Dinghy Engine

[Astral Blue]

Originally Posted by annk

Depends on your nationality :-)
British 4 hp 2 stroke
French oars
American 25hp
..................!!

So very true!

[macmoon]

We have a 10' Avon RIB Used to power it with a 9 hp Johnson which we had to replace in San Andres. Got a 6hp Suzuski 4stroke. Much lighter, better on gas, can get parts almost anywhere, but will not get up on plane with 2 people. Would liked to have bought Yahama 12 hp enduro but you cannot get parts in the States.

[Steve Thompson]

We have a 3m rib which had a 6hp Johnson 4 stroke which would plane with one person without any problems add an extra person or some extra weight and it slowed down considerably.In choopy water we used to get very wet from spray comming over the side.I have now fitted a 15 hp 2 stroke which planes with 4 people , lifts the front and everyone stays dry.The 15 isn't that much heavier .I would say the more hp the better and 2stroke for lightness if available in your part of the world
Cheers Steve

[Cheechako]

Those little outboard motor davits (forespar?) are very handy. Could you pick up a used 5-6hp now and get a new 2 stroke outside the us? A 15 hp 2 stroke is still going to be about 100 lbs right? or is it more like 85? either way... too heavy to be straining it aboard. A little davit placed adjacent to the outboard mount works perfect without scarring up the mothership....

[joemac4sail]

The best answers is that you need 2 outboards. A small 2 stroke in the 3hp range,when there is just yourself to handle it and a bigger model for when you have company onboard and help to lower it to the dingy. Try to avoid the small 4 strokes if you can, they're just trouble.
Regards Joe

[Ike]

Your dinghy weighs about 120 lb. Even a 2 hp engine will move it along at about 7 or 8 mph. My 12 ft wood dinghy weighs about the same and goes just about that speed with a 2 hp 2 stroke. Unless you want it to plane you really don't need a 10 or even a 15 hp. a 2 or 3 hp weighs 25 lbs. a 5 hp engine weighs about 60 lb depending on brand. A 5 HP won't move it much faster than the 2hp. so why sacrifice the weight and fuel. If you don't care about getting on plane buy a 2 or 3 hp engine. They weigh less use far less fuel and cost less. (my 2 hp burns 1 qt every 2 hours. At 3/4 throttle thats about 20 mpg) Plus on these little O/Bs the tank is built in so you don't need a separate tank, or a battery.

[Astral Blue]

I did a power required calculation from the boatdiesel.com site. Here is a worst case scenario. Your dinghy, engine, passenger load, and gear weigh 500 lbs. Here is the HP required to take it 8 knots. This is assuming it is an average planing hull. As the previous post indicated, 2 hp should be enough.

[deckofficer]

The above supports my choice of electric outboard.

[Moonshine36]

I like the Electric approach, sure you can get a used 2 stroke but there is a reason they no longer manufacture them. Think it has to do with the oily sheen they leave behind......

[Astral Blue]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

The above supports my choice of electric outboard.

Yes, a Torqueedo would be perfect. But at $2800, one has got to ask whether the cost is justified. Unless of course, cost isn't an issue.

[ausaviator]

There was a massive discussion on this a couple of months back and how you can still get 2-stroke's in many places in the US and of course Mexico.

6&8's are usually the same block and 10&15's are the same also (usually) - in 2 strokes.

[Astral Blue]

Originally Posted by ausaviator

There was a massive discussion on this a couple of months back and how you can still get 2-stroke's in many places in the US and of course Mexico.

This engine is available on the cheap. And that's exactly what it is. I personally wouldn't buy it -- as it is not only dirty, noisy, and inefficient...but at that price, it is nothing more than a disposable item manufactured at an offshore factory where quality control is a joke.

So yes, 2 stroke outboards can still be purchased new in the US. But based on what is available (no major manufacturers such as Honda, Mercury, et al. produce them), I'd take the plunge and get a reliable four stroke made by a company with a good reputation and local support.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Astral Blue

Yes, a Torqueedo would be perfect. But at $2800, one has got to ask whether the cost is justified. Unless of course, cost isn't an issue.

I do wonder what the savings in insurance premiums would be if your not carrying gasoline on board?

[Zeke Zambella]

I have a similar problem.
We have to decide if it's a dinghy or a motor boat.
You just don't get two in one wrapper.

On our 8' inflatable,

We have a 2 cycle 3.5 HP Nissan. No transmission (forward only).
Weighs 12.5 lbs dry (less than a case of beer). Cranks out some pretty
fine power.


We also have an 8 HP Merc 2 cycle. Yahoo !!! it really wails but it
also weighs 80+ lbs. A bit much for my liking to lift in rockin seas.

What to do???

[Astral Blue]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I do wonder what the savings in insurance premiums would be if your not carrying gasoline on board?

I have never heard of an insurance company giving a discount for a non-gasoline dinghy motor. I pay a tad more per year for a dinghy but have never been asked what type of fuel it uses.