Tiwal 3 Small Sailboat - A sailboat that fits in your car's trunk

Watch the video

Tiwal 3 in action

Videos

Double handed sailing

Speed, Sail and Surf

Tiwal 3 surfing in Hawaii

Ergonomics

A boat that’s 100% fun

The Tiwal 3 brings new ergonomics to sailing dinghies with its inflatable hull (but rigid when under way), its clear deck, simplified controls and finally a boomless sail. The result? Maximum fun for playing with the wind and water. It even has optional foam protectors on the wings for even more comfort when hiking out. It makes both single and double-handed sailing easy and enjoyable.

Solo

1 adult
& 2 kids

Double

2 or 3 kids

Design

Innovative concept and premium manufacturing

Cutting edge materials, a rig reduced to the absolute minimum and a good touch of daring!

The Tiwal 3 small sailboat is a revolution in the world of dinghy sailing and is the result of serious engineering and realization.

The frequently rewarded combination of an inflatable hull with an aluminium structure enables the Tiwal 3 to have exceptional rigidity.

With over 2,600 boats sold, the Tiwal 3 dinghy is a tried and tested boat, made in France according to industry standards.

Learn more about how it is made!

design

Technical specs

Mast: carbon C50
4.90 m (16′ 1”) – 5 parts
Framework: anodized aluminium
Hull length: 3.20 m (10′ 6″)
Sail: North Sails Dacron (Dacron, and Monofilm depending on the model)
Blocks: Harken
Certification: U.S. Coast Guard safety standards

Boat weight (empty): 52 kg (115 lbs)
Maximum load: 200 kg / 440 lbs
2 adults
or 1 adults + 2 kids
Max load on wings: 1 adult / 110 kg (242 lbs)
Draught: 75 cm (2′ 5”)
2 carrying bags:
Structure: 145 x 40 x 35 cm / 34 kg
Hull: 145 x 40 x 35 cm / 27 kg

Table given as an indication for a crew of average load

Tiwal 3 sails

Sail in all weathers

The 7 m² (75 ft²) sail is a powerful mainsail, suitable for one or two adults out in a light to moderate breeze.

The 5.20 m² (56 ft²) sail is very versatile. It works well for adults sailing in a good breeze, and for the kids in lighter wind conditions.

Lastly, the reefable 7/5.20 m² (75/56 ft² sail is an all-weather mainsail, whose area can be adapted to suit the wind strength. If the weather changes, you just need to make a quick stop on the beach to make your optimal sail area.

Units sailing

Awards & Recognition

Sailing World's 2014 Boat of the Year prize

The thing was a blast. I couldn’t believe how well it sailed. You could have some serious fun with this, especially in big breeze.

This is an elegant idea that has been implemented to perfectly fit into our times. (…) On the water, this sailing dinghy is capable of stunning manoeuvres and provides a lot of fun.

Customer Reviews

April 2025 – Ben
Klamath Falls, OR

February 2023 – Aaron
Boston, MA

Dan's Tiwal 3 Small Sailboat customer review

November 2021 – Dan
Buffalo, NY

+ Customer Reviews

Press review

“The whole experience is one of minimum fuss minimum rigging and maximum fun.”

Bear Grylls

2014 – Boat International

“We were impressed by the ingenuity of the concept and the quality of the materials used, not to mention the adjustable sail, which adapts to the wind.”

Ritta Orell

2018 – Forbes

“I load the Tiwal into the back of the car and go. I can sail off a floating dock, a ramp, or the beach. Lake, river, the Bay, the Aegean Sea: you name it, I’ve done it all.”

Craig Ligibel

2018 – SpinSheet

“The most fun is catching waves and having a bit of a surf, the wide hull and v-shaped underside planing easily and quickly. It tacks easily, points well and certainly doesn’t feel like sailing an inflatable tender.”

Sarah Ell

Boating New Zealand

Press reviews

We pay particular attention to the construction standards of our boats.Each manufacturing stage is carefully checked here in our workshops and at our suppliers. We take great pride in the quality of our boats. That’s why all our parts are guaranteed for 3 years in private use.More details