I have just bought an inflatable boat to use as a tender for my sailboat and am debating on what kind of motor to use. I thought about an electric trolling motor but you have to have a 12 volt battery for that and my inflatable is only 8'. If I use a gasoline motor ( 3.5 HP) then there are problems with storing a motor with a gasoline tank. Any suggestions?
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Rick Belisle
Honda 2hp
HE have a Hunter 28.5. We have an inflatable dinghy and a Honda 2HP motor. Moves it along with noproblem. It has an integral gas tank. Get a mount for your stern rail (West Marine) and store the motor there. Only wighs 50 lbs or so...easy to lift and store. Either towyour inflatbale or, for longer distances, store it on your foredeck, flipped upside down.
HE have a Hunter 28.5. We have an inflatable dinghy and a Honda 2HP motor. Moves it along with noproblem. It has an integral gas tank. Get a mount for your stern rail (West Marine) and store the motor there. Only wighs 50 lbs or so...easy to lift and store. Either towyour inflatbale or, for longer distances, store it on your foredeck, flipped upside down.
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John Dawson
no neutral ground
The very small motors usually have no neutral, which means they are either on or off, forward or backward. Something around 3.5 or 4 has neutral and the integral gas tank.
The very small motors usually have no neutral, which means they are either on or off, forward or backward. Something around 3.5 or 4 has neutral and the integral gas tank.
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Mark
Good advise John
Try to get one with at least neutral. I have a little 3hp' "spin around". Bloody danger machine!
Try to get one with at least neutral. I have a little 3hp' "spin around". Bloody danger machine!
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Tim Donley
Moderate priced Merc 4 cycle
I have a merc 4hp / 4cycle on one of my tenders and it is really great. One reason was the fwd-n-reverse. Don't even bother with any thing unless it has this feature. The Merc weighs in at 43 #s ,is quiet and has integral tank. Its as easy as caring for a lawnmower if you're still land locked.
I have a merc 4hp / 4cycle on one of my tenders and it is really great. One reason was the fwd-n-reverse. Don't even bother with any thing unless it has this feature. The Merc weighs in at 43 #s ,is quiet and has integral tank. Its as easy as caring for a lawnmower if you're still land locked.
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tom
reverse and neutral not essential
Weight is often a problem. I have a 13# 1.2 hp outboard that works OK. Noisey and low powered but easily carried in one hand!!! Built in gas tank no neutral. Works well for distances less than a couple of miles. Think of how you will use the motor!!! If you will motor longer distances think big if you want to plane the hull think bigger. But if it will be used to push you around short distances and you have to attach and remove it a lot think small and light. We have a small plastic dingy that we carry on deck. Only rated for 2 hp. But we are thinking a inflatable with a larger motor would offer advantages... But would the advantages be worth the back strain??? I have noticed the difference between the 13# 1.2 and a 25# 2.2hp that we use on a canoe. My 50# 7.5hp honda was something I would not even attempt to mount on a small boat on open water. It would end up on the bottom and I'd end up wet. Neutral and reverse are great but add a lot of weight. In a small boat we have paddles or oars and use those to get clear then start the motor. Usually no problem in a small boat but impractical as the boat gets larger. Another problem with weight is balance. With too much weight in the stern it's hard to use a small boat solo without throwing some weight in the bow.
Weight is often a problem. I have a 13# 1.2 hp outboard that works OK. Noisey and low powered but easily carried in one hand!!! Built in gas tank no neutral. Works well for distances less than a couple of miles. Think of how you will use the motor!!! If you will motor longer distances think big if you want to plane the hull think bigger. But if it will be used to push you around short distances and you have to attach and remove it a lot think small and light. We have a small plastic dingy that we carry on deck. Only rated for 2 hp. But we are thinking a inflatable with a larger motor would offer advantages... But would the advantages be worth the back strain??? I have noticed the difference between the 13# 1.2 and a 25# 2.2hp that we use on a canoe. My 50# 7.5hp honda was something I would not even attempt to mount on a small boat on open water. It would end up on the bottom and I'd end up wet. Neutral and reverse are great but add a lot of weight. In a small boat we have paddles or oars and use those to get clear then start the motor. Usually no problem in a small boat but impractical as the boat gets larger. Another problem with weight is balance. With too much weight in the stern it's hard to use a small boat solo without throwing some weight in the bow.
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Jim A
Don't get the Honda 2
I hate this motor and I hate Honda. I own this motor. The motor stinks. I'm not the only one that thinks so. You have to run the HP2 at about 1/2 throttle or it overheats and stops. Get the 2003 TOHATSU 3.5HP. The extra HP might just plane the dink off. It has a build in gas tank. Rick, the Honda stinks! It's a lemon. You'll find out!
I hate this motor and I hate Honda. I own this motor. The motor stinks. I'm not the only one that thinks so. You have to run the HP2 at about 1/2 throttle or it overheats and stops. Get the 2003 TOHATSU 3.5HP. The extra HP might just plane the dink off. It has a build in gas tank. Rick, the Honda stinks! It's a lemon. You'll find out!
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Dan
2.7 cruise n carry
powers my Walker Bay, it's air cooled, built in gas tank, has neutral and foward. dont know what it weights but I can lift it with one finger. sound like a damn weed eater but, for getting me back and forth to the shore it is great! most boat mechanics will laugh at you though, they call em cruise n crazy!
powers my Walker Bay, it's air cooled, built in gas tank, has neutral and foward. dont know what it weights but I can lift it with one finger. sound like a damn weed eater but, for getting me back and forth to the shore it is great! most boat mechanics will laugh at you though, they call em cruise n crazy!
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Stu Jackson C34 #224 1986
Small Dink Motors
We used to have a Johnson 1.2 HP, like Tom described. We used it on our 8 foot WMP donut dinghy. Not a "planer!" Only had one direction, forward! So, we got VERY good and setting the dinghy in the right direction before we started the motor. It worked great, taught our son a LOT about dinghy driving. We never needed a neutral or reverse. If we wanted to coast, we'd turn it off. Never needed to back up, althogh you could if you swung it around 180 degrees. It always started reliably. Had an integral gas tank, .37 gallons. We'd bring a one gallon jug of premixed gas with an integral filler spout for more long distance travel. It was SOOO light I could pick it up with one hand. If you can find one, go for it. We called it our "egg beater" engine! Stu
We used to have a Johnson 1.2 HP, like Tom described. We used it on our 8 foot WMP donut dinghy. Not a "planer!" Only had one direction, forward! So, we got VERY good and setting the dinghy in the right direction before we started the motor. It worked great, taught our son a LOT about dinghy driving. We never needed a neutral or reverse. If we wanted to coast, we'd turn it off. Never needed to back up, althogh you could if you swung it around 180 degrees. It always started reliably. Had an integral gas tank, .37 gallons. We'd bring a one gallon jug of premixed gas with an integral filler spout for more long distance travel. It was SOOO light I could pick it up with one hand. If you can find one, go for it. We called it our "egg beater" engine! Stu
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Rick Belisle
Response to Jim A.
Sorry your having a bad expoerience. I've had mine for 3 years now and it runs like a top! Starts easily, runs well at low speed and high speed and requires minimal maintenance (1 plug, oil change and that's it) and runs smoothly.
Sorry your having a bad expoerience. I've had mine for 3 years now and it runs like a top! Starts easily, runs well at low speed and high speed and requires minimal maintenance (1 plug, oil change and that's it) and runs smoothly.
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J. Tesoriero
Neutral & remote tank, a must!
Let's be civilized. You must have a motor with at least neutral, with neutral/reverse much preferred. I would also recommend one with a remote fuel tank for longer range and to reduce the refueling problem/danger on engines with integral tanks. When not on the dink, the motor sits on the stern rail and the tank can be kept on deck or in the cockpit. We have used and recommend a Nissan (made by Tohatsu) 5 HP. Always reliable, F/N/R, remote 4 gal tank, and weighs about #45. Regardless of whichever engine you use, always add stabilizer to the fuel. It prevents varnish and other residues from forming in the engine - a major source of small engine problems.
Let's be civilized. You must have a motor with at least neutral, with neutral/reverse much preferred. I would also recommend one with a remote fuel tank for longer range and to reduce the refueling problem/danger on engines with integral tanks. When not on the dink, the motor sits on the stern rail and the tank can be kept on deck or in the cockpit. We have used and recommend a Nissan (made by Tohatsu) 5 HP. Always reliable, F/N/R, remote 4 gal tank, and weighs about #45. Regardless of whichever engine you use, always add stabilizer to the fuel. It prevents varnish and other residues from forming in the engine - a major source of small engine problems.
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Don
Honda 2
with centrifigual clutch. Works great, easy to carry, never had a problem with it in 4 years. Nor have several friends with them. Only downside is they are noisier than most because they are air cooled, not water cooled. But I like that as I have had bad experiences with failed water pumps.
with centrifigual clutch. Works great, easy to carry, never had a problem with it in 4 years. Nor have several friends with them. Only downside is they are noisier than most because they are air cooled, not water cooled. But I like that as I have had bad experiences with failed water pumps.
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Jim A
Centrifigual Clutch does not work!
The engine still start in gear! A real neutral is better. Look the Honda 2 stinks! It is load, mine does not run! I hate this engine and I hate Honda.
The engine still start in gear! A real neutral is better. Look the Honda 2 stinks! It is load, mine does not run! I hate this engine and I hate Honda.
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Tom s/v GAIA
Jim A. please feel free not to buy another---
Honda, I have 2 honda OB and have nothing but good stuff to say about them. Sorry your having trouble with yours, we all got your message, nuff said! you do not like honda and will not buy another. Merry Christmas to all Tom s/v GAIA
Honda, I have 2 honda OB and have nothing but good stuff to say about them. Sorry your having trouble with yours, we all got your message, nuff said! you do not like honda and will not buy another. Merry Christmas to all Tom s/v GAIA
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Dick of Sylvan
Engine Height/Depth
What advice do you have on length of the outboard's shaft for these dinks? Dick
What advice do you have on length of the outboard's shaft for these dinks? Dick
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John Dawson
Dink motor shaft
Inflatibles couldn't be much closer to the water so a standard shaft is customary, also for weight and stowage convenience. If its even available for small models, a longer shaft would only be useful if it were doing double duty as auxiliary on a larger boat, for instance.
Inflatibles couldn't be much closer to the water so a standard shaft is customary, also for weight and stowage convenience. If its even available for small models, a longer shaft would only be useful if it were doing double duty as auxiliary on a larger boat, for instance.
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Bill
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Terry
Jerry, I bought an old Lightening Three...
Evinrude that had been reconditioned for $100. It was a two cycle with an integral tank and worked great on our nine foot Avon. Quite the head turner. Terry
Evinrude that had been reconditioned for $100. It was a two cycle with an integral tank and worked great on our nine foot Avon. Quite the head turner. Terry
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Dick of Sylvan
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