Tiwal (company)

Tiwal
TypePrivate
IndustrySailboat manufacturing
Founded2012
FounderMarion Excoffon, Emmanuel Bertrand
HeadquartersPlescop, France
Websitetiwal.com

Tiwal is a French sailboat manufacturer that manufactures inflatable sailing dinghies used for sport and leisure. It is headquartered in Plescop, France and also has a subsidiary in the USA.[1][2][3]

History

Founder Marion Excoffon developed the design for Tiwal's inflatable dinghies when her father refused to lend her his houseboat in 2008.[4][5] Using her design, she founded Tiwal with her partner Emmanuel Bertrand in Theix-Noyalo in August 2012 before the company eventually moved operations into a warehouse in Plescop.[1][4] Tiwal unveiled its first sailboat at the 2012 Paris Boat Show.[6][7][8][9] It was also exhibited at the Annapolis Boat Show.[7][8]

Tiwal established a subsidiary in the United States in 2014.[10] It also exhibited the Tiwal 3.2 at the 2014 London Boatshow.[11]

Tiwal participated in the 2018 Annapolis Boat Show.[8] The company also presented the Tiwal 2 at the Boot Düsseldorf boat show in 2018.[12] A Tiwal sailboat was also exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in the same year.[13]

Since 2015, Tiwal has also hosted the Tiwal Cup, a regatta using Tiwal inflatable dinghies, in the Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany.[14][7] Tiwal has also held Tiwal Cups in New Zealand.[15]

Economic development

Tiwal boats are sold in more than 50 countries, with a strong international presence, particularly in the USA. The company generates approximately 80% of its turnover from exports. More than 3,000 Tiwal dinghies sail around the world[16][17].

Design

Tiwal uses drop-stitch technology hulls which, after high-pressure inflation, provide a highly rigid structure. All hulls feature a patented hydrodynamic V-shaped hull[18], designed to enhance performance and manoeuvrability in different sailing conditions. The sails are developed in partnership with North Sails, an international sail manufacturer[19].

Model launch history

Technical specifications

All Tiwal inflatable dinghy models[29]
ModelTiwal 3Tiwal 3RTiwal 2Tiwal 2LTiwal 2XL
Length overall11' (3.35m)11' (3.35m)9'8" (2.95m)11'4" (3.45m)13' (3.95m)
Beam5'4" (1.62m)5'4" (1.62m)4'11" (1.50m)4'11" (1.50m)5'2" (1.56m)
Draft2'5" (75cm)2'5" (75cm)2'5" (75cm)2'5" (75cm)2'5" (75cm)
Weight110 lb (50 kg)121 lb (55 kg)90 lb (40 kg)103 lb (47kg)120 lb (54kg)
Height overall17'8" (5.40m)17'8" (5.40m)17'8" (5.40m)17'8" (5.40m)17'8" (5.40m)
Mast height16'1" (4.90m)16'1" (4.90m)16'1" (4.90m)16'1" (4.90m)16'1" (4.90m)
Inflatable hull dimensions10'6" x 4'6" (3.20m x 1.36m)10'6" x 4'6" (3.20m x 1.36m)9'2" x 4'11" (2.80m x 1.50m)10'10" x 4'11" (3.30m x 1.50m)12'6" x 5'2" (3.80m x 1.56m)
Hull pressure11 psi11 psi11 psi / 3 psi11 psi / 3 psi11 psi / 3 psi
Sail area56 to 75ft² (5.2 to 7.2m²)67 to 77 ft² (6.2 to 7.2m²)52 to 64ft² (4.8 to 6m²)56 to 75ft² (5.2 to 7.2m²)75 to 97ft² (7 to 9m²) + jib 21ft² (2m²)
Max capacity2 adults2 adults1 adult2 adults3 adults
Production years2012 - present2022 - present2019 - present2022 - present2025 - present
Boats built[30][31]2600[32]200[32]300[32]250[32]-
MFGEuropeEuropeEuropeEuropeEurope
Transport2 bags2 bags + 1 sail bag2 bags2 bags2 bags + 1 sail bag
Assembly time20 minutes25 minutes15 minutes15 minutes25 minutes
Descriptioninflatable sailing dinghy for versatile use - solo or duoinflatable sailing dinghy for sporting use - single or duoinflatable sailing dinghy for recreational use - soloinflatable sailing dinghy for recreational use - solo or duoinflatable sailing dinghy for recreational use - family

International Success & Awards

  • Tiwal 3 - Sailing World's Boat of the Year 2014[33]
  • Tiwal 3 - Best of the Best Reddot Award 2014[34]
  • Tiwal 2 - Sailing World's Boat of the Year 2020[35]
  • Tiwal 2 - Sail's Best Boats Winner 2020[36]
  • Tiwal 3R - Sailing World's Boat of the Year 2023[37]
  • Tiwal 3R - Sail's Best Boats Winner 2023[38]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tiwal celebrates its 500th boat delivered". BoatIndustry.com. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  2. ↑ Neubauer, Sigurd (2023-11-01). "Spotlighting Marion Excoffon: the sailboat inventor extraordinaire". Man & Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ↑ Armstrong, Rich (August 3, 2022). "Fun In The Bag". boatus.com. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Bretagne : Marion Excoffon invente un voilier gonflable, prêt en moins de 20 minutes". actu.fr (in French). 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ↑ "Nautisme : "J'ai souhaité un bateau qui soit différent, sans contrainte"". Europe 1 (in French). 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  6. 1 2 "Économie. Tiwal SAS sur la bonne vague". Le Télégramme (in French). 2015-04-04. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Staff, A. P. B. (2020-09-11). "Tiwal and the inflatable dinghy global craze". Asia Pacific Boating. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  8. 1 2 3 "The TIWAL 3 - Our Inflatable Sailboat Test Ride at the Sailboat Show". 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  9. ↑ Sois, Julien Da (2017-07-22). "Dériveur. Tiwal propose de tester son produit lors d'un tour de Bretagne". Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  10. ↑ "Tiwal, the inflatable dinghy raises funds to conquer the United States". BoatIndustry.com. 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. ↑ World, Yachting (2014-01-15). "Best new boat at London Boatshow?". Yachting World. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  12. ↑ "TIWAL UNVEILS A NEW POCKET SAILER DREAM BIG, PACK SMALL - Boating Industry Canada". boatingindustry.ca. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  13. ↑ "Tiwal, a small inflatable sailboat - Plastics le Mag". Nom du site (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  14. ↑ Cort, Adam (2017-08-29). "Tiwal Cup Bigger than Ever". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  15. ↑ "Eight Tiwals sail in inaugural New Zealand Cup at Mahurangi Habour". www.yachtsandyachting.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ↑ "Tiwal delivers its 3000th inflatable sailboat". Sail-World. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  17. ↑ "The story of Tiwal, the French pioneer of fun, fast inflatable sailboats". Boat News. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  18. ↑ "United States Patent". 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  19. ↑ "The new Tiwal 3R: Sport and fun from the boot". Yacht.de. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  20. ↑ "Vannes : le petit voilier gonflable à la conquête du monde !". France 3 Bretagne (in French). 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  21. ↑ "Tiwal, a small inflatable sailboat". plastics-themag.com.
  22. ↑ "2019 Tiwal inflatable dinghy review". boatsales.com.au.
  23. ↑ Mullan, Lydia (2022-11-24). "The Case for Small Boats". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  24. ↑ "Having won two awards, the new Tiwal 3R will be on show at boot 2023". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  25. ↑ "Le fabricant de voiliers démontables Tiwal mise sur les Etats-Unis". Les Echos (in French). 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  26. ↑ "Essai voile légère : Tiwal 2L , le fun pour expertise". www.voileetmoteur.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  27. ↑ "The best new water toys to look out for in 2022". www.boatinternational.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  28. ↑ Vaerman, Thibaud. "Les nouveautés de la rentrée. Tiwal 2 XL, dériveur gonflable pour les navigations en famille". www.voilesetvoiliers.ouest-france.fr. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  29. ↑ "Tiwal.com". Tiwal website. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  30. ↑ "Tiwal delivers its 3000th inflatable sailboat". Sail-World. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  31. ↑ "Inflatable sailboat success as Tiwal ships 3,000th blow-up abroad". Marine Industry News. 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "How many Tiwal sailboats have been produced to date?". Tiwal website. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  33. ↑ "Best innovation". Sailing World. SW 553 (January/February 2014).
  34. ↑ "Sailing Dinghy Tiwal 3.2". Red Dot.
  35. ↑ Reed, Dave. "Boat of the Year 2020 Best Dinghy: Tiwal 2". Sailing World. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  36. ↑ "Best Boats 2020". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  37. ↑ Reed, Dave. "2023 Boat of the Year Best Dinghy: Tiwal 3R". Sailing World. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  38. ↑ Mulla, Lydia. "Tiwal 3R: The Top 10 Best Boats Review". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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