Outboard for inflatable dinghy

[Mulf]

I'm tired of rowing my 8' airfloor inflatable and am shopping for a small outboard. A 3.5hp weighs in at about 38 pounds and a 5 hp weighs about 60. Since I store the dinghy on the foredeck I will be installing and removing the outboard at the stern swim platform. Should I be concerned about the extra weight of the 5hp vs the 3.5?

 

[Ron]

nissan 5

I have a Nissan 5hp for my 8ft inflatable and store the engine on the stern rail. no problems

 

[rsn48]

Depends

I have gone through the same struggle; power versus weight. I cast my vote for a lighter motor for two reasons. First, I don't want to be fiddling with a heavier motor when conditions get bouncy on the boat. Second, I don't want to be struggling with a heavier motor as I get older, lets say ten years from now.Most dingies are used at slow speed in and around marina's, and at anchorage so that the smaller motor will be just fine. The top speed of your dingy will be around the same as the top speed of your sail boat - good enough for me.

 

[chuckwayne]

engine for inflatable

Mulf,I have both engines-originally used the 3.3 on a small roll-up, and the 5 on a 9' airfloor. the 3.3 is plenty of power for an 8', unless you plan to waterski behind it! usuually you'll just be moving around a harbor, and you'll appreciate the lower weight-also, I assume the 5hp needs a separate gas tank, another hassle

 

[Trevor - Sailboatowners.com]

Go light!

I agree with the previous posts; go light!Trevor

 

[Landsend]

I like my 2hp Honda 4stroke.

Perfect for your needs.

 

[scuba01]

just bought one

I went to west marine and just bought a new 4 hp 4 stroke for 999.00 it is the perfect weight and i lift it on and off by my self with no lift. i have a 12 ft dingy and it worked great. you will need to get the price of the net and since it is a mercury they will match the price as long as you print the price.

 

[Auric Horneman]

go light

go light

 

[Rich Stidger]

Bruce, I have a 3.5hp Nissan on a 9.2'

and it is very acceptable in performance. I also have an inflatable floor dinghy. My 3.5hp is about 37 pounds and it is light enough for both me and my wife to handle it. We store it in the transom locker and lift it out by hand to the dinghy.A heavyer unit would not be manageable for us in nearly any sea state.Go light.Rich

 

[higgs]

My Nissan 2.5 is just fine

It is plenty light and has an integrated tank. Virtually all my use is in no wake areas so I cannot even use all the power I have. If I was planning on using it in more open areas and longer hauls - a couple of miles - I would go bigger. At no wake speeds a 2.5 is just as fast as a 5.

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Yep, go with a small one.

We have a 6hp Suzuki. It is about 20 years old, and it still runs great. I have it mounted on the stern rail. It is a bit heavy lowering it onto the dinghy, so I have a block setup on the boom. Doing it usually require both my wife and I to get the job done. A real pain.I would prefer to go with something smaller, but I really don't want to spend any additional money if I don't have to. The Suzuki is a bit heavy, needs an external tank, and the only time I use it is going from the anchorage to the shore, usually only for 2 people. Because it is a pain to lower and raise the outboard to/from the dinghy, we often don't even put it on the dinghy and just put up with rowing. Sometimes, it can be a long way from the anchorage to shore or marina. Especiall when the wind kicks up.Also, our current 2.5 gal external fuel tank would often last us all summer, sometimes even 2 summers. Then we will have to find a way to dispose of the dead gas.I think something along 2-3 hp unit with an internal tank would be ideal. Easy to lift and stow, and 2-3 knots is plenty fast.

 

[Mulf]

Thanks for all the advice!

Looks like a no-brainer, light it is.Rich: I'm still planning on hailing you from East Greenwich, maybe I'll dingy over with my new outboard! Bruce

 

[Calif. Ted]

I just did, can't get small 2 strokes here

anymore and I wanted lightest engine available. 2 HP Honda with centrifugal clutch, 29 Lbs., fits in a stern locker on a C270. ain't gonna win the dinghy race to the beach but I'll get there without a sore back. One of the guys from yacht club uses one to get his J24 out to the start line.

 

[BBC16385]

My Mercury 3.3

is 29 pounds and will make my 9 foot Quicksilver air floor plane with one person. They hang on davits on our P42.

 

[Rob McClain]

Honda 2 hp

I also have a Honda 2 hp. It is a great motor, and very light and easy to lift. It easily mounts on the stern pulpit. One other beneift is that it is air cooled so the typical problems from saltwater circulation are alleviated. I was amazed at the power and torque it provides for my 8'6" Zodiac.Rob

 

[Doghouse]

Why not electric?

I use an electric trolling motor. You would not beleive the amount of power those little guys have. Yes it is rated in thrust rather than HP, so you cannot truely compare the output power. Besides who does not want an extra battery kicking around...

 

[Andy]

my experience

I bought a mercury 3.3 because it was only 30 lb. I was hoping to get one of the last, lightweight 2-cycles. But the mixture settings were off (brand new) and now are set at the factory (so we can't get it to run right and pollute the atmosphere, I presume). I decided to get a 4-stroke. I didn't get the 2 hp Honda, because I wanted to minimize noise. I settled for a 2.5 Yamaha -- water cooled, quiet, runs beautifully, but 6 pounds over the mercury and Honda.

 

[Calif. Ted]

That is a point I should mention about the Honda,

because it is air cooled it is noisier than a water cooled engine. The exhaust is under water so it's just the additional noise of a small engine.

 

[Maine Sail]

Suzuki, Tohatsu and Mercury

All have new 4 Stroke small kickers coming out this year. The Mercury is made by Tohatsu and come's in either a 2.5hp or a 3.5hp and weighs in at 38 Lbs. It has F/N shift, water cooling, internal gas tank, twist throttle and an 85cc displacement. The Tohatsu comes in either a 2hp (de-tuned 2.5) or 3.5hp. It has the same specs as the Mercury.http://www.tohatsu.com/outboards/3_5_4st.htmlThe Suzuki is the lightest at 30 Lbs. but only comes in a 2.5hp version. It too is water cooleed, twist grip throttle, F/N shift and internal tank but is rated at 68cc's.http://suzukimarine.com/sr06/df2.5/index.phpI'm leaning towardst the Suzuki over the Tohatsu/Mercury for two reasons 1- Weight-I like the fact that this motor is only 30Lbs but yet water cooled so it will be much quieter than the Honda. 2- The difference between a 2.5 and a 3.5 hp won't mean squat on my inflatable. Neither a 2.5 or a 3.5 will ever plane it so I'm going light. If I did not go light I would go straight for something that would plane my boat with two people like a 10hp. Forget the 4,5,6 hp motors at 60Lbs if you can't plane you can't plane. For me it's big or really small....

 

[Larry]

Nissan 3.5

We have a Nissan 3.5 with a neutral gear that only wieghs 28 pounds. Its a great motor with lot's of power. Neutral gear is a must have....