I intend to purchase a small inflatable this season to use as a tender and I am wondering what size motor to buy. I don't need a lot of speed or power, just enough to move 2 people and the tender from the mooring to the landing. The weight and price of a 2HP are appealing, but I am concerned that it will not have enough power for even a small inflatable and two people. Opinions?
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Trolling Motor
I have a 9 ft. Hard dinghy that i use to go to and fore to my mooring. I use a small trolling motor, and a small battery for a riding lawn mower. I get about 5 or 6 round trips before I need to recharge. Motor 45$ on ebay. Batt. 20$ at sears. Bring a paddle just in case, when it dies, it goes quick. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
I have a 9 ft. Hard dinghy that i use to go to and fore to my mooring. I use a small trolling motor, and a small battery for a riding lawn mower. I get about 5 or 6 round trips before I need to recharge. Motor 45$ on ebay. Batt. 20$ at sears. Bring a paddle just in case, when it dies, it goes quick. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
Inflatables are notoriously
Hard to propel. They do not row well so any effort to compare them with a hard dink will lead to errors. Check with the people that sell them. most require more engine than a hard dink needs.
Hard to propel. They do not row well so any effort to compare them with a hard dink will lead to errors. Check with the people that sell them. most require more engine than a hard dink needs.
Dinghy power
I have a 2.5 on my 8' inflatable, and it is plenty for two or three people. I had a 5 on it before, and while it was faster, the 5 was a lot heavier, and much more work to take on and off. The 2.5 only weighs about 25lbs. moves the dinghy along pretty good, and is much easier to load and unload.
I have a 2.5 on my 8' inflatable, and it is plenty for two or three people. I had a 5 on it before, and while it was faster, the 5 was a lot heavier, and much more work to take on and off. The 2.5 only weighs about 25lbs. moves the dinghy along pretty good, and is much easier to load and unload.
dinghy motor
The dinghy specs will determine maximum horsepower and carrying capacity. The 2hp motors usually do not have a neutral, you have to kill the motor to stop or pause. The 3.5hp is a little more convenient in that it has a neutral; both have reverse when the motor is turned 180 degrees. Two stroke motors are disappearing this year, and the 2hp is becoming scarce too, I believe. The weight on a 4stroke is probably more. Decide what your trade-offs are between trying to plane or just getting around, cost and also weight. Lifting a motor into a dinghy can be exciting, so how frequently will you unship it is a factor; is it utility or more for exploring etc.
The dinghy specs will determine maximum horsepower and carrying capacity. The 2hp motors usually do not have a neutral, you have to kill the motor to stop or pause. The 3.5hp is a little more convenient in that it has a neutral; both have reverse when the motor is turned 180 degrees. Two stroke motors are disappearing this year, and the 2hp is becoming scarce too, I believe. The weight on a 4stroke is probably more. Decide what your trade-offs are between trying to plane or just getting around, cost and also weight. Lifting a motor into a dinghy can be exciting, so how frequently will you unship it is a factor; is it utility or more for exploring etc.
2 HP Honda 4 stroke gets me there
and back faster than I can walk or slow jog on an 8.5 foot inflatable. Routinely carries 2 pax (at 360 total pounds) plus lots of "stuff" such as anchor, line, small ice chest. The centrifugal clutch takes a few moments to get used to but, afterwards, no problems. And at only about 25 pounds, is easy/ier to tote about.
and back faster than I can walk or slow jog on an 8.5 foot inflatable. Routinely carries 2 pax (at 360 total pounds) plus lots of "stuff" such as anchor, line, small ice chest. The centrifugal clutch takes a few moments to get used to but, afterwards, no problems. And at only about 25 pounds, is easy/ier to tote about.
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