Dinghies and Motors

[jets4u]

What is the preferred outboard motor, 2 cycle or 4 cycle?
Any suggestions on an 11' blow up dingy?

[Vasco]

Most common motor for cruisers is a 15 hp 2 stroke Yamaha. It would work fine on a 11' dink. The 15 yammie is one of the best small outboard motors going.

[jenny2]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Most common motor for cruisers is a 15 hp 2 stroke Yamaha. It would work fine on a 11' dink. The 15 yammie is one of the best small outboard motors going.

those are very good outboards

[svHyLyte]

Based upon reports by several of our cruising pals, we elected a 2 cycle based on reports that there are few areas outside the US where one can count on repairs to a 4 cycle if necessary.

FWIW...

[jets4u]

Thank you all. It sounds like the winner is the 2 cycle 15HP Yamaha

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Based upon reports by several of our cruising pals, we elected a 2 cycle based on reports that there are few areas outside the US where one can count on repairs to a 4 cycle if necessary.

FWIW...

Interesting. Our boat came with an inflatable and a 5hp 4-stroke Honda. We already have an inflatable with an 8hp 2-stroke Tohatsu. Both are in excellent condition with few hours. We were trying to decide which to sell. Our short term plans are limited to US waters, but we expect to spend winters in the Bahamas in a few years. Sounds like we should hold onto the 2-stroke -- especially since it will be hard to get another one in the US.

[zeehag]

if you rboat came with 2 inflatables, keep BOTH. if one is a roll up-- keep it rolled up and stowed in a convenient location. as soon as ye sell one, you will need it. is a good spare to have--ask markj.
also--the larger hp engine will be handy in some locales wherein the currents are too strong for the 2 hp . be greedy and have fun.

btw--if you can fix it yourself, you will be waaay ahead-- keep as self sufficient as possible....

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by zeehag

if you rboat came with 2 inflatables, keep BOTH. if one is a roll up-- keep it rolled up and stowed in a convenient location. as soon as ye sell one, you will need it. is a good spare to have--ask markj.
also--the larger hp engine will be handy in some locales wherein the currents are too strong for the 2 hp . be greedy and have fun.

btw--if you can fix it yourself, you will be waaay ahead-- keep as self sufficient as possible....

Thanks, Zeehag. We had a roll up with inflatable floor and the 8hp 2-stroke with our previous boat. We liked the setup a lot so didn't include it when we put the boat on the market. We stowed the dinghy in the q-berth for all passages and when we weren't actually going to use it. As a result, it is in great shape after eight years. I've gotten pretty good at servicing the Tohatsu. It's a lot easy to diagnose and fix fuel problems than it is to row an inflatable to windward.

There's no urgency to selling one of the rigs other than to create space in the basement. Keeping both for awhile is sound advice.