darker tubes hide scuffs and marina grime.
Full specification
| Overall length | 2.40m |
|---|---|
| Internal length | 1.64m |
| Overall width (beam) | 1.54m |
| Internal width | 0.78m |
| Dead rise | 10.5° |
| Tube diameter | 38cm |
| Air chambers | 3 |
| Maximum load | 240kg |
| Maximum people | 3 |
| Boat only weight | 33kg |
| Maximum engine | 6 hp |
| Hull material | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium |
| Tube material | PVC, welded seams |
| Design category | C — Inshore |
| Packed size (l × w × h) | 200 × 105 × 36.5cm |
Maximum load includes crew and cargo - it does not include engine weight, fuel or water. Specifications are supplied by the manufacturer and may change without notice.
Which one is right for you?
Every model in this range side by side, so you can see exactly what the extra money buys.
| Model | 240 PVCYOU ARE VIEWING | 260 PVC | 290 PVC | 310 PVC | 340 PVC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 2.40m | 2.60m | 2.90m | 3.13m | 3.37m |
| Internal length | 1.64m | 1.84m | 2.14m | 2.24m | 2.43m |
| Overall width (beam) | 1.54m | 1.54m | 1.54m | 1.72m | 1.72m |
| Internal width | 0.78m | 0.77m | 0.77m | 0.79m | 0.79m |
| Dead rise | 10.5° | 10.5° | 15° | 15° | 15° |
| Tube diameter | 38cm | 38cm | 38cm | 44cm | 44cm |
| Air chambers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Maximum load | 240kg | 278kg | 320kg | 400kg | 438kg |
| Maximum people | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Boat only weight | 33kg | 35kg | 39kg | 50kg | 53kg |
| Maximum engine | 6 hp | 8 hp | 15 hp | 15 hp | 20 hp |
| Hull material | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium | Chromated & powder-coated aluminium |
| Tube material | PVC, welded seams | PVC, welded seams | PVC, welded seams | PVC, welded seams | PVC, welded seams |
| Design category | C — Inshore | C — Inshore | C — Inshore | C — Inshore | C — Inshore |
| Packed size (l × w × h) | 200 × 105 × 36.5cm | 220 × 105 × 36.5cm | 250 × 105 × 36.5cm | 270 × 105 × 36.5cm | 300 × 105 × 36.5cm |
| Price from | £2,045 | £2,145 | £2,445 | £3,145 | £3,045 |
| You are here | View 260 PVC | View 290 PVC | View 310 PVC | View 340 PVC |
What comes as standard
Included with every boat
- PVC tubes with welded seams
- High-tensile chromated & powder-coated aluminium hull
- Flush-mount non-return valves
- Anti-slip deck
- Lifting points and towing eyes
- Tow bridle points
- Full-length keel guard
- Lightweight rubbing strake
- Removable seat
- Under-seat bag with EVA
- Highfield dry bag
- Foot pump, oars and repair kit
Optional extras
- Extra seatOrder in
- Boat coverOrder in
- Dinghy wheelsIn stock
- Davit / lift systemIn stock
Not sure what you need alongside the boat? Call the shop and we will spec it with you - outboard shaft length, wheels, cover and a spare repair kit are the four people most often forget.
Ultralite 240 PVC in detail
Choosing an inflatable dinghy
Three decisions do most of the work: what the tubes are made of, what's under your feet, and how big a boat you can actually handle on your own. Everything else follows.
PVC or Hypalon?
PVC is lighter, cheaper and welded rather than glued — ideal for a tender that's deflated and stowed between trips. Expect 5–10 seasons in UK conditions.
ORCA® Hypalon (CSM) costs more and is hand-glued, but it shrugs off UV and heat. If the boat lives inflated on davits, on deck all season, or spends summers in the Med, Hypalon is the one that survives.
What's under your feet
| Floor | Best for |
|---|---|
| Slatted | Lightest and smallest packed. Rowing and short hops; won't plane. |
| Air deck | Light, rolls up, comfortable underfoot. The all-round compromise. |
| Aluminium / ply | Rigid, planes well, but heavy and slow to assemble. |
| Rigid hull (RIB) | Best ride and handling. No packing away — needs davits or a trailer. |
Size, weight and engine
Work backwards from where the boat has to live. Measure your foredeck, your davits and your car boot before you fall in love with a length.
Then be honest about the lift: anything over about 40kg stops being a two-person carry up a slipway. Match the outboard to the transom rating and the shaft length (short shaft on almost all tenders), and remember the engine's weight comes off your usable payload.
Frequently asked
The 240 is rated to a maximum of 6hp. In practice a 2.5-3.5hp short-shaft outboard is plenty for tender duty with two people aboard, and keeps the engine light enough to lift on and off single-handed. Go to the full 6hp only if you regularly carry three and want to plane. Always use a short-shaft (S) engine.
Packed, the 240 measures 200 × 105 × 36.5cm and weighs 33kg. That fits most estate car boots with the seats down and sits comfortably on the foredeck of a 34ft-plus cruiser. It is not a boat that folds into a rucksack - the aluminium hull is rigid, so packed length is fixed.
Buy PVC if the boat is deflated or stowed between uses and lives in the UK. Buy Hypalon if it stays inflated on davits, sits on deck all season, or you sail somewhere with strong sun. Hypalon typically lasts two to three times as long under UV, which is what you are paying the premium for.
You can, but fit a cover and expect the tube fabric to age faster. PVC in particular chalks and hardens under prolonged UV. If davit storage is your plan, the Hypalon version is the better long-term buy, and a UV protectant applied a couple of times a season makes a real difference either way.
Length and weight restrictions apply, so it ships on a pallet courier rather than a standard parcel service. Delivery is calculated at checkout for UK mainland addresses. Highlands, islands and non-mainland addresses are quoted individually - call us before ordering. You are also welcome to collect from the shop, which many customers prefer so we can run through it with you.
Category D is sheltered waters - rivers, lakes and calm harbours. Category C is inshore: coastal waters, large bays and estuaries, up to Force 6 winds and significant wave heights of 2m. The Ultralite 240 is Category C, which is why it copes with an estuary crossing rather than just a marina hop.
Not sure it is the right boat? Ask us.
We have been fitting out boat owners since 1975. Tell us what you are tendering, where it has to stow and how far you are going, and we will tell you honestly whether this is the one - or whether something else in the range fits better.
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Only 1 leftDelivery & Returns
Inflatable boats are subject to length and weight shipping restrictions and travel on a pallet courier rather than a standard parcel service. UK mainland delivery on this item is calculated at checkout.
Highlands, islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight and non-mainland addresses are quoted individually - please call our online team on +44 (0) 1473 694725 before ordering so we can confirm the cost and lead time.
You are also very welcome to collect from the shop. Many customers prefer this so we can unpack the boat with you, check it over and run through the setup before you take it away.
Our policy is simple - you have up to 90 days to return your purchase if it is not suitable or you have changed your mind. Our hassle-free 90-day returns policy applies to most items and is offered in addition to your statutory rights.
Please note: boats must be returned unused, dry, clean and in their original packaging. A boat that has been inflated and launched cannot be returned as unwanted, though this does not affect your rights if the item is faulty.
Return goods purchased in-store
Simply bring your order confirmation or delivery note and the item you wish to return or exchange, unused and in its original packaging, to our till point in the shop. If you paid by debit or credit card, please ensure you also bring the payment card you originally used.
Return goods bought online
1. Start your return through the Returns Process in your Fox's Chandlery online customer account within 90 days of delivery.
2. Once approved, you will receive a Return Authorisation Number (RAN) and shipping instructions.
3. Package the item securely in its original packaging.
4. Use a tracked courier service and always obtain proof of postage.
5. Please allow up to 14 working days after we receive the goods for your return to be processed.
Because boats are large and heavy, please call our online team on +44 (0) 1473 694725 to arrange collection rather than arranging your own courier.
If you need to add or remove items from your order, change the details of your delivery address or cancel the order completely, please contact our Online Team for advice on +44 (0) 1473 694725 between 0900 and 1730 Monday to Friday or email us. Please quote your order number and order date. If your order has already been dispatched or delivered, then you will need to follow our Returns procedure in the event of any unwanted products.