Two men were forced to swim to shore last night after their three-metre aluminium dinghy sank off Papamoa Beach.

Life jackets and a chilly bin were used to aid the pair who found themselves in trouble after being swamped by a wave at about 8.30pm.

Two men had to swim to shore after their dinghy sank last night.

The men, both 39-year-old and from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, were fishing around 2km from shore when the wave hit, says Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders.

Fortunately both were wearing life jackets, and combined with the use of a chilly bin, they were able to swim to shore over a period of about three hours.

'This is the best outcome of a bad situation,” says Glenn.

'The wearing of life jackets by these two men certainly avoided a tragedy vindicating the safe boating message of wearing life jackets at all times.”

Glenn says sea conditions at the time were slight to moderate.

Although cold after their time in the water, 'neither man required medical attention and were looking forward to a hot shower”.