Best dinghy under $3000

[Sailing fast]

Yep, see it now. Good catch.

If they are 88 lbs, that is close to a 10 hp honda 4stroke.

[a64pilot]

Advantages of four strokes are they are generally much quiter, idle forever without "loading up" don't smoke, usually run smoother, don't have to mix oil with gas, usually use a little less fuel, usually easier starting, plugs last forever
Disadvantages are usually more expensive, heavier, require oil and filter changes, often can't be simply laid on their side for storage, way more complex, much more difficult to fix

[ktischler]

Okay, here is some first hand experience with the Suzuki DF20A EFI outboard. The manual model weighs 97 lbs; we opted to get the electric start model which is 9 lbs heavier, at 106 lbs. The first day we had the motor I did not have a battery, so just did manual start. Very easy to pull the rope, motor started on the first pull every time. Extremely quiet. The electronic fuel injection is really nice, there is no choke, the motor idles perfectly regardless of temperature.

There is no difference in weight, or size, between the DF15A or DF20A. It just has different fuel injectors and engine computer is tweaked differently. So, the only savings were going to be with $$, and for the extra $300 I wanted the horsepower. We mounted it on a Livington 12' dink, which weighs 230# for the bare hull. I added anoter 100# of seats, fuel tank, battery, electronics, etc. With my wife and I aboard (we're, ummm.... "big folks"), our big yellow Lab, ice chest, fishing gear, and full bimini top, the boat will top out right at 25 knots.

I absolutely love this little 4-stroke engine. Our previous dink had a 2006 25-HP Yamaha 2-stroke, and I don't miss it a bit. The Suzuki fuel economy is better, it is quieter, smoother, and I never have to worry about fiddling with a the dang carburetor again!

The only change I made was to replace the aluminum prop with a stainless one.

I would be happy to answer any other questions you have about it. Oh, by the way, I found the cheapest price online at www. portabote.com, and free shipping. It was around $2,650 when I purchased it last August.

Ken
M/V Microship
Defever 49 RPH

[Sailing fast]

Can't seem to find that www.portabote link you mention. I only find porta-bote which is a folding boat company.

If the Suzuki is that cheap, that is a huge savings over a Honda

[JK n Smitty]

I currently have two outboards for inflatables. Both are Nissans from approx 2000. The look almost identical with the covers on. One is a 5 hp 4-stroke and weighs 54 pounds. The other is a 9.8 hp 2-stroke and weighs 57 pounds. I bought both used and have gone over both completely. The 4-stroke has more ethanol related issues than the 2-stroke. All in all I will never go back to 4-strokes for inflatables. You get close to twice the hp for the same weight. This far exceeds the pain of mixing the gas or having to run it at WOT for a couple of minutes every week.

[Dale Hedtke]

I agree that engine weight (from a picking it up perspective) is a very important consideration. If you can't safely (thinking about your back) pick up 100# (I can't), then a OB motor hoist is a must.
There was a suggestion to buy a 4 HP motor for most uses. Not a bad idea. Of course the problem is that then you have 1 more motor on board to maintain, protect, and store. I go back and forth on this issue myself. We have pushed our Zodiac Cadet 310 with a 2.5 HP motor successfully, but not on plane.
We do use a 2 cycle Merc 9.9. Best motor I've ever owned (had ~30.) Easy starting, plenty of power to make the dinghy plane, and weights (I think) 78#.
Another motor consideration: if you plan to remove your motor for passages, think about how you will do it in a bouncy anchorage. My old 3.3 HP Merc was light enough that I could put it on the rail mount with only one hand while standing in the dinghy. I built a hoist for the 9.9. Say no more.

[Canibul]

Originally Posted by Dale Hedtke

We do use a 2 cycle Merc 9.9. Best motor I've ever owned (had ~30.) Easy starting, plenty of power to make the dinghy plane, and weights (I think) 78#.

what an interesting post to come across. We got a 24 year old Merc 10M that came as part of the equipment on the sailboat we bought about a year and a half ago. I just finally got around to working on the merc this weekend. It's the ugliest outboard I've ever owned, for sure. Beat up. Faded. Scratched. I spent most of yesterday getting it running. I didn't have a manual for most of that, although I did download one eventually.

After taking the carb apart an soaking it, it started up and is running pretty well. Kind of rough, but after I stopped up some air leaks and replaced some gaskets it does start and run. I think I need to get it out and run it at speed and twiddle with that low speed jet, which along with idle adjust is the only adjustment on the carb.

Since we've moved to this island I've done repairs on an old Johnson three cylinder 70 hp, a Yamaha 150 carbed two stroke, a Yamaha 300 HPDI nightmare, and a Suzuki 90 hp four stroke. Working on this old Merc 10 is a dream. Like the old days, no computers. Very straightforward. Simple. Rugged. Well built. This comment from Dale makes me think even more strongly that I like the idea of getting this one back in great running condition, while leaving it ugly.

[ktischler]

Yes, that is the correct web site. I did buy the outboard from the folding boat company. They have really good pricing; the best I could find online. Great not to have to pay sales tax, too!

[ktischler]

Here is a link direct to their outboard motor page...

Porta Bote | Porta Bote | Suzuki Outboard Motors

[a64pilot]

I bought the Suzuki from the outfit in Tennessee and a Zodiac 3.10 Cadet RIB in Hypalon from Defender. Hope I made the right decisions, the Zodiac is a little on the heavy side, but the custom davits on the boat I'm buying will hold my 230 lbs on one davit without even flexing.

[mikefossl]

I have this on my wishlist...DinghyGo, the inflatable sailboat website

[Sailing fast]

Since I am in the states and can't get a 2 stroke, I am leaning towards a Suzuki 15 hp since they appear to be roughly 1000 bucks cheaper than a Honda. What does everyone think about an electric start? I don't think I would need it other than I have heard it is nice to use it for a bilge pump on the dinghy. I am young and can pull, but the bilge pump idea sounds pretty nice.

We have a ab 9 vl rigid on dinghy davits.
I am not sure it is worth the extra 11lbs. (97 vs 108)

[Sailing fast]

Originally Posted by mikefossl

I have this on my wishlist...DinghyGo, the inflatable sailboat website

This looks pretty cool. 2 thoughts
1. i wonder if it leaks around the daggerboard?
2. i like a rigid bottom dink since it is a little more robust for beaching.
3. anyone have data on how well does this german material stands up to UV? Probably not as good as Hypalon

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Sailing fast

I am leaning towards a Suzuki 15 hp since they appear to be roughly 1000 bucks cheaper than a Honda.

Hard to imagine a $1K difference... Last I checked around here (not recently) the manual Honda 15-hp was about $2900 and the electric start version was about $3150. Before dickering, sales, "boat show" prices, whatever...

Was the Suzuki price maybe a clearance on the older carbureted version? Or... ?

-Chris

[a64pilot]

The new Honda that is a lot lighter than the older one costs about $600 more than the Suzuki. I'd have rather had the Honda but $600 is too much. You can find a deal on the older model Honda for about the same price as the Suzuki, but it's way heavier, something like 15 lbs heavier and for me that is too heavy. These are approximate numbers from memory