Which Outboard

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seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Pretty much decided which one to keep already but what's your thoughts on having two outboards both run excellent and low hours and well serviced.
I have a 9'6'' dinghy with aluminum floor and have a choice of my 4 stroke 4HP outboard or my two stroke 8 HP both Yamaha motors.
I pretty much decided to keep the 8HP and either sell or trade the 4HP.
So what do you use,most times the 4HP is plenty for the dinghy to push around with two of us but think the 8HP would be better with 4 people and would work well if in a emergency needed it to pull my boat out of danger due my 36 Hunter maybe some day having the motor die on me for what ever reason.
Nick
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
It depends on how you use your dinghy

In most cases, a bigger dinghy with a larger motor is "preferred" because you can get up on a plane and go places with the dinghy. That's what all the cruising stories I've read state.

If, however, you only use your dinghy for short hops and never intend to need to use the dinghy as described above, then a lighter and smaller engine would make sense.

Your choice is weird: a four stroke 4HP probably weighs the same as a two stroke 8 HP!

If that's the case, then your choice is -- environmental and noise vs. speed

Unless you need the $$, use one for awhile and then the other, and then see what works for you.

It's only a question YOU can answer.

And if it was my boat, I'd invest thoroughly in getting sooo familiar with your big boat's engine that you'd never need to implement the dinghy as a backup for it. Yeah, stuff happens, but that shouldn't be the dinghy motor deal-maker. If it is, you've already made up your mind, so what's the question? :)
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
With four people if you can't plane off an inflatable it might not be an improvement. Can you really tow a 36 footer with an 8hp outboard? Sounds like you have some practical experimentation ahead of you. Then you can make your decision based on solid facts.
 
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Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
I would not base my decision on having to pull the mother boat as that is what Sea Tow is for and the possibility of getting 4 people into a 9.6' dingui is far fetched. I do agree the 8HP would be a better choice just because of the power to weight relationship.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
These days, a four-stroke is the easiest to sell. I don't see why 4 people in a dingy is far-fetch. I have a 5 hp 4 stroke on an 8 foot dingy and it is okay, but I can suggest it or anything bigger in length needs a bigger motor. Keep the 8.
 
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tsmwebb

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Jan 1, 2009
371
Atlantic 42 Honolulu
Benny said:
I would not base my decision on having to pull the mother boat as that is what Sea Tow is for and the possibility of getting 4 people into a 9.6' dingui is far fetched. I do agree the 8HP would be a better choice just because of the power to weight relationship.
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Sea Tow? If one limits one's cruising to places where there is towing service the great majority of good cruising grounds will be missed. Towing the boat in light winds with an 8hp should be no problem. In a real calm the 4hp would move the boat too and go farther on the same petrol.

Putting four normally sized, reasonably competent folk into a 9.6' dingy should be no problem. Obviously, it will not plane with an 8hp engine with that load. If that's the normal load then the top speed with the 8 and the 4 will be virtually the same but the 4 will be quieter, cleaner and more efficient.

--Tom.
 
som1335

som1335

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Mar 2, 2009
49
2 33 Rockland
You probablY can't tow a 36 but you sure can push it. Big difference, try it and see!
 
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tsmwebb

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Jan 1, 2009
371
Atlantic 42 Honolulu
som1335 said:
You probablY can't tow a 36 but you sure can push it. Big difference, try it and see!
Click to expand
Lashing alongside is better but towing works too. I have done it both ways with similarly sized boats.

--Tom.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Thanks

Just wanted to see what others think and well already decided on the 8 HP just for the extra power when I have the 4 people in my dinghy with out any problems.
Yes pull or push have seen it done with a 8HP pushing a 38 sailboat who did not have sea-tow and was trying to save the sailor some $$$$ by pushing into the marina for repairs.
Also saw towing a sailboat away from jetty after losing power until rescue arrived.
I have these two outboards for 5 years and both run and look new but a friend keeps buging me to sell him or trade for a new Kayak he has had sitting in the garage for 3 years.
I just used them recently and like how the 8HP pushes the dinghy so much better,no brainer but I really did like the 4HP no mixing and internal tank but that 8HP really has so much more power with two folding bikes and two and four people,thanks all the help I also like the Kayak he wants to swap.
Nick
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
som1335 said:
You probablY can't tow a 36 but you sure can push it. Big difference, try it and see!
Click to expand
Hell, I've towed my Catalina 36 with my Walker Bay 8 - ROWING! :eek:

As for the engine choice, I wouldn't bother with the 4hp - you can just almost the same performance with an electric: no noise, no gas, starts every time... but the 8hp will get you on plane with 1 or maybe 2 aboard. With 4 aboard you'll make lots of noise and wake, but still not get much over hull-speed.

druid
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,953
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
I'd opt for more power. Our 10 ft. RIB won't plane with 4 people and the dog, but will certainly go a little faster.

I've pushed a 32 - 34 ft. with at least a foot of water in the bottom with my 15hp., on a boat that lost his shaft and was pulled into our marina, I played tug to help push him over to the travel-lift.
 
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Gail R

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Apr 22, 2009
261
Pearson 34 Freeport, ME
Count me as a ditto on the 2-stroke 8 HP. If you need to propel the mothership, hip-tie your inflatable to your quarter and use it like a tugboat. We've done that with our 2 HP 4-stroke Honda and it moves our Pearson 30 just fine.

We have never bothered with a membership to Sea Tow. If the engine goes on the fritz, we either sail or use the 2-horse. Sea Tow is for... never mind!
 
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saorsa

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Jun 28, 2009
1
2 29 Marathon
Please expand on this thread...
We have the 8 hp 4 stroke, and at 84 pounds, and concerned about weight.
Would the 6 hp 4 stroke get 2 adults up on a plane?
 
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