British craftsmanship and marine innovation since 1974
For more than five decades, Henshaw Inflatables has developed products for people who work, travel and spend their leisure time on the water. From the Tinker sailing dinghy to inflatable tubes, bespoke fendering and specialist marine structures, our history has taken us from small-boat manufacturing into a wide range of commercial, defence and superyacht applications. Today, our manufacturing remains in our 33,000 sq ft facility based in Wincanton, Somerset, as part of The Wing Group.
1974: Where it all began
Henshaw’s story began in Southampton in 1974. In the years that followed, Wincanton became the home of our manufacturing operation, establishing a connection with Somerset that continues today. An important part of those early years was the development and manufacture of the Tinker inflatable dinghy. Combining the portability of an inflatable with the versatility of a sailing boat, it became a distinctive part of the Henshaw story—and a product that owners continue to sail, maintain and enjoy long after production ended. Originally designed by Fred Benyon-Tinker, whose name the boat carried, the Tinker was developed by Henshaw to accommodate sailing, rowing and outboard propulsion. When not in use, it could be deflated and packed into a car, with a sectional mast that made the sailing equipment transportable too.
The range grew to include the Tramp, Traveller, Foldaway RIB and Funsail. Performance sailing equipment added further possibilities, turning the Traveller into the Star Traveller and the Tramp into the Super Tramp. The Tinker became an RYA*-recognised class, bringing a sailing identity to a boat that could also serve as a tender. Development continued throughout its production life. In 2001, the Tramp and Traveller received revised hull shapes, including a higher bow, a narrower stern exit profile and a more forward jib attachment. These changes formed part of an evolving range rather than a design that stood still.
*RYA - Royal Yachting Association
An early international connection
The Tinker story also reached beyond Britain. During the mid-to-late 1980s, Barlow Marine manufactured Tinkers in New Zealand, initially assembling kits supplied by Henshaw before progressing to local construction using Henshaw-supplied Hypalon and locally sourced wooden components. The New Zealand operation built Tramps, Travellers and Star Travellers, as well as other Henshaw designs, including the Blagg Bosun and Bosun’s Mate. This overseas manufacturing relationship was an early international chapter in our history, decades before Henshaw became part of Wing.
Growing beyond complete boats
Alongside the Tinker, Henshaw developed a broader business in inflatable tubes, collars and specialist marine products. Rather than only manufacturing complete boats, we increasingly supplied components for other boatbuilders and equipment for a wider range of marine applications. Our tube-design and manufacturing work came to serve RIB builders both in the UK and internationally. Chris Hornidge’s 26 years leading Henshaw, culminating in the Wing transaction in 2016, formed a substantial chapter in that development. The growth of these activities meant that Henshaw’s future no longer depended on a single boat range. The skills behind our inflatable construction were being applied to products with very different shapes, functions and operating requirements—from tubes fitted to rigid hulls to fendering designed around individual yachts.
The end of Tinker Production
After 36 years of continuous production, Henshaw brought Tinker manufacture to a close in 2010. During that period, more than 10,000 Tinkers had been built by hand in Wincanton. The decision reflected the economics of continuing production. Maintaining the required materials and manufacturing standards had become commercially unviable, and we were unwilling to compromise those standards simply to reduce costs. Arrangements were made for existing owners to continue accessing servicing through RIB Repair. It was the end of an important product line, but not the end of the business. Henshaw continued manufacturing tubes, fenders and other marine equipment, while the Tinker retained a life of its own among its owners. The Tinker Class Owners Association continues to support that community through events, racing, information and the exchange of boats and parts.
By 2010, our superyacht work already extended beyond inflatable fenders. Alongside the inflatable fender range, Henshaw was developing products that created additional usable space around a yacht, including Seapools and inflatable Jet Ski docks. The Seapool combined an inflatable perimeter with a mesh-enclosed swimming area. Its construction used drop-stitch fabric, documenting an application of a material that would become an increasingly important part of our wider product range. The inflatable Jet Ski dock was also introduced, manufactured from Hypalon-coated fabric, the platform could be tailored to a yacht’s requirements and deflated for storage when not needed. Both products applied inflatable construction to a familiar challenge on board: providing useful equipment without permanently occupying valuable deck or storage space.
Joining Wing in 2016
A major new chapter began on 5 October 2016, when Henshaw joined Wing Inflatables of California. The combination brought together two complementary manufacturing specialisms: Henshaw’s work with glued Hypalon/CSM-coated fabrics and Wing’s experience in heat-welded polyurethane construction. The announcement set out plans to retain the companies’ existing UK and US manufacturing, sales and administrative operations while bringing together engineering expertise and product capabilities. Andrew Branagh was appointed to oversee the combined businesses, with Chris Hornidge remaining involved as a mentor and retaining an ownership interest. For Henshaw, the change connected an established British manufacturing business with a wider international operation. It did not replace our existing expertise; it brought that expertise together with a different set of materials, processes and capabilities.
Our work in the superyacht sector continued to develop, intensifying our efforts in rechearch and development of superyacht transom fender solutions, combined Henshaw’s product knowledge with on-board measurement and templating. Initial designs could be developed around a yacht’s requirements, with its transom measured in person so that the finished fenders followed the individual contours of a vessel. These products also demonstrated how far our manufacturing had expanded beyond air-filled structures. The transom fenders used foam-filled, Hypalon-wrapped construction, with options for different shapes, colours and finishes. They brought together fabric-working expertise, protective materials and yacht-specific design in a product made for a particular installation.
What the future holds
Our range now extends beyond conventional inflatables to include foam stern fenders and collars, hybrid constructions, polyurethane-sprayed products and drop-stitch structures. Investment in 3D scanning supports more accurate measurements both at our headquarters and off site. Digital tools sit alongside our manufacturing experience. Our in-house design capability and automated CNC cutting and buffing allow measured sketches and drawings to be developed into accurately prepared fabric panels. This connection between design and production remains central to our work for boatbuilders and customers requiring bespoke products.
Today, Henshaw remains part of The Wing Group, supplying Hypalon tubes and collars to RIB builders and serving superyacht and military customers from our Wincanton base.