Most manageable size outboard motor for dinghy

[Yachtmasteroz]

There is another consideration I discovered after upgrading out outboard to something heavier: the total weight of your dinghy/motor combined. I found out the hard way that 60kg is a lot when I found the dinghy 50 metres up the beach after the 3 meter tide had gone out...
That was hard work to get it back into the water.
That's when I noticed that a lot of experienced cruisers had very light dingy/motor combinations.

[Bulawayo]

You are surely jesting? A lightweight dinghy wont last when cruising.
Get wheels.

Originally Posted by Yachtmasteroz

There is another consideration I discovered after upgrading out outboard to something heavier: the total weight of your dinghy/motor combined. I found out the hard way that 60kg is a lot when I found the dinghy 50 metres up the beach after the 3 meter tide had gone out...
That was hard work to get it back into the water.
That's when I noticed that a lot of experienced cruisers had very light dingy/motor combinations.

[Snowpetrel]

Just went for a sail over the weekend with a family that had got back from 5 years RTW. Asked them about the dinghy setup. Old avon and a 4hp 2 stroke. No planing, but it conserved the petrol. We had a good old chuckle about how they did it all wrong, no radar, no autopilot, just windvane, no watermaker. Two adults two kids, 42 foot centurian, no problems...

Sent from my SM-G930F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Bulawayo]

No windvane on a cat I can understand, but no autopilot - that is masochistic. Im not sure how they managed that with two kids to take care of as well.

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Just went for a sail over the weekend with a family that had got back from 5 years RTW. Asked them about the dinghy setup. Old avon and a 4hp 2 stroke. No planing, but it conserved the petrol. We had a good old chuckle about how they did it all wrong, no radar, no autopilot, just windvane, no watermaker. Two adults two kids, 42 foot centurian, no problems...

Sent from my SM-G930F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Bulawayo

No windvane on a cat I can understand, but no autopilot - that is masochistic. Im not sure how they managed that with two kids to take care of as well.

I think you misread that. 42ft Centurion monohull. No autopilot, but they DID have a windvane.

[Bulawayo]

You are right, Stu, total misread! Damn, must be getting older.

Originally Posted by StuM

I think you misread that. 42ft Centurion monohull. No autopilot, but they DID have a windvane.

[boatman61]

I just set my o/b mount near the dinghy davits then used one of the block/tackles to lift the o/b and raise it high enough to swing to the mount.. reverse procedure to lower to the dinghy..

[Colin A]

Originally Posted by Alan Waters

Evinrude makes two stroke engines available in the U.S.
Evinrude Portable Engines | Evinrude US

I believe those are all 4 stoke. They used to but Suzuki 4 strokes under 20hp they now appear to be rebadged Tohatsu's

[Matt Johnson]

We originally left with a Johnson 9.9hp and a Mercury 3.3hp. We only used the Mercury since it was just so easy to load from the pushpit.... and we had davits. We then sold the 9.9hp in Guatemala and promptly wished I had it in Belize to visit some of the further reefs. I'll keep the 3.3hp in the lazarette, but I'm now looking for 9.9-15hp too.

Get both.

Matt

[RSB333]

I used a heavy 9.9 on my last boat, and remember the pain in the neck of hoisting it aboard and lowering it back down. With my newer and smaller boat, I opted for the 2.5 hp Suzuki which I can easily carry up the boarding ladder and clamp on the aft rail. (only 29#). True, I can't plane with four adults in the inflatable, but considering the time I save mounting and unmounting the motor, I'm happy with the new arrangement.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Delancey

You've never seen a boat with twin outboards before? I understand this is the most painfully obvious solution but I don't understand how it could be unfathomable.

LOL

[Cheechako]

It's a tough decision and no easy answers. If you are not going to plane in your dingy then you might as well just get the smallest lightest motor you can rely on. Hull speed is hull speed in a dink. I doubt it takes more than 1-2 hp to get there.
If you want to go long distances, explore etc etc, you have to plane.

[steffan]

I know this is an old thread but I am currently wrestling with this decision. I'm looking at a used RIB tomorrow. It's heavier built than we will need for the next few years of weekend+ trips (150 lbs), with the consequentially larger, heavier motor (120 lbs 15 hp). But it will cost less than a new 80 lb PVC sport boat with a new 60 lb 6 hp motor. Factoring in a crane will probably make it a wash cost-wise, and it will be harder to stow.

I'm sure it'll be nice to have a sturdier tender when it's in use, but a PITA the rest of the time it's sitting at the marina or getting towed (no davits). Am I likely to regret getting into too much dinghy? It should last until we go cruising with a bigger boat in a few years but I doubt it makes sense to size my current dinghy for a theoretical future boat and lifestyle, no?

[a64pilot]

120 lbs is awful heavy for 15 HP.

[steffan]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

120 lbs is awful heavy for 15 HP.

Thanks, might have been too quick and pulled the spec weight of the electric start 15 hp (121 lb), vs the normal one (115 lb), but either way, it's unmanageable without leverage. Could trade the motor for a 10 hp, but that's still 91 lbs if I stay in the same family of Mercs.

Can just see cursing my decision over going with a smaller boat and a 57 lb 6 hp Tohatsu, that I can lift unaided, every time I have to deal with it out of the water.