Dinghy and motor choice

[gettinthere]

Different horses for different courses.

I have a friend with a 38' sail who tows a 17' skiff back and forth to the Bahamas. Why? Because he does a lot of diving and the dive spots are a long way off, he takes 4 people and the waters can be rough. Works for him.
I have a 10.5 RIB and a 15hp 2 stroke, on davits. I run pretty long distances with a fair amount of stuff and would not want less.
But if all you are doing is going short distances in protected waters, then maybe a rowing dink with a small OB is perfect.

 

[viper]

Well I read all the post on Forums and elsewhere. Here is what I did for my H380 as a result.
1) First I installed Davits, in this case Ocean Marine, heavy duty, extended height.... about 3.2K installed. Why, too much time spent inflating and storing on deck otherwise and in the way ( do you want to do that ever day or 3).. And I boat from Cape Coral, Florida.. so a 12 month season ( 1 year is like 3 years up north). Of course the davits hinder the use of the sugar scoop stern... but I needed a place for solar panels also. Cruisers recommended Davits if you can get them. My general rule is, if its not easy, I will not do it...

2) RIB... well I got a WM Haphlon (PVC does not last in the FL sun and boating weather 12 months per year). The 10.2' RIB was on sale , 35% off.. cost $2250. It is a deep V , Fiberglass bottom with a double Flat inner fiberglass bottom, to prevent slipping when stepping into the RIB (reviews said get the flat bottom). It weighs 123Lbs. I had a PVC inflatable for a Sports Fisherman I had Never used it after the first week. It was stored inside a garage and the heat, w/o any sunlight rendered it useless in 3 years. It was coming unglued. Took it in to get it repaired and the shop said its not really worth fixing PVC, and they had a grave yard of them out back in Galveston Texas.. also very hot and longer boating seasons than up north.

I then purchased a new old Stock Yamaha 9.9 for about $1700, which weighs about 85lbs. It stays on the RIB, but my boat has a motor mount on stern rail. The smaller 9' RIB was not on sale, would cost more, hold less, did not have dry storage, did not come with a double floor model... It would be tougher to handle the gear, my wife and our Lab Morgan. My wife would have to be left behind...

THE 9.9 HP was as much as I could afford , more HP would be heavier, my Davit is rated for 450lbs (solar panels weigh 60). The 9.9 will plane even with 2.5 people, top speed of about 22 mph. The boat will handle 15 plus HP. Cruisers said get something that will plane and as large as you can manage and you will not later pay more to upgrade. After all I had already spent money on an PVC inflatable , with plywood flooring and an inflatable fin... really not enjoyable in even mild chop.

I added mounts for removable navigation lights at bow and on motor. I got a tiller extension handle. The storage box contains a small anchor, flares, pump. Now where to put the rod holder?

If you look at the cost of going min versus somewhere in the middle of choices, spread out over more than ten years... the difference in cost , starts to look less important. Every time I have gone too cheap, it in the end seems to cost me more.

Of course I have almost $8K approx., for davit, RIB, Motor, accessories... which is not cheap (The cheapest option would have been around $2.7K). On the other hand I bought a 2000 H380 with 500 hours for $61K with new bottom paint included... so I had some financial room. And when at my dock in my back yard, I can run around the canals in the RIB...

Regards,

Viper

 

[seadaddler]

I installed Ocean Marine Davits on my 2007 H-36 and installed them high so I can still see over my 9' Rib and I am 5'6''
and my Davits are high so they do not interfer with walking in and out the walk thru stern and getting in and out of the dinghy.
I did not add solar to the Davits and instead have 2-190 watt panels attached to my arch and rear support of my Bimini and wires go into the arch down into cabin to batteries and charge controller.
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

I also added a great helm seat.
Nick

 

[viper]

Nick, I would have liked to have put my solar above the Bimini. However getting that fabricated was not possible at the time. It is the better approach. The solars are clamped on mine so they can be removed and upgraded easily and the angle adjustable. Your way is the chosen way.

We ran the wires thru the Davit also. I bought the solar panels last August and already the newer panels have another 30 watts! In 3 years , each panel will likely be at 240 watts and cost under 120 bucks each. I went with 2 solar panels instead of the larger single 24 volt that was rated at 310 watts so I would not face a single loss point.. I also bought a spare..... at $150 it was worth it..

Regards

 

[Tsatzsue]

I just got a great deal on a Zodiak 9 foot Wave slat floor roll up from Defender. 2013 left over. They must have a bunch of them in stock. Great quality. All welded seams and made in France. Weighs less than 50#. I have an Evenrude 2 hp that stows under the laz while underway that is going to push it. I will stow under laz or on deck. Check it out. I had a Mercury inflatable floor last time and unless you plan on flying around on plane this was the best deal on a brand name boat that I could find.
Ken B
CMDRE - NETS

 

[Tom J]

We carry a Walker Bay 8 footer with a Torqeedo electric outboard. No more gas container in the cockpit! The outboard has the equivalent horsepower of a 3HP gas engine, and the charge lasts quite a while if you manage it right. We stow it on davits on our Catalina 310. The Walker Bay will carry 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

 

[Solstice]

We carry a Walker Bay 8 footer with a Torqeedo electric outboard. No more gas container in the cockpit! The outboard has the equivalent horsepower of a 3HP gas engine, and the charge lasts quite a while if you manage it right. We stow it on davits on our Catalina 310. The Walker Bay will carry 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

I've been following this thread with interest as I'm about to buy a new dinghy/outboard. Tom, I have been intrigued with the Torqeedo for our use, however we do some extended cruising and it seems even with a spare battery, the range is quite limited? Also, do you have Garhauer Davits? About to add davits to my 355.
Tohatsu is introducing a propane outboard this spring and that might be the way I go--better reputation/service outlets than Lehr.....no gas is my priority....

 

[seadaddler]

I looked at the torqeedo but the needing to be charged made me think twice for sure and one of our club members has one and even with running their Gen a lot they did need to be towed.
My yamaha was always acting up and got a new carb and use seafoam and E free gas been running great.
Nick

 

[NotCook]

We have an 11' Brig Hyphalon RIB. It is 10 years old now, and starting to show its age. I wouldn't buy another Brig, but I think the Hyphalon is the way to go down here. We also have a 20 HP Honda with auto start and power tilt. Probably should have gone the 10 HP route instead, because it is a heavy motor at about 149#! So, we winch it aboard using our main boom preventer when we need to. It and the dink live on the davits most of the time. We put it on the main deck in rough weather, and would NEVER tow it in heavy seas, or even keep it on the davits in heavy seas such as on a passage. Frankly, we find the 11' a little small, and wish we had a 13'. That starts to get pretty long for the davits, but it is still shorter than the beam. The 11' gets pretty cramped when we have 2 divers and our gear in it going to a dive site. Then there are times I'd prefer to have just a 30# motor...

 

[Navicula]

first...go with hyphalon like others have stated....go big....get a 15hp or a 20hp,,,but make it a 4 stroke,,,one gas no oil, we have a 10 foot rib with an 8 hp and its ok with my wife but if I put a load water or fuel or groceries its a dog, like others have said you may need the power to get back to your boat.....I think API makes an aluminum bottom dinghy that is 70 pounds lighter than the fiberglass one

 

[Canonshooternb]

I have found these dinks from Nova Scotia to be competitively priced. Looking at the seabright 270 and wondering if anybody has any experience. Just picked up a Yamaha 2.5 4 stroke to push us along. The main use will be for 2 of us to get back and forth between the boat and shore excursions. Our boat is only a 28' so will be towing and then placing on the deck when at dock.

Open to any comments on this setup

 

[RoyS]

Canonshooternb, we have a similar arrangement and the exact motor. You will be pleased. We also include our 65 pound standard poodle in the dinghy with the two of us. We made a bridle in two parts, front part for normal towing, and rear part that is connected to the transom. The two parts come together in the center of the dinghy about 3 or 4 feet above the dinghy deck. We attach the forward halyard to both bridles and easily lift the dinghy with motor onto the forward deck. I do this myself in minutes with the mast mounted winch. Another suggestion is to purchase a toe rail hanging step to ease getting in and out of the dinghy and up to the main boat deck. For trouble free motor operation do yourself a favor and use only non-ethanol gasoline. Keep a spare gallon in the dinghy and that should last the season.

 

[mcrow33]

I bought a Torqeedo last spring. I love it. It always starts. I don't live aboard, so I can bring it home to charge overnight. Even using it everyday to get from the dock to the boat I would only have to charge it once every ten days or so. You just can't
be running out at full speed. The built in GPS will tell you how far you can go at the present charge and speed. My run to the mooring is about 200 yards each way.

 

[Chief RA]

I have a 10' inf. w/ inf. floor & keel. I use a 3.5 Tohatsu when in harbor or for short runs. Would recommend a 4 though for F/N/R convenience. Now, if I am going to an area that requires long runs, (like Bodega Bay) I take my Evinrude 15hp electric start 75 lb 2 stroke. 2 people can hit 25mph w/ this kind of power. My inf. is a 13 yr old PVC and still in good shape. Cover them and they last many years! Yes, I tow it motor and all. I could put it aboard on bow if necessary but never have had to and we get BIG seas. Chief

 

[Canonshooternb]

Canonshooternb, we have a similar arrangement and the exact motor. You will be pleased. We also include our 65 pound standard poodle in the dinghy with the two of us. We made a bridle in two parts, front part for normal towing, and rear part that is connected to the transom. The two parts come together in the center of the dinghy about 3 or 4 feet above the dinghy deck. We attach the forward halyard to both bridles and easily lift the dinghy with motor onto the forward deck. I do this myself in minutes with the mast mounted winch. Another suggestion is to purchase a toe rail hanging step to ease getting in and out of the dinghy and up to the main boat deck. For trouble free motor operation do yourself a favor and use only non-ethanol gasoline. Keep a spare gallon in the dinghy and that should last the season.

Thanks RoyS . I think I will be pleased with the yamaha setup. My senior (13.75 year) Chocolate Lab cannot sail with us any more as his hind is getting weak but he has had a great life.
I tried to sell myself on the 3.5 merc for the extra 1 hp but after all my research the Yamaha seemed to make the most sense. There not be any ethanol based fuel ever used as nothing good can come from that.
Thanks for sharing

 

[redhead78]

thanks for all your input guys it was a great deal of help. I ended up at the defender spring sale and got a mercury hypalon, with fiberglass bottom, 8'2", and a 5hp tohatsu outboard,also a set of forespar davits, thanks again, happy summer!! Red