Dink won't plane

[ausaviator]

I had a 10ft rib all PVC with an 8hp Mercury 2 stroke short shaft. It went well.
Suspect your 4 stroke is lacking power in comparison and the long shaft not doing you any favours.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

Hard to believe you are having problem even alone. I have a 10.5 ft Avon lite rib with 8 up two stroke and can plane two adults around 400 lbs at 23 mph wot. It takes leaning weight toward front on takeoff. With single 200 lb person it jumps on plane immediately. Maybe your issue is the extra motor weight and length. Don't know.

2 stroke and 4 stroke are completely different animals. Your two stroke develops much more power per pound.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by rastamon

Hey thanks for all the advice.
It is a "high thrust" engine and is revving up ok. I have adjusted the angles with same results. And figured the extra long shaft might be the problem. If ya see a "for sale or trade" posting, it's probably me!!!
Fair winds ⛵️


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

You need a different prop and what our club did with a 10hp Honda on an Avon inflatable was to build up the transom height so the shaft and prop were at the proper level with the bottom of the transom. It will plane but you need to do some modification. Of course then there was the additional torque higher up on the transom which didn't do the inflatable any favors. If I were you I'd sell the 4 cycle to a sailboater who needs a kicker and go look for a short shaft 8hp two cycle.

[Jim Cate]

If I were you I'd sell the 4 cycle to a sailboater who needs a kicker and go look for a short shaft 8hp two cycle.

Excellent advice... making mickey mouse adaptations to your current setup will never be as good as using the proper motor/prop combination. By following John's advice above, you will help out a fellow sailor and end up with a good planing dink. Dunno how that will work out fiscally... might not be too bad... but it will sure work out on the water.

Cheers,

Jim

[Terra Nova]

Actually I would abandon the idea, wherever that came from, that 8 hp is sufficient and get at least a 9.9 for that heavy dink.